ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Antibiotics give rise to new communities of harmful bacteria Posted: 23 Feb 2015 01:45 PM PST Most people have taken an antibiotic to treat a bacterial infection. Now researchers reveal that the way we often think about antibiotics -- as straightforward killing machines -- needs to be revised.

'DNA spellchecker' means that genes aren't all equally likely to mutate Posted: 23 Feb 2015 11:23 AM PST A study that examined 17 million mutations in the genomes of 650 cancer patients concludes that large differences in mutation rates across the human genome are caused by the DNA repair machinery. 'DNA spellchecker' is preferentially directed towards more important parts of chromosomes that contain key genes. The study illustrates how data from medical sequencing projects can answer basic questions about how cells work.

Canada must ensure all orphan drugs are priced fairly to allow patient access Posted: 23 Feb 2015 11:22 AM PST In developing an orphan drug policy, Canada must ensure that all orphan drugs for rare diseases -- both old and future drugs -- should be priced fairly so that Canadians may access life-saving therapy, argue authors of a new Canadian analysis.

One year later, preoperative quit-smoking program still shows benefits Posted: 23 Feb 2015 11:09 AM PST Patients receiving a brief intervention to help them quit smoking before surgery are still more likely to be nonsmokers at one-year follow-up, reports a study.

Molecular Link between Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes Reveals Potential Therapy Posted: 23 Feb 2015 11:09 AM PST The inflammatory molecule LTB4 promotes insulin resistance, a first step in developing type 2 diabetes, researchers have discovered. What's more, the team found that genetically removing the cell receptor that responds to LTB4, or blocking it with a drug, improves insulin sensitivity in obese mice.

Vitamin D deficiency linked more closely to diabetes than obesity Posted: 23 Feb 2015 11:09 AM PST People who have low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have diabetes, regardless of how much they weigh, according to a new study. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and maintain bone and muscle health. The skin naturally produces this vitamin after exposure to sunlight. People also absorb smaller amounts of the vitamin through foods, such as milk fortified with vitamin D. More than 1 billion people worldwide are estimated to have deficient levels of vitamin D due to limited sunshine exposure.

Interventions lower diabetes risk in women who had gestational diabetes Posted: 23 Feb 2015 11:09 AM PST Women with a history of gestational diabetes face a heightened risk of developing Type 2 diabetes for years after giving birth, but intensive lifestyle intervention or a medication regimen can have a protective effect in this population, according to a new study.

Your privacy online: Health information at serious risk of abuse, researchers warn Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:26 AM PST There is a significant risk to your privacy whenever you visit a health-related web page, some researchers warn. An analysis of over 80,000 such web pages shows that nine out of ten visits result in personal health information being leaked to third parties, including online advertisers and data brokers.

Sauna use associated with reduced risk of cardiac, all-cause mortality Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:26 AM PST A sauna may do more than just make you sweat. A new study suggests men who engaged in frequent sauna use had reduced risks of fatal cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, according to a new article.

HIV transmission at each step of care continuum in the United States Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:25 AM PST Individuals infected but undiagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and those individuals diagnosed with HIV but not yet in medical care accounted for more than 90 percent of the estimated 45,000 HIV transmissions in 2009, according to an article.

Immunization rates improve with centralized reminder system Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:25 AM PST Childhood immunization rates would improve with a centralized notification system that reminded families when immunizations were due, according to a new study. The study found that a centralized notification system run in collaboration with public health departments and physician practices was more effective and cost-effective than a practice-based notification system, which few practices implemented.

How a wound closes Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:25 AM PST Researchers decode the molecular mechanism of collective cell migration important for wound healing in a new article.

Discovery of genetic fingerprint of aggressive colon tumors Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:25 AM PST About 40–50% of all colorectal patients relapse in the form of metastasis. In the last three years, several molecular classifications have been proposed to identify colorectal cancer patients at risk of relapse. Scientists now explain why these classifications work and reveal, in fact, that they can be simplified and improved by looking exclusively at the genes that are expressed in the tissue around the tumor, known as the stroma or tumor microenvironment.

Magnetic nanoparticles could stop blood clot-caused strokes Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:24 AM PST By loading magnetic nanoparticles with drugs and dressing them in biochemical camouflage, researchers say they can destroy blood clots 100 to 1,000 times faster than a commonly used clot-busting technique.

Epigenome orchestrates embryonic development Posted: 23 Feb 2015 09:23 AM PST Studying zebrafish embryos, researchers have shown that the epigenome plays a significant part in guiding development in the first 24 hours after fertilization. The research may deepen understanding of congenital defects and miscarriage.

3D printed guides can help restore function in damaged nerves Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:41 AM PST Scientists have succeeded in using a 3-D printed guide to help nerves damaged in traumatic incidents repair themselves. The team used the device to repair nerve damage in animal models and say the method could help treat many types of traumatic injury.

Bacteria network for food Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:41 AM PST It is well-known that bacteria can support each others' growth and exchange nutrients. Scientists however, have now discovered a new way of how bacteria can achieve this nutritional exchange. They found that some bacteria can form nanotubular structures between single cells that enable a direct exchange of nutrients.

Study sheds light on a 'guardian' protein of brain function Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:41 AM PST The critical role of CHIP was reported by researchers. Their report has spurred efforts to develop CHIP-enhancing drugs to help speed recovery from strokes and following neurosurgery, and prevent development of neurodegenerative disorders.

Same patient mortality rates for experienced and new surgeons, study shows Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:41 AM PST There is no statistical difference between the patient mortality rates of new and experienced surgeons a study using a newly developed statistical methodology and conducted by a research team comprised of medical doctors and statisticians has found.

Wisdom teeth stem cells can transform into cells that could treat corneal scarring Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:41 AM PST Stem cells from the dental pulp of wisdom teeth can be coaxed to become cells of the eye's cornea and could one day be used to repair corneal scarring due to infection or injury, according to researchers. The findings indicate they also could become a new source of corneal transplant tissue made from the patient's own cells.

Customized DNA rings aid early cancer detection in mice, study finds Posted: 23 Feb 2015 07:41 AM PST Investigators administered a customized genetic construct consisting of tiny rings of DNA, called DNA minicircles, to mice. The scientists then showed that mice with tumors produced a substance that tumor-free mice didn't make. The substance was easily detected 48 hours later by a simple blood test.

Standard operation procedure to effectively detect dietetically absorbed plant miRNAs Posted: 23 Feb 2015 06:18 AM PST Researchers systematically characterized the kinetics of plant microRNAs in human plasma after healthy volunteers drank watermelon juice or ate fruits. The group also addressed some critical technical problems, such as the lack of a standard method for RNA extraction and the lack of proper internal controls that may cause inconsistent results in measuring exogenous plant miRNAs.

'Walking Football' phenomenon has great health benefits Posted: 23 Feb 2015 06:18 AM PST 'Walking football' could have a multitude of health benefits, researchers say, after studying the sport. The new sporting craze of 'Walking Football' may enable people to continue playing football into their 60s and 70s while reaping a multitude of health benefits, according to the researchers.

Genetic pathways linked to CF disease severity pinned down Posted: 23 Feb 2015 06:18 AM PST Mutation of one gene is all it takes to get cystic fibrosis, but disease severity depends on many other genes and proteins. For the first time, researchers identified genetic pathways that play major roles in why one person with CF might have severe symptoms while another person might not.

Fever alarm armband: A wearable, printable, temperature sensor Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:43 AM PST Researchers have developed a 'fever alarm armband,' a flexible, self-powered wearable device that sounds an alarm in case of high body temperature. The flexible organic components developed for this device are well-suited to wearable devices that continuously monitor vital signs including temperature and heart rate for applications in healthcare settings.

Certain factors influence whether cancer patients involve family members in treatment decisions Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:43 AM PST Family members often play an important role in providing care for patients with cancer, but which patients are more or less likely to involve family members in decisions regarding their care is not well known.

Baby formula poses higher arsenic risk to newborns than breast milk, study shows Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:43 AM PST In the first US study of urinary arsenic in babies, researchers found that formula-fed infants had higher arsenic levels than breast-fed infants, and that breast milk itself contained very low arsenic concentrations.

Smoking for 75 minutes in a car could render you unconscious, study suggests Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:42 AM PST A student study suggests that smoking 15 cigarettes for over an hour in a closed car could cause loss of consciousness. This is not a medical study. It is based on a series of theoretical calculations using applied physics.

Acute use of cannabinoids depresses motor neuron activity Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:42 AM PST A new study could explain the acute lack of coordination and difficulty speaking and breathing experienced by some people who habitually use cannabis.

New assistive equipment to maximize human sensorimotor function Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:40 AM PST A prototype for wearable equipment to support human motion has now been developed. This wearable equipment, called the Sensorimotor Enhancing Suit (SEnS), enhances sensorimotor functions by reducing the muscle load of the upper limbs. SEnS is inexpensive because it is made of flexible fabrics using regular cloth and does not include any electronic devices. SEnS assists human sensorimotor functions and improves the quality of life of not only elderly individuals but also healthy people who work under extreme conditions.

Help is Just a Call Away for Mothers with Postnatal Depression Posted: 23 Feb 2015 05:40 AM PST New research reveals that telephone-based peer support may help reduce postnatal depression, also known as postpartum depression, in new mothers. Researchers also found that social support from peers may be effective for maternal depression up to two years after delivery. At the start of the study all mothers were moderately depressed, but this dropped after telephone peer support to 8.1% (3/37) depressed at midpoint, rising to 11.8% (4/34) at the end of the study, suggesting some relapse.