ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Genetics breakthrough will boost diabetes research Posted: 09 Mar 2015 02:48 PM PDT The genes that increase the risk of Type 1 diabetes have lost their hiding place, scientists report. A research group has located and narrowed down the number of genes that play a role in the disease, according to their study. Knowing the identities and location of causative genes is a crucial development: Other researchers can use this information to better predict who might develop Type 1 diabetes and how to prevent it.

T cell population altered in patients with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity Posted: 09 Mar 2015 02:48 PM PDT A population of T cells known as mucosal-associated invariant T cells is altered in patients with type 2 diabetes and/or severe obesity, a new study reports. And as obesity rates rise, so does the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

From brain tumors to memory: A very multifunctional protein Posted: 09 Mar 2015 02:48 PM PDT A protein called BAI1 involved in limiting the growth of brain tumors is also critical for spatial learning and memory, researchers have discovered. BAI1 is part of a regulatory network neuroscientists think is connected with autism spectrum disorders.

Tiny nanoparticles could make big impact for patients in need of cornea transplant Posted: 09 Mar 2015 02:45 PM PDT There are about 48,000 corneal transplants done each year in the U.S., compared to approximately 16,000 kidney transplants and 2,100 heart transplants. Out of the 48,000 corneal transplants done, 10 percent of them end up in rejection, largely due to poor medication compliance. This costs the health care system and puts undue strain on clinicians, patients and their families.

Ovarian Cancer: Chemotherapy and Improved Surgical Techniques Posted: 09 Mar 2015 02:45 PM PDT Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer in the United States and is the country's fifth most common cause of cancer mortality in women. In 2015, it is estimated that more than 21,000 new diagnoses and more than 14,000 deaths from this neoplasm will occur in the United States; less than 40 percent of women with ovarian cancer are cured.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS: Scientists reveal structural secrets of nature's little locomotive Posted: 09 Mar 2015 01:06 PM PDT Scientists have determined the basic structural organization of a molecular motor that hauls cargoes and performs other critical functions within cells. The complex's large size, myriad subunits and high flexibility have until now restricted structural studies to small pieces of the whole.

More study needed to clarify impact of cellulose nanocrystals on health Posted: 09 Mar 2015 01:06 PM PDT Biocompatible and biodegradable, cellulose materials are being studied for use in high-performance composites and optical films, and to deliver medicine in pills. But before a material can be commercialized, its impact on human health must be determined, experts say.

First look at hospitalized Ebola survivors' immune cells could guide vaccine design Posted: 09 Mar 2015 01:06 PM PDT Researchers have gained a first look at the immune responses in four Ebola virus disease survivors who received care at Emory University Hospital in 2014. Their findings reveal high levels of immune activation, and have implications for the current effort to develop vaccines against Ebola.

New class of drugs dramatically increases healthy lifespan, mouse study suggests Posted: 09 Mar 2015 11:48 AM PDT Scientists have identified a new class of drugs that in animal models dramatically slows the aging process -- alleviating symptoms of frailty, improving cardiac function and extending a healthy lifespan.

Teens, adults hazy on Washington marijuana law, study shows Posted: 09 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT Only 57 percent of Washington parents surveyed knew the legal age for recreational marijuana use and just 63 percent knew that homegrown marijuana is illegal under the law, a new study demonstrates.

Study of fruit fly 'brain in a jar' reveals mechanics of jet lag Posted: 09 Mar 2015 10:51 AM PDT Long the stuff of science fiction, the disembodied 'brain in a jar' is providing science fact for researchers, who by studying the whole brains of fruit flies are discovering the inner mechanisms of jet lag.

Blood-based genetic biomarkers identify young boys with autism Posted: 09 Mar 2015 10:46 AM PDT An international team of scientists reports finding a highly accurate blood-based measure that could lead to development of a clinical test for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in males as young as one to two years old. The test could be done in community pediatric settings.

Online health information -- keep it simple! Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:42 AM PDT Australian health websites are too difficult for many people to read, a team of researchers suggest. And limited availability of 'easy-to-read' health materials suggests that many Australians may not be benefiting from the convenience of the internet, they say.

Vaccinate against measles, experts say Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:42 AM PDT An article has examined reasons people are hesitant to vaccinate. "Active vaccine refusal is a significant issue and leaves a large group of children at unnecessary risk of measles infection and associated complications such as pneumonia, otitis media, encephalitis and death," said co-author of the new study.

African-American cancer patients' depression symptoms under-recognized, study finds Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PDT A researcher who has long examined quality-of-life issues in cancer patients wondered whether depression in African-American cancer patients has been under-recognized for treatment. Accurately assessing depression in cancer patients is difficult in general because the physical symptoms of cancer and depression -- low energy, lack of sleep and loss of appetite -- are so similar.

Boosting older adults' vision through training Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PDT Just a weeks' worth of training can improve vision in older adults, according to new research. The findings show that training boosted older adults' sensitivity to contrast and also their ability to see things clearly at close distances.

Societally-engaged adults see their lives as redemption stories Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PDT Middle-aged Americans who show high levels of societal involvement and mental health are especially likely to construe their lives as stories of personal redemption, according to new research. And this redemption narrative was also stronger for adults who showed greater overall mental health and well-being.

Vegetarian diet linked to lower risk of colorectal cancers Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PDT Eating a vegetarian diet was associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancers compared with nonvegetarians in a study of Seventh-Day Adventist men and women, according to a new article.

Fifteen new breast cancer genetic risk 'hot-spots' revealed Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PDT Another 15 genetic ‘hot-spots’ that can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer have been discovered by researchers. This new discovery means that a total of more than 90 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with breast cancer have now been revealed through research.

How blood group O protects against malaria Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:41 AM PDT It has long been known that people with blood type O are protected from dying of severe malaria. Now a team of Scandinavian scientists explains the mechanisms behind the protection that blood type O provides, and suggest that the selective pressure imposed by malaria may contribute to the variable global distribution of ABO blood groups in the human population.

Preterm babies continue to receive inhaled nitric oxide despite guidance discouraging its use, study says Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:39 AM PDT Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) is a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration that is commonly used in term and near-term neonates who have severe respiratory failure caused by pulmonary hypertension. Over the last decade there have been multiple large studies trying to determine a clinical use for iNO in preterm neonates, but despite evidence of short-term benefit, this drug has not been shown to improve long-term outcomes in preemies. Still, the drug is commonly being used in this population, experts say.

Youth suicide rate in rural areas is nearly double the rate in cities Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:39 AM PDT The adolescent and young-adult suicide rate in the United States was almost twice as high in rural settings than in urban areas between 1996 and 2010, and new research suggests that the gap appears to be widening.

Most information in drug development is lost, experts say Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:39 AM PDT Lots of potentially useful medical information is getting lost. Researchers discovered this when they looked into the lack of reporting of information from “stalled drug” trials in cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

Two-step treatment improved function, decreased pain severity in veterans Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:39 AM PDT A stepped-care strategy improved function and decreased pain severity, producing at least a 30 percent improvement in pain-related disability, investigators report. Although U.S. military veterans who have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan are more likely to suffer chronic pain than veterans of any other conflict in American history, little headway has been made in helping them manage the often debilitating effects of chronic pain, authors say.

'Genomic landscape' of childhood adrenocortical tumors mapped for the first time Posted: 09 Mar 2015 09:39 AM PDT In an advance that could lead to better identification of malignant pediatric adrenocortical tumors, and ultimately to better treatment, researchers have mapped the “genomic landscape” of these rare childhood tumors. Their genomic mapping has revealed unprecedented details, not only of the aberrant genetic and chromosomal changes that drive the cancer, but the sequence of those changes that trigger it.

PET/MR can effectively diagnose cause of unclear foot pain Posted: 09 Mar 2015 08:09 AM PDT A single scan could diagnose the cause of foot pain better and with less radiation exposure to the patient than other methods, according to a study. Imaging with 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging, compared to 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography/computed topography, provides more diagnostic information with higher diagnostic certainty.

Quick, easy, early diagnosis with rare earth ions Posted: 09 Mar 2015 08:08 AM PDT Lack of oxygen in cells is an indicator of diseases as serious as cerebral haemorrhages, stroke and cancer. Regrettably measuring real-time oxygen concentration in living tissue is difficult with current technologies. Now a chemist has invented a compound which measures oxygen in cells and other biological material with high precision. The compound is based on rare earths emitting colored light that vary in color with the amount of oxygen present in the sample. Because emissions are in the visible range of the spectrum, it will be possible to measure oxygen using the optical microscopes already present in most hospitals.

Ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir: Hint of added benefit in certain patients Posted: 09 Mar 2015 07:28 AM PDT Reviewers report that in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C, data from a historical comparison showed an advantage in virologic response. For further patient groups, suitable data were lacking, they say.

Vildagliptin for type 2 diabetes: No suitable data for combination with sulfonylurea Posted: 09 Mar 2015 07:28 AM PDT New study data, on the basis of which the drug manufacturer applied for a new dossier assessment, were found by reviewers to be unsuitable: they not only compared two drugs, but also two therapeutic strategies.

New test uses human stem cells to identify dangerous side effects of drugs Posted: 09 Mar 2015 07:25 AM PDT A test that uses combinations of cells from a single donor’s blood to predict whether a new drug will cause a severe immune reaction in humans has been developed by researchers. The test could avert disasters like the 2006 trial of the drug TGN1412, which led to six healthy young men being admitted to intensive care with multiple organ failure. The volunteers receiving TGN1412 experienced a catastrophic inflammatory reaction called a cytokine storm.

Pregnancy weight gain tilts scales for child becoming obese Posted: 09 Mar 2015 06:32 AM PDT For the first time, researchers studied the effects of gestational weight gain on childhood obesity risk among a multi-ethnic urban population. The researchers determined that excessive pregnancy weight gain was associated with greater overall and abdominal body fat in children and obesity at age seven. Excessive pre-pregnancy weight gain was associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity of approximately 300 percent.

What’s your genetic destiny? More than half of parents want to know disease risks for selves, kids Posted: 09 Mar 2015 06:25 AM PDT Would you want to know if you or your children had risk of hereditary cancer, a genetic risk for cardiovascular disease or carried the gene associated with developing Alzheimer’s disease?

Bioengineers put human hearts on a chip to aid drug screening Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:30 AM PDT Researchers have created a 'heart-on-a-chip' that effectively uses human cardiac muscle cells derived from adult stem cells to model how a human heart reacts to cardiovascular medications. The system could one day replace animal models to screen for the safety and efficacy of new drugs.

Breast cancer risk may be increased in women who have first-degree relatives with a history of prostate cancer Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:30 AM PDT Having a family history of prostate cancer among first-degree relatives may increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer.

Physical labor, hypertension and multiple meds may reduce male fertility Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:30 AM PDT Working in a physically demanding job, having high blood pressure, and taking multiple medications are among health risks that may undermine a man's fertility, according to a study. The study is the first to examine the relationships between workplace exertion, health, and semen quality as men are trying to conceive.

Understanding of cell enzyme flipped on its head Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:29 AM PDT Certain molecules long thought to promote cancer growth, in fact suppress tumors, researchers have discovered, suggesting that therapeutic approaches should aim to restore, rather than block, their activity.

Are you a descendant of Genghis Khan? Millions of modern men descendants of 11 Asian dynastic leaders Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:29 AM PDT Millions of modern Asian men are descended from 11 powerful dynastic leaders who lived up to 4,000 years ago -- including Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan, according to a new study. Researchers examined the male-specific Y chromosome, which is passed from father to son, in more than 5,000 Asian men belonging to 127 populations.

Patient views of GP safety explored Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:28 AM PDT GPs’ patients can feel alienated by lack of trust, impersonal processes and that this presents problems to improving their safety, a new report suggests. Authors interviewed 38 people recruited from nine practices in urban, small town and city locations in North West England. They were asked to share their views about their practice and to put these in the context of their safety.

Traffic light food labels strengthen self-control Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:28 AM PDT Should food products be labeled with traffic light symbols to make health-related information on ingredients easier to understand? This question has remained a subject of debate. Now researchers have reached the conclusion that the traffic light label is more effective in helping consumers resist high-calorie foods than a purely information-based label. Scientists observed study participants in the brain scanner as they made purchase decisions.

Strained thumb from texting? Biomechanical simulations show how tablets and smartphones stress joints and muscles Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:28 AM PDT Spending hours on a computer or sending lots of text messages on a mobile phone can result in a stiff neck and sometimes even a strained thumb. Computer scientists have developed a procedure that simulates in a lifelike manner which muscles and joints are put under particular strain when using IT devices. It also demonstrates the speed and accuracy with which a user can operate a device. The method developed by the researchers uses cameras to capture the motion of a test subject and then projects these movements onto a model of the human body.

Go meta: New technique expands possibilities for molecular designers Posted: 09 Mar 2015 05:28 AM PDT Chemists have developed a broadly useful technique for building new drug molecules and other chemical products.