الخميس، 27 أكتوبر 2016

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Restoring the sense of touch in amputees using natural signals of nervous system

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:21 AM PDT

Scientists have found a way to produce realistic sensations of touch in two human amputees by directly stimulating the nervous system.

Importance of universal sanitation underestimated in efforts to reduce child mortality

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:19 AM PDT

The value of sanitation at reducing child mortality in many low income countries has been substantially underestimated, according to recent research.

Ultrasound after tibial fracture surgery does not speed up healing or improve function

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:16 AM PDT

Receiving ultrasound after surgery to repair a fractured tibia (shinbone) does not accelerate healing or improve functional recovery compared with sham treatment, finds a trial.

Hormone that controls maturation of fat cells discovered

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:15 AM PDT

Mature fat cells produce a hormone that regulates the differentiation of nearby stem cells in response to glucocorticoid hormones and high-fat diets, researchers have found.

STAT2: Much more than an antiviral protein

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:08 AM PDT

A protein known for guarding against viral infections leads a double life, new research shows, and can interfere with cell growth and the defense against parasites. In a new paper, researchers describe the duplicitous nature of this essential protein, called STAT2, which they discovered while investigating the mechanisms behind interferon signaling.

After blindness, the adult brain can learn to see again

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:04 AM PDT

More than 40 million people worldwide are blind, and many of them reach this condition after many years of slow and progressive retinal degeneration. The development of sophisticated prostheses or new light-responsive elements, aiming to replace the disrupted retinal function and to feed restored visual signals to the brain, has provided new hope. However, very little is known about whether the brain of blind people retains residual capacity to process restored or artificial visual inputs.

Dose of dextrose gel lowers risk of low blood sugar in newborns

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 11:00 AM PDT

A single dose of dextrose gel, rubbed inside a newborn's mouth an hour after birth, can lower their risk of developing neonatal hypoglycaemia, according to a randomized study. The study, designed to investigate the optimal dose and timing for dextrose, is novel in testing dextrose as a preventive rather than treatment for low blood glucose.

Iron supplements in the fight against lead

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 10:54 AM PDT

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that was added to gasoline for use in cars until as recently as 25 years ago. It is particularly harmful to the developing brains of infants, children and teenagers, and the damage it does is irreversible. The situation becomes significantly worse if people are exposed to a high level of lead at the same time as they are suffering from iron deficiency.

Brain surface stimulation provides 'touch' feedback to direct movement

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 10:32 AM PDT

Grasping a cup or brushing hair or cooking a meal requires feedback that has been lost in amputees and individuals with paralysis -- a sense of touch. Researchers have now used direct stimulation of the human brain surface to provide this basic sensory feedback through artificial electrical signals, enabling a person to control movement while performing a simple task: opening and closing his hand.

New immunotherapy technique holds promise for curing food allergies

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 10:32 AM PDT

A new immunotherapy technique has been developed that nearly eliminates the allergic response to peanut and egg white proteins in food-allergic mice, reducing the anaphylactic response by up to 90 per cent with only one treatment.

Saving sight in glaucoma: Why the brain may hold the key

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 10:30 AM PDT

What causes vision loss in glaucoma? There are two common answers that at first may seem disparate: the first is pressure, as in elevated ocular pressure, and the second is damage to the optic nerve, which is the structure that sends visual information to the brain. Both answers are correct.

Researchers slow glioblastoma by inhibiting tumor's PPARa receptor

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 10:30 AM PDT

One of the most remarkable features of glioblastoma is the metabolic reprogramming of cancerous cells, resulting in uncontrolled cell proliferation, hypoxic conditions and angiogenesis. Metabolic reprogramming enables tumor cells with a faster way to produce energy and form new membranes. For this and other reasons, glioblastoma is presently incurable and the affected patients have a poor outcome.

Neurobiology: Epigenetics and neural cell death

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 10:29 AM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated how deregulation of an epigenetic mechanism that is active only in the early phases of neurogenesis triggers the subsequent death of neural cells.

AIDS: The making of the 'Patient Zero' myth

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 10:29 AM PDT

A combination of historical and genetic research reveals the error and hype that led to the coining of the term 'Patient Zero' and the blaming of one man for the spread of HIV across North America.

Easing labor pain may help reduce postpartum depression in some women

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 08:39 AM PDT

Epidural anesthesia may do more than relieve pain during labor; in some women it may decrease the likelihood of postpartum depression, suggests a preliminary study.

Scientists edit gene mutations in inherited form of anemia

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 08:05 AM PDT

A new gene editing strategy has been used to correct mutations that cause thalassemia, a form of anemia. Their gene editing technique provided corrections to the mutations and alleviated the disease in mice, the researchers said. The finding could lead to studies of a similar gene therapy to treat people with inherited blood disorders.

Additional benefit of omega-3 fatty acids for the clearance of metabolites from the brain

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:53 AM PDT

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, could improve the function of the glymphatic system, which facilitates the clearance of waste from the brain, and promote the clearance of metabolites including amyloid-? peptides, a primary culprit in Alzheimer's disease, report scientists.

Early supplementation may help offset early-life stress on the adult brain

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:52 AM PDT

Early-life stress has been shown to impair learning and memory in later life, but new research suggests that improved nutrition may help offset the negative effects of this stress. Specifically, using mice, scientists focused on essential micronutrients, including methionine, vitamins B6 and B12, and folic acid, none of which are made by the body and need to be ingested through diet. They found that early-life stress reduces the levels of these nutrients in mouse pups, but supplementation prevented the reduction of methionine levels and even prevented some of the lasting negative effects of early-life stress on later learning and memory in adult offspring.

Mulberry extract activates brown fat, shows promise as obesity treatment

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:51 AM PDT

Good news for those who want to activate their brown fat (or BAT, brown adipose tissue) without having to be cold: New research suggests that a natural compound in mulberries, called "rutin," can activate the BAT in our bodies to increase metabolism and facilitate weight loss.

Skin patch to treat peanut allergy shows benefit in children

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:50 AM PDT

A wearable patch that delivers small amounts of peanut protein through the skin shows promise for treating children and young adults with peanut allergy, with greater benefits for younger children, according to one-year results from an ongoing clinical trial. The treatment, called epicutaneous immunotherapy or EPIT, was safe and well-tolerated, and nearly all participants used the skin patch daily as directed.

Finding the clues for better autism treatments

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:49 AM PDT

New research sheds light on what might be going wrong in the regulation of genes that govern the brain's connectivity. The study's intention is to identify new clues to improve treatments for autism.

Antibodies from Ebola survivors neutralize virus, protect against infection in lab

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:49 AM PDT

Antibodies generated from the blood of survivors of Ebola virus disease can strongly neutralize the Ebola virus in the laboratory and protect mice from a lethal viral challenge, report investigators.

The buzz about edible bugs: Can they replace beef?

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:48 AM PDT

The idea of eating bugs has created a buzz lately in both foodie and international development circles as a more sustainable alternative to consuming meat and fish. Now a report examines how the nutrients -- particularly iron -- provided by grasshoppers, crickets and other insects really measures up to beef. It finds that insects could indeed fill that dietary need.

Neuro chip records brain cell activity

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:46 AM PDT

Brain functions are controlled by millions of brain cells. However, in order to understand how the brain controls functions, such as simple reflexes or learning and memory, we must be able to record the activity of large networks and groups of neurons. Conventional methods have allowed scientists to record the activity of neurons for minutes, but a new technology, known as a bionic hybrid neuro chip, is able to record activity in animal brain cells for weeks at a much higher resolution.

Common sets of genes disrupted in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:31 AM PDT

Studying brain tissue from deceased donors, scientists have found common groups of genes disrupted among people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression. The commonly affected genes sets, identified with RNA sequencing methods, engage in making proteins, controlling brain cell communications and mounting an immune system response, the researchers say.

Application of comprehensive chromosome screening could improve IVF success

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 07:26 AM PDT

An increase in the frequency of polymorphic variants among infertile patients compared with fertile donors suggest they have an impact on fertility, report scientists.

Brain scans of children with Tourette's offer clues to disorder

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 05:18 AM PDT

Researchers have identified areas in the brains of children with Tourette's syndrome that appear markedly different from the same areas in the brains of children who don't have the neuropsychiatric disorder.

Using stem cells to boost immunity against Candida albicans infections

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 05:15 AM PDT

A biological mechanism has been revealed by researchers that generates cells that are better equipped to fight off serious infections caused by the Candida albicans fungus.

First-time reconstruction of infectious bat influenza viruses

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 05:15 AM PDT

All known Influenza A viruses originate from aquatic birds that serve as virus reservoirs in nature. Avian viruses can cause severe disease and may lead to devastating pandemics when introduced into the human population. Therefore, a world-wide surveillance program has been set up to monitor influenza virus activity in birds. Surprisingly, bats were recently identified as a potential new source of influenza viruses.

Telerehabilitation through Internet proved to ameliorate both the health and the quality of life of women suffering breast cancer

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 05:15 AM PDT

Telerehabilitation (rehabilitation with the help of the Internet, using the application Skype as a control platform) may help to alleviate the side effects associated with breast cancer and its treatment, like pain, fatigue, strength loss, deterioration of the quality of life, etc., new research suggests.

Vitamin E can modify the risk of pneumonia in some older men depending on their life style

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 05:11 AM PDT

The effect of vitamin E on health outcomes may depend on various characteristics of people and their lifestyles. Therefore, a single universal estimate of the vitamin E effect might be substantially misleading for some population groups, say investigators.

The current state of psychobiotics

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 07:09 PM PDT

Now that we know that gut bacteria can speak to the brain in ways that affect our mood, our appetite, and even our circadian rhythms. The next challenge for scientists is to control this communication. The science of psychobiotics explores emerging strategies for planting brain-altering bacteria in the gut to provide mental benefits and the challenges ahead in understanding how such products could work for humans.

Combining dental, medical procedures may safely limit children’s anesthesia exposure

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 06:48 PM PDT

Children who require both dental and non-dental medical procedures should have them completed under one general anesthesia session whenever possible, which is ideal for both the patient and family, suggests new research.

Experimental drug shows promise in treating Alzheimer’s disease

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 05:17 PM PDT

An experimental drug shows promise in treating Alzheimer's disease by preventing inflammation and removing abnormal protein clumps in the brain that are associated with the disease, suggests a new study in mice.

Breakthrough drug approved as alternative to chemotherapy for people with advanced lung cancer

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 10:59 AM PDT

Pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug has been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration as first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The first-line designation means that some patients will have access to the drug without first having to receive other treatments such as chemotherapy.

Space travel affects spine of astronauts, NASA study shows

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 10:59 AM PDT

How does space travel affect the spine? Astronauts on long missions in space have atrophy of the muscles supporting the spine—which don't return to normal even several weeks after their return to Earth, reports a study.

Study suggests approach to waking patients after surgery

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 09:56 AM PDT

The use of general anesthesia for surgery has not changed fundamentally since it was first introduced 170 years ago. Patients are still left to come around in their own time following withdrawal of the drug. However, some patients can take a considerable amount of time to wake up, creating a line up of problems. Now researchers have moved a step closer to a treatment to rapidly awaken patients after administration of a general anesthetic, following a study of the mechanism that allows people to regain consciousness.

Suicide prevention: Reacting to the tell-tale signs

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 05:26 AM PDT

Can search engines save lives? Researchers are working on an approach that would enable search engines to more effectively identify users who are at risk of suicide and provide them with information on where to find help.

Innovative drug could revolutionize the treatment of early-stage breast cancer

Posted: 25 Oct 2016 05:25 AM PDT

A large-scale international study is currently investigating whether a drug that is already showing great promise in the treatment of metastasized breast cancer might also increase the success of treatment of the most common type of breast cancer: early-stage hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Mixing energy drinks, alcohol may affect adolescent brains like cocaine

Posted: 24 Oct 2016 02:14 PM PDT

Drinking highly caffeinated alcoholic beverages triggers changes in the adolescent brain similar to taking cocaine, and the consequences last into adulthood as an altered ability to deal with rewarding substances, according to a study.

Drug use in business bathrooms in New York City surveyed

Posted: 24 Oct 2016 01:25 PM PDT

This is the first quantitative study of business manager encounters with drug use which suggests overdose recognition and naloxone training, combined with the operation of supervised injection facilities, could save lives.
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