ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

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• New technique helps in search for genetic roots of disease
• Twenty percent of children with Celiac disease do not heal on a gluten-free diet
• Early study finds antibody that 'neutralizes' Zika virus
• Three key practices in hospital HR departments linked to exemplary patient care
• Scientists develop game-changing blood test for concussions
• Malaria immunity: Researchers discover key to long-lasting protection and potential vaccine targets
• Scientists develop computer models to predict cancer cell network activity
• Despite clinical and cost evidence, barriers remain to feeding mother's own milk in NICU
• Protamine shows promise for new types of contact lens disinfectant
• Pretreating red blood cells with nitric oxide may reduce side effect linked to transfusions
• Adult weight gain could increase cancer risk
• Gut microbes linked to immunotherapy response in melanoma patients
• When do speech difficulties in children matter for literacy?
• Salamander research may lead to new strategies to treat infertility
• Physical and cognitive fitness may affect ALS risk
• Poor children with epilepsy may face social hurdles
• Reproductive history, hormone use may affect women's cognitive function
• Researchers unravel viruses' strategies to dodge immune systems
• Proteins as an early warning system for type 1 diabetes?
• New advance in RNA studies holds out hope for cancer drug development
• Continuous pursuit to regenerate injured or diseased tissues
• Do second opinions matter in prostate cancer care?
• Maternal B12 deficiency may increase child's risk of type-2 diabetes
• Punching cancer with RNA knuckles
• Common food additive promotes colon cancer in mice
• Drug shows promise for preventing pre-term birth
• Andeans with altitude sickness produce massive amounts of red blood cells
• Study identifies new biomarkers for Huntington's disease
• Low vitamin D levels linked to increased risk of bladder cancer
• Ophthalmologist emphasizes care in dim-light driving as time change brings darkness to evening commute
• Rubella virus persists after vaccination in some patients with immunodeficiency disorders
• Stressed-out rats consume more alcohol, revealing related brain chemistry
• Tumor cells in blood samples could predict prostate cancer spread
• Scientists identify genetic markers of resistance to frontline malaria drug that could help control outbreaks

New technique helps in search for genetic roots of disease Posted: 07 Nov 2016 11:30 AM PST A new technique to cheaply and rapidly create sets of DNA fragments that include all possible genetic variants will help scientists distinguish between genetic variants linked to disease and those that are innocuous, say scientists.

Twenty percent of children with Celiac disease do not heal on a gluten-free diet Posted: 07 Nov 2016 11:30 AM PST Even after a year on a gluten-free diet, nearly 20 percent of children with celiac disease continue to have intestinal abnormalities (enteropathy) on repeat biopsies, reports a study.

Early study finds antibody that 'neutralizes' Zika virus Posted: 07 Nov 2016 10:03 AM PST Researchers have isolated a human monoclonal antibody that in a mouse model "markedly reduced" infection by the Zika virus, report scientists. Zika is believed to cause microcephaly, unusually small heads, and other congenital malformations in children born to infected women.

Three key practices in hospital HR departments linked to exemplary patient care Posted: 07 Nov 2016 10:01 AM PST While employee salaries and wages can account for up to 80 percent of the total operating budget in health care organizations, human resources departments in many U.S. hospitals still rely on traditional, bureaucratic HR practices that can constrain employee effort and initiative. Now, researchers have identified three HR practices for hospitals that can improve clinical work behaviors, leading to better outcomes for patients.

Scientists develop game-changing blood test for concussions Posted: 07 Nov 2016 10:01 AM PST A new blood test that identifies with greater than 90 per cent certainty whether or not an adolescent athlete has suffered a concussion has been developed by a team of researchers.

Malaria immunity: Researchers discover key to long-lasting protection and potential vaccine targets Posted: 07 Nov 2016 10:01 AM PST A set of immune proteins has been discovered that facilitate long-lasting immunity against malaria. In a new study, researchers report that elevated production of specific proteins regulating the immune system within 24 hours of infection was required for a resilient and sustained anti-malaria immunity in mice.

Scientists develop computer models to predict cancer cell network activity Posted: 07 Nov 2016 10:01 AM PST A new method to broadly assess cell communication networks has been identified by a multi-institution academic-industrial partnership of researchers. The work will help clinicians identify disease-specific network anomalies.

Despite clinical and cost evidence, barriers remain to feeding mother's own milk in NICU Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:48 AM PST Despite several years of research providing the medical and economic evidence that feeding a mother's own milk to very low birth weight infants improves clinical and financial outcomes, multiple barriers to mothers' providing their own breast milk for infants in the neonatal intensive care unit to persist, report investigators.

Protamine shows promise for new types of contact lens disinfectant Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:46 AM PST Protamine -- a natural protein with a proven safety record -- may be useful in developing new types of disinfectant solutions for contact lenses, according to a study.

Pretreating red blood cells with nitric oxide may reduce side effect linked to transfusions Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:43 AM PST A new treatment may diminish a dangerous side effect associated with transfusions of red blood cells (RBCs) known as pulmonary hypertension, an elevated blood pressure in the lungs and heart that can lead to heart failure, suggests a new study. The treatment involves exposing RBCs that have been collected, processed and stored for transfusion to the gas, nitric oxide.

Adult weight gain could increase cancer risk Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:30 AM PST Substantial weight gain over many years increases the risk of obesity-related cancers in men by 50 per cent and in women by almost 20 per cent, according to new research.

Gut microbes linked to immunotherapy response in melanoma patients Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:30 AM PST Patients with malignant melanoma - whose disease has spread - are more likely to respond to immunotherapy treatment if they had greater diversity in their gut bacteria, according to new research.

When do speech difficulties in children matter for literacy? Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:30 AM PST Speech difficulties are linked with difficulties in learning to read when children first start school, but these effects are no longer apparent at 8 years of age, new research suggests.

Salamander research may lead to new strategies to treat infertility Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:29 AM PST Some animals, such as the axolotl salamander, have the ability to generate large numbers of eggs-or oocytes-throughout life. Investigators who recently conducted detailed analyses of the axolotl provide insights on the mechanisms of ovarian regeneration that could assist regenerative medicine in treating pre-mature ovarian failure and reduced fertility in humans.

Physical and cognitive fitness may affect ALS risk Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:29 AM PST Physical fitness, body mass index (BMI), IQ, and stress resilience in young adulthood may have effects on the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, new research suggests.

Poor children with epilepsy may face social hurdles Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:29 AM PST In a population-based Canadian study of children with epilepsy, each of whom had access to universal health care, those from poor families had the same medical course and remission rate as their wealthier counterparts, but they had a less favorable social outcome as adults.

Reproductive history, hormone use may affect women's cognitive function Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:29 AM PST Reproductive life events related to sex hormones, including earlier age at menarche, later age at last pregnancy, length of reproductive period, and use of oral contraceptives were positively related to aspects of cognition in later life, a study of healthy postmenopausal women has shown.

Researchers unravel viruses' strategies to dodge immune systems Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:29 AM PST As mammals evolve, so do mammalian viruses. In doing so, they develop creative and effective ways to counter and evade the antiviral responses of their mammal hosts' immune systems. Researching those mechanisms at the molecular level can reveal key insights into the principles of such strategies relevant to therapy development. An international team of scientists set out to do just that.

Proteins as an early warning system for type 1 diabetes? Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:24 AM PST Certain proteins in the blood of children can predict incipient type 1 diabetes, even before the first symptoms appear, a team of scientists report.

New advance in RNA studies holds out hope for cancer drug development Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:24 AM PST Scientists have designed a new method to find RNA structures linked to cancer. The formation of quadruplexes by RNA might allow new ways to control gene expression, they report.

Continuous pursuit to regenerate injured or diseased tissues Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:24 AM PST Nanoscale manipulation on the surface of materials could stimulate cells to differentiate into specific tissues, eliminating the use of growth or transcription factors, suggests new research.

Do second opinions matter in prostate cancer care? Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:24 AM PST Many men with prostate cancer obtain second opinions from urologists before starting treatment, but surprisingly, second opinions are not associated with changes in treatment choice or improvements in perceived quality of prostate cancer care. These findings also explore motivations for seeking second opinions, and suggest that second opinions may not reduce overtreatment in prostate cancer.

Maternal B12 deficiency may increase child's risk of type-2 diabetes Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:10 AM PST B12 deficiency during pregnancy may predispose children to metabolic problems such as type-2 diabetes, according to research. These findings could lead to a review of current vitamin B12 requirements for pregnant women, whether through an improved diet or supplements.

Punching cancer with RNA knuckles Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:10 AM PST Researchers achieved an unexpected eye-popping reduction of ovarian cancer during a successful test of targeted nanohydrogel delivery in vivo in mice. Adding cisplatin eliminated or starkly diminished tumors, report investigators.

Common food additive promotes colon cancer in mice Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:06 AM PST Emulsifiers, which are added to most processed foods to aid texture and extend shelf life, can alter intestinal bacteria in a manner that promotes intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer, according to a new study.

Drug shows promise for preventing pre-term birth Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:06 AM PST A drug that is showing some early promise in efforts to prevent pre-term birth has been successfully tested by a team of investigators.

Andeans with altitude sickness produce massive amounts of red blood cells Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:03 AM PST To better understand why some people adapt well to life at high altitude while others don't, researchers studied red blood cells derived from representatives of both groups living in the Andes Mountains. The study reveals that high-altitude, low-oxygen dwellers prone to chronic mountain sickness produce massive amounts of red blood cells thanks to overproduction of the enzyme SENP1.

Study identifies new biomarkers for Huntington's disease Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:03 AM PST Researchers have identified several new biological markers to measure the progression of the inherited neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease. Their findings could benefit clinical trials that test new treatments for the disease.

Low vitamin D levels linked to increased risk of bladder cancer Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:03 AM PST Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of developing bladder cancer, according to a systematic review of seven studies. Though further clinical studies are needed to confirm the findings, the study adds to a growing body of evidence on the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels.

Ophthalmologist emphasizes care in dim-light driving as time change brings darkness to evening commute Posted: 07 Nov 2016 08:03 AM PST As the end of daylight saving time draws near, ophthalmologists want to focus on a real issue—dim-light driving situations that can endanger drivers and pedestrians.

Rubella virus persists after vaccination in some patients with immunodeficiency disorders Posted: 04 Nov 2016 11:58 AM PDT Some patients with rare primary immunodeficiency disorders may be at risk for infection by rubella virus, and possibly serious skin inflammation, after receiving the rubella vaccine, usually administered as part of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Although the vaccine for rubella (German measles) has an established record of safety and effectiveness in the general population, patients with severe deficiencies in their immune defenses may be susceptible to side effects from the vaccine, say researchers.

Stressed-out rats consume more alcohol, revealing related brain chemistry Posted: 04 Nov 2016 11:57 AM PDT Rodents that had been exposed to stress had a weakened alcohol-induced dopamine response and voluntarily drank more alcohol compared to controls, a new study has found. The blunted dopamine signaling to ethanol arose due to changes in the circuitry in the ventral tegmental area, the heart of the brain's reward system.

Tumor cells in blood samples could predict prostate cancer spread Posted: 04 Nov 2016 07:21 AM PDT Researchers have found a group of circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer patient blood samples that are linked to the spread of the disease, according to new research.

Scientists identify genetic markers of resistance to frontline malaria drug that could help control outbreaks Posted: 04 Nov 2016 07:21 AM PDT Scientists have identified genetic markers associated with resistance to the one of the most commonly used malaria drugs in Southeast Asia. The findings of two independent studies from Cambodia could be used to help track and contain the spread of drug-resistant disease in the region.

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