الأربعاء، 5 أكتوبر 2016

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Breakthrough in analytical sciences could lead to medical revolution

Posted: 04 Oct 2016 06:03 AM PDT

Pharmaceutical research could be quicker and more precise, thanks to an innovative breakthrough in the analytical sciences.

An appetite suppressant with side effects

Posted: 04 Oct 2016 05:54 AM PDT

Neurogeneticists have discovered a peptide in Drosophila that has a strong impact on the fly's feeding and sleeping habits. At the same time, it is associated with the insects' circadian clock.

Age-specific strategies are needed when caring for older individuals with HIV

Posted: 04 Oct 2016 05:54 AM PDT

A new article highlights the differences between older and younger adults living with HIV, and offers age-specific strategies on how to provide care. Older individuals differ from younger patients with HIV in many ways -- for example, they tend to have an increased risk for late or missed diagnoses, differing side effects from antiretroviral therapies, and increased comorbidities. Only a few existing treatment guidelines make distinctions when it comes to care by age, however.

Retroviral diseases: Children who keep HIV in check

Posted: 04 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT

Some HIV-infected – and untreated – children do not develop AIDS. A new study shows that they control the virus in a different way from the few infected adults who remain disease-free, and sheds light on the reasons for this difference.

Business cycle drives the spread of viral diseases

Posted: 04 Oct 2016 05:53 AM PDT

Epidemics spread faster during economic booms because more people are traveling, new research shows. This report also notes that school shutdowns and transportation network closures are seldom efficient measures.

Unraveling roundworm nerve regeneration mechanism could aid nerve injury treatment

Posted: 04 Oct 2016 05:52 AM PDT

The detailed molecular mechanisms behind regrowth of severed nerves in roundworms have been explained by researchers in a new report. This could lead to treatments promoting human recovery from nerve injury, they say.

A new exercise partner is the key to exercising more

Posted: 04 Oct 2016 05:15 AM PDT

Researchers have been investigating whether having an exercise companion increases the amount of exercise we do. Researchers found that finding a new exercise companion increased the amount of exercise people took. This was increased even more when the new partner was emotionally supportive.

Health determined by social relationships at work

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:41 PM PDT

Whether you're an engineer, a nurse, or a call center worker, you are likely to spend an average of one third of your day on the job. In a new meta-analysis covering 58 studies and more than 19,000 people across the globe, psychologists have shown that how strongly we identify with the people or organization where we work is associated with better health and lower burnout.

Air bag bike helmets have promise

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 03:29 PM PDT

Drop tests from as high as two meters show air bag helmet may reduce impact by as much as six-fold compared to traditional bike helmets, report investigators.

New protein bridges chemical divide for 'seamless' bioelectronics devices

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 03:25 PM PDT

Peptides that could help bridge the gap where artificial meets biological have been unveiled by researchers, offering the potential to harness biological rules to exchange information between the biochemistry of our bodies and the chemistry of our devices.

Gene found that raises risk of childhood ear infections

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 03:25 PM PDT

A gene region that raises the risk a child will have a middle ear infection, known to doctors as acute otitis media, has been discovered by researchers. The finding may offer an early clue to helping doctors develop more effective treatments to prevent one of the most common childhood illnesses.

Researchers closer than ever to a universal flu vaccine

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 12:14 PM PDT

Seasonal flu vaccines work by generating antibodies that bind to the virus and prevent it from infecting cells. Universal flu vaccines do this as well, but go one step further by recruiting white blood cells to destroy infected cells, explain experts. New research builds upon an earlier discovery of a class of antibodies capable of neutralizing the most dangerous types of Influenza viruses.

Early development reveals axolotl mysteries

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 12:01 PM PDT

In the amphibian world, the axolotl is the replacement-parts king. This endangered Mexican salamander serves as its own NAPA store for lost body parts, able to fully regenerate limbs, tail, heart, spine and eyes -- making it a model of curiosity for regenerative biologists.

Cold and bubbly: The sensory qualities that best quench thirst

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 12:01 PM PDT

Oral perceptions of coldness and carbonation help to reduce thirst, research shows. The findings could guide sensory approaches to increase fluid intake in populations at risk for dehydration, including the elderly, soldiers, and athletes.

New RNA stem cell editing reduces unintended genetic complications

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 12:01 PM PDT

An international collaboration of government, university, and industry resources showed the promise of using RNA as a safe way to both make and modify induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from patient cells for clinical applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and personalized medicine.

Color-changing smart material sensor to alert user to get out of sun

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:54 AM PDT

According to the American Cancer Society approximately 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year. Yet, the sun does contribute to the production of Vitamin D, which is necessary for bone health, and perhaps even useful in preventing some cancers. So how does one know how much sun exposure is enough? Now researchers have developed a color-changing wearable that can notify users of their total exposure, allowing them to achieve a balance. A user wears the 0.5" by 0.5" millimeter sized flexible patch and is notified of total UV exposure by the change in color. When the sensor turns orange, the user has reached the World Health Organization recommended daily dose of Vitamin D.

Preliminary Zika vaccines prevent neurological disorders in newborn mice

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:36 AM PDT

Two vaccines against Zika virus have successfully conveyed immunity from female mice to pups conceived weeks after the mother's vaccination.

Parents' age and the risk for autism and schizophrenia: Is the connection real?

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:28 AM PDT

A new study indicates that parents who reproduce later in life are more likely to have children who develop autism disorders. Later reproduction was not, however, associated with increased risk for schizophrenia in offspring.

Drug delivery quantified through nanoparticles inside a cell

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:23 AM PDT

For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that the success of delivery of drugs from nanoparticles can be quantified inside a cell.

Zika infects neural cells related to skull formation, affecting their function

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:18 AM PDT

Cranial neural crest cells -- which give rise to the bones and cartilage of the skull -- are vulnerable to Zika virus. The discovery, made by infecting in vitro cultures of human cells, offers a potential mechanism for how children born with the virus can have smaller-than-average skulls and disproportionate facial features.

HIV cure hope thanks to collaboration

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 11:14 AM PDT

Researchers are hopeful of a cure for HIV after treating the first patient with a promising new treatment that could kill all traces of the virus. A partnership sparked by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is behind this collaborative UK effort for the new treatment, which is a first-of-its-kind.

Human stem cells treat spinal cord injury side effects in mice

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:59 AM PDT

People with spinal cord injuries suffer from many complications in addition to paralysis and numbness. Some of these problems are caused by a lack of the neurotransmitter GABA in the injured spinal cord. Now research in mice is showing that human embryonic stem cells differentiated into medial ganglionic eminence (MGE)-like cells, which produce GABA, may help alleviate two of the most severe side effects -- chronic neuropathic pain and bladder dysfunction.

Acne sufferers' cells may be protected against aging

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:30 AM PDT

People who have previously suffered from acne are likely to have longer telomeres (the protective repeated nucleotides found at the end of chromosomes) in their white blood cells, meaning their cells could be better protected against aging, scientists have discovered. Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences found at the end of chromosomes which protect them from deteriorating during the process of replication. Telomeres gradually break down and shrink as cells age, eventually leading to cell death which is a normal part of human growth and aging.

Ethical challenges of genome editing

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:16 AM PDT

Preventing the transmission of inherited genetic diseases, and increasing food production rates in farmed animals are two potential applications of genome editing technologies that require urgent ethical scrutiny, according to a new report. The first findings of a new review have now been published, looking at the potential impact of recent advances in genome editing such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system across many areas of biological research.

BMI genotype and breast cancer risk

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:11 AM PDT

Being overweight is associated with decreased risk of breast cancer before menopause and increased risk after menopause, report scientists.

Targeting norovirus 'noxiousness'

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:10 AM PDT

Human noroviruses are the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis. Worldwide, about 200,000 children under age 5 die from norovirus infections every year. As of yet, no vaccines or antiviral agents have been licensed to treat the disease. Now researchers have determined the structural basis for norovirus "neutralization" by a human IgA antibody.

How safe and effective are new drugs for stroke prevention?

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:04 AM PDT

For decades, warfarin was the only oral blood thinner available to reduce the risk of stroke for patients with atrial fibrillation. Warfarin use is cumbersome, because it requires ongoing blood test to monitor the effect and has numerous drug and food interaction. Now a number of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) drugs are available for patients with atrial fibrillation and claim to revolutionize the care for patients with atrial fibrillation.

Study identifies risk factors for physical decline among survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 10:04 AM PDT

Most survivors of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) decline physically in the five years after hospital discharge, and those at higher levels of risk of decline are older and had greater medical problems prior to hospitalization for ARDS, investigators have found.

Receptor to slow breast cancer metastasis identified

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 09:10 AM PDT

By therapeutically targeting the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) in breast cancer cells, researchers decreased tumor growth, reduced tumor angiogenesis and recruitment of inflammatory cells, and dramatically decreased metastasis to the lung and the liver.

Does meditation keep emotional brain in check?

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 09:07 AM PDT

Meditation can help tame your emotions even if you're not a mindful person, suggests a new study. Psychology researchers recorded the brain activity of people looking at disturbing pictures immediately after meditating for the first time. These participants were able to tame their negative emotions just as well as participants who were naturally mindful.

Breakthrough in mapping nicotine addiction could help researchers improve treatment

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 09:02 AM PDT

A scientific blueprint to end tobacco cravings may be on the way after researchers crystallized a protein that holds answers to how nicotine addiction occurs in the brain.

Coronavirus and neurological disease: Direct link

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 08:48 AM PDT

For the first time, researchers have found proof of a direct association between strain OC 43 of the human coronavirus (HCoV) and neurological disease in humans. Researchers suggest the neuropathological effects of this virus are responsible for approximately 20% of common colds and more severe respiratory conditions in certain vulnerable individuals.

More information on how cancer and sugar-sweetened beverages are link

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 08:40 AM PDT

A study suggests that age is an important factor in the association between cancer and sugar-sweetened beverages and recommends that intervention programs to reduce consumption of added sugar be focused on lower socio-economic status, young males, as well as cervical cancer survivors.

Mosquito-borne Rift Valley fever virus causes miscarriage

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 08:32 AM PDT

The mosquito-borne Rift Valley fever virus has been linked to miscarriage in humans. A study of 130 pregnant Sudanese women with fever showed that the risk of miscarriage was seven times greater if the woman was infected with Rift Valley fever virus.

Psychology plays vital role in tackling diabetes

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 07:07 AM PDT

Individuals and families affected by diabetes must navigate a complex mix of medical, behavioral and social changes in which psychology plays an integral role, say researchers.

Glucose-sensing contact lens invented

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:58 AM PDT

Blood testing is the standard option for checking glucose levels, but a new technology could allow non-invasive testing via a contact lens that samples glucose levels in tears.

Scientists identify protein involved in restoring effectiveness of common treatment for breast cancer

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:34 AM PDT

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women, with estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) being the most common type. Drugs used to treat this cancer, such as tamoxifen and Faslodex, block the hormone estrogen receptor that ER+ cancer cells need to grow. One problem with these treatments is that many tumors initially responsive to the drugs develop resistance, making the medicines less effective.

MicroRNA specifically kills cancer cells with common mutation

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:34 AM PDT

Approximately 20 percent of all human cancers have mutations in a gene called KRAS. KRAS-mutant cancers are among the most difficult to treat, with poor survival and resistance to chemotherapy. Researchers used microRNAs to systematically inhibit thousands of other genes to find combinations that are specifically lethal to cancer cells driven by a KRAS mutation.

Research hints at underlying cause for Alzheimer's drug trial failures

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:34 AM PDT

A certain form of immunotherapy targeted to Alzheimer's patients may be ineffective when that patient also has Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, report scientists. While these drugs showed promise in animal studies, clinical trials have failed to show similar benefits in human patients.

Social media and activity feedback give no more benefit than simpler strategies

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:32 AM PDT

Providing physically inactive adults access to online social networking about walking as well as personalized feedback did not add more benefit than just providing emailed tips, according researchers.

Nearly one-half of service members with overweight/obesity report weight stigma

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:32 AM PDT

Weight discrimination is a major issue in our society and in the U.S. military, service members are not immune to it. According to a new study, nearly 50 percent of service members who are overweight or obese have experienced it.

Study identifies new therapeutic target in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Posted: 03 Oct 2016 06:32 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that an enzyme called uracil-DNA glycosylase (UNG) protects the ends of B cell chromosomes to facilitate the proliferation of these antibody-producing cells in response to infection. The study also suggests that targeting this enzyme may help treat certain types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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