السبت، 8 أكتوبر 2016

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

The importance of loving care within children's institutions

Posted: 07 Oct 2016 08:00 AM PDT

Nurturing caregiving from a few consistent individuals helps to minimize the potential emotional and mental-health development issues that can arise from spending the early years of a child's life in an institution. Within such facilities, infants and toddlers reared in daily contact with responsive and warm professionals display better physical, cognitive, and social development. After they are placed into families, they have less aggressive and defiant tendencies and show fewer externalizing behaviors.

Fewer indications of ADHD in children whose mothers took vitamin D during pregnancy

Posted: 07 Oct 2016 07:52 AM PDT

Children of mothers who took vitamin D during pregnancy with resultant high levels of the vitamin in the umbilical blood have fewer symptoms of ADHD at the age of 2½ years.

Mapping the 'dark matter' of human DNA

Posted: 07 Oct 2016 07:49 AM PDT

Although our knowledge of the human DNA is extensive, it is nowhere near complete. For instance, our knowledge of exactly which changes in our DNA are responsible for a certain disease is often insufficient. This is related to the fact that no two people have exactly the same DNA. Even the DNA molecules of identical twins have differences, which occur during their development and ageing. Some differences ensure that not everybody looks exactly alike, while others determine our susceptibility to particular diseases. Knowledge about the DNA variants can therefore tell us a lot about potential health risks and is a first step towards personalized medicine. Many small variants in the human genome -- the whole of genetic information in the cell -- have already been documented. Although it is known that larger structural variants play an important role in many hereditary diseases, these variants are also more difficult to detect and are, therefore, much less investigated.

Vaccinating babies without vaccinating babies

Posted: 07 Oct 2016 05:56 AM PDT

Scientists have long understood that mother's milk provides immune protection against some infectious agents through the transfer of antibodies, a process referred to as "passive immunity." A research team now shows that mother's milk also contributes to the development of the baby's own immune system by a process the team calls "maternal educational immunity."

Type 2 diabetes and obesity: What do we really know?

Posted: 07 Oct 2016 05:46 AM PDT

Social and economic factors have led to a dramatic rise in type 2 diabetes and obesity around the world. In a new review, researchers examine the knowledge of the actual causes and the interplay between genetics and lifestyle factors.

Aberrant tau proteins put neuronal networks to sleep

Posted: 07 Oct 2016 05:46 AM PDT

Researchers present new findings on the role of the protein Tau in certain brain diseases. Their report, which is based on laboratory studies, suggests that the drug "Rolofylline" could possibly alleviate learning and memory problems associated with aggregating Tau proteins.

How cells take out the trash: The 'phospho-kiss of death' deciphered

Posted: 07 Oct 2016 05:46 AM PDT

Cells never forget to take out the trash. It has long been known that cells tag proteins for degradation by labeling them with ubiquitin, a signal described as "the molecular kiss of death". Now a research group has identified an analogous system in gram-positive bacteria, where the role of a degradation tag is fulfilled by a little known post-translational modification: arginine phosphorylation. The discovery opens new avenues for designing antibacterial therapies.

Chicken korma, Eton mess and a genetic variant provide clues to our food choices

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 11:47 AM PDT

People who carry variants in a particular gene have an increased preference for high fat food, but a decreased preference for sugary foods, according to a new study. The research has provided insights into why we make particular food choices, with potential implications for our understanding of obesity. This is one of the first studies to show a direct link between food preference and specific genetic variants in humans.

Hospital rankings may rely on faulty data

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 11:39 AM PDT

A new report suggests hospital rankings may not be as reliable as thought. Researchers found that false-positive event rates were common among high-transfer and high-volume hospitals.

Scientists rev up speed of bionic enzyme reactions

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 11:36 AM PDT

Bionic enzymes got a needed boost in speed thanks to new research. By pairing a noble metal with a natural enzyme, scientists created a hybrid capable of churning out molecules at a rate comparable to biological counterparts.

Brain cell 'executioner' identified

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 11:36 AM PDT

Despite their different triggers, the same molecular chain of events appears to be responsible for brain cell death from strokes, injuries and even such neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer's. Now, researchers say they have pinpointed the protein at the end of that chain of events, one that delivers the fatal strike by carving up a cell's DNA. The find, they say, potentially opens up a new avenue for the development of drugs to prevent, stop or weaken the process.

How repair protein finds DNA damage

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 11:35 AM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated how Rad4, a protein involved in DNA repair, scans the DNA in a unique pattern of movement called 'constrained motion' to efficiently find structural faults in DNA. The findings could lead to therapies that boost existing drug treatments and counter drug-resistance.

Use of PSA for prostate screening unaffected by changes in screening guidelines, research finds

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 11:07 AM PDT

Controversy over prostate cancer screening guidelines that discourage use of PSA tests did not significantly reduce use of the test, a five-year review of more than 275,000 visits showed.

How 'dead' bacteria return to life

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 09:44 AM PDT

A strict genetic timetable for resuscitation of dormant cells has been uncovered by scientists. The findings provide insight into a previously unknown survival strategy of bacteria and enable the researchers to draw key conclusions about cell aging processes.

Ribosomal quality control

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 09:27 AM PDT

The assembly of proteins to form larger macromolecular structures within cells is linked to ribosomes and thus to their synthesis through the process of translation. Ribosomes adopt the role of a quality "checkpoint" in this context: They make sure that newly built proteins are directly fed into the production lines of macromolecular complexes.

Antibiotics could be cut by up to one-third, say dairy farmers

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 09:15 AM PDT

Nine in 10 dairy farmers participating in a new British survey say that the farming industry must take a proactive lead in the battle against antibiotic resistance. Those questioned also think that over the next five years they could cut their own antibiotic use by almost a third in dry cow therapy and a fifth in clinical mastitis.

New approach to block binge eating

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 09:08 AM PDT

A new therapeutic target for the treatment of compulsive binge eating has been identified by researchers. They report the beneficial effects of the activation of a class of receptors, Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 (TAAR1), on compulsive, binge eating. TAAR1 discovered in 2001, is a receptor that binds molecules in the brain called trace amines.

UV light disinfection significantly reduces Clostridium difficile incidence

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 09:05 AM PDT

Ultraviolet C light disinfection to clean unoccupied patient rooms significantly reduced C. difficile infections (CDI) in high-risk patients who later occupied those rooms, according to a new study. The no-touch device, used after patients with CDI were discharged from the hospital, also resulted in substantial healthcare savings, estimated between $350,000 and $1.5 million annually.

Microfibers fabricated for single-cell studies, tissue engineering

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 09:02 AM PDT

Researchers have created a new way to design and fabricate microfibers that support cell growth and could be useful tools for reconnecting nerves and regenerating other damaged tissues.

Researchers discover how selenium is incorporated into proteins

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 09:00 AM PDT

Humans need eight essential trace elements for good health, and one of them is selenium -- a powerful antioxidant that is important for thyroid and brain function as well as metabolism. Researchers have now discovered exactly how selenium is incorporated into selenoproteins.

Strange 'chimeras' defy science's understanding of human genetics

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 09:00 AM PDT

The human genome is far more complex than thought, with genes functioning in an unexpected fashion that scientists have wrongly assumed must indicate cancer, research indicates.

Simple blood test could vastly improve detection rates of severe liver disease

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 08:53 AM PDT

A new non-invasive method of predicting the risk of developing a severe form of liver disease could ensure patients receive early and potentially life-saving medical intervention before irreversible damage is done, report researchers.

First results from the world’s oldest group of ICSI men show they have lower semen quantity and quality

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 07:14 AM PDT

First results from the world's oldest group of young men conceived by means of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fertility treatment because of their fathers' infertility have shown that they have lower sperm quantity and quality than men who were spontaneously conceived.

How breast cancer screening could be better and less painful

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 07:14 AM PDT

The breast cancer screening tests offered to women may in many cases be unnecessarily painful. New research shows that strong compression of the breast during mammography screening does not automatically lead to a better basis for diagnosis.

Working night shifts unlikely to increase breast cancer risk

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 07:14 AM PDT

Working night shifts has little or no effect on a woman's breast cancer risk despite a review in 2007 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifying shift work disrupting the 'body clock'  as a probable cause of cancer, suggests new research.

Causative gene for sensorineural hearing loss identified

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 07:10 AM PDT

A causative gene for a highly common type of hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss, or SNHL) has been identified by a group of researchers, who successfully replicated the condition using a transgenic mouse. This discovery could potentially be used to develop new treatments for hearing loss.

Women's better verbal memory skills may mask early signs of Alzheimer's

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 06:29 AM PDT

Women may have better verbal memory skills than men even when their brains show the same level of problems metabolizing glucose, which occurs in people with Alzheimer's disease, according to research.

Toxicoepigenetics: The emerging field many are exploring without knowing it

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 06:28 AM PDT

Toxicologists who research health, exposure-related disease, and susceptibility are actually concurrently studying the consequences of epigenetic regulation, which is why an understanding of toxicoepigenetics is so important.

New evidence supports biological link between Zika infection, Guillain-Barré syndrome

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 06:23 AM PDT

In a collaborative effort with scientists at six Colombian hospitals, researchers report what they believe to be the strongest biological evidence to date linking Zika virus infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Alcoholism worsens insomnia, but there is hope

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 06:23 AM PDT

Individuals with alcohol dependence (AD) often have sleep-related disorders such as insomnia, circadian-rhythm sleep disorders, breathing-related sleep disorders, movement disorders, and parasomnias such as sleep-related eating disorder, sleepwalking, nightmares, sleep paralysis, and REM sleep behavior disorder. A new review examines the various aspects of insomnia associated with AD.

Analyzing picture books for nutrition education

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 06:23 AM PDT

Feeding children can be a challenging process for many parents. A previous study found 46% of preschoolers were picky eaters and 40% of picky eaters remained picky for two or more years. Nutrition education and recommended feeding practices may help parents deal with feeding problems and shorten their duration. Books may be used as resources to help teach children to overcome poor eating habits. Thus, a content analysis was conducted to assess messages about dietary behaviors and feeding strategies in a set of picture books.

Study demonstrates role of gut bacteria in neurodegenerative diseases

Posted: 06 Oct 2016 06:20 AM PDT

Exposure to bacterial proteins called amyloid that have structural similarity to brain proteins may lead to an increase in clumping of proteins in the brain, research has revealed. Aggregates of misfolded amyloid proteins are seen in the brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Enzyme treatment of gene may reverse effects of Alzheimer's

Posted: 05 Oct 2016 01:24 PM PDT

The APOE gene is a promising target for therapeutic approaches to Alzheimer's, says a researcher, describing new work.

Science at cusp of 'transformational' grasp of life via cell modeling

Posted: 05 Oct 2016 01:23 PM PDT

Advances in molecular biology and computer science around the world soon may lead to a three-dimensional computer model of a cell, the fundamental unit of life, outlines a new report. According to the authors, the development could herald a new era for biological research, medical science, and human and animal health.

Sweet math: Scientists devise a more accurate way to gauge blood sugar averages in people with diabetes

Posted: 05 Oct 2016 11:11 AM PDT

Marrying advanced math with standard blood-sugar tests, scientists have devised a more accurate way to measure three-month average blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. The new model offers a more precise alternative to the current gold-standard test by accounting for the age of a person's red blood cells.
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