ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Voices in people's heads more complex than previously thought Posted: 10 Mar 2015 05:57 PM PDT Voices in people's heads are far more varied and complex than previously thought. One of the largest and most detailed studies to date on the experience of auditory hallucinations, commonly referred to as voice hearing, found that the majority of voice-hearers hear multiple voices with distinct character-like qualities, with many also experiencing physical effects on their bodies. The study also confirmed that both people with and without psychiatric diagnoses hear voices.

Fractal patterns may uncover new line of attack on cancer Posted: 10 Mar 2015 05:57 PM PDT Studying the intricate fractal patterns on the surface of cells could give researchers a new insight into the physical nature of cancer, and provide new ways of preventing the disease from developing.

Salt affects organs, even in absence of high blood pressure Posted: 10 Mar 2015 01:00 PM PDT Physicians have provided evidence that even in the absence of an increase in blood pressure, excess dietary sodium can adversely affect target organs, including the blood vessels, heart, kidneys and brain.

Cost of care for a common prostate condition measured for the first time Posted: 10 Mar 2015 11:39 AM PDT For the first time, researchers have described cost across an entire care process for a common condition called benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) using time-driven activity-based costing. They found a 400 percent discrepancy between the least and most expensive ways to treat the condition.

Injectable polymer could keep soldiers, trauma patients from bleeding to death Posted: 10 Mar 2015 11:39 AM PDT A new injectable polymer that strengthens blood clots, called PolySTAT, has been created by researchers. Administered in a simple shot, the polymer finds unseen injuries and has the potential to keep trauma patients from bleeding to death before reaching medical care.

'Sugar papers' reveal industry role in 1970s U.S. National Caries Program, analysis shows Posted: 10 Mar 2015 11:39 AM PDT A newly discovered cache of industry documents reveals that the sugar industry worked closely with the National Institutes of Health in the 1960s and '70s to develop a federal research program focused on approaches other than sugar reduction to prevent tooth decay in American children.

'Digitizing' crosstalk among heart cells may help locate epicenters of heart rhythms Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:35 AM PDT A mathematical model has been developed to measure and digitally map the beat-sustaining electrical flow between heart cells. "Successful arrhythmia treatment depends on correctly identifying the epicenter of the malfunction," the lead investigator says. "We cannot begin to develop such precision-targeted therapies without understanding the exact nature of the malfunction and its precise location. This new model is a first step toward doing so."

ACL injuries in female athletes traced to genes Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:35 AM PDT Female athletes endure two to eight times more anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, injuries than their male counterparts. Genes are likely a major factor, according to researchers.

Natural language processing accurately tracks colonoscopy quality Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:33 AM PDT An accurate system for tracking the quality of colonoscopies and determining the appropriate intervals between these procedures could contribute to both better health outcomes and lower costs. Clinician-researchers have created and tested such a system in the nation's first multiple institution colonoscopy quality measurement study utilizing natural language processing and report that it is as accurate but less expensive than human review.

Combination therapy best for low-grade brain tumors, clinical trial suggests Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:33 AM PDT Combining chemotherapy with radiation therapy is the best treatment for people with a low-grade form of brain cancer, mew clinical-trial findings suggest, providing further evidence to support this approach.

Risk of motor vehicle accidents is higher in people with sleep apnea Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:33 AM PDT A new study finds that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with a significantly increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, and this risk is reduced when sleep apnea is treated effectively using continuous positive airway pressure therapy.

Scientists open door for asthma cure Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:32 AM PDT Scientists have identified a way to target a recently discovered cell type that causes asthma, paving the way to cure the chronic respiratory disease that affects 25 million Americans.

Stopping the revolving door: Study finds sepsis survivors return to hospital for preventable reasons Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:31 AM PDT They're alive thanks to the most advanced care modern hospitals can provide. But for survivors of sepsis, the hospital door often looks like a revolving one, a new study shows. And many of the conditions that send them back to a hospital bed should be preventable.

Outcomes for surgical vs non-surgical treatment of broken shoulder Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:31 AM PDT Among patients with a displaced fracture in the upper arm near the shoulder (proximal humeral), there was no significant difference between surgical treatment and nonsurgical treatment in patient-reported outcomes over two years following the fracture, results that do not support the trend of increased surgery for patients with this type of fracture, according to a study.

Outcomes for Patients One Year After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:30 AM PDT In an analysis of outcomes of about 12,000 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement, death rate after one year was nearly one in four; of those alive at 12 months, almost half had not been rehospitalized and approximately 25 percent had only one hospitalization, according to a new study.

Lower prevalence of diabetes found among patients with inherited high cholesterol disorder Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:30 AM PDT The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among 25,000 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic disorder characterized by high low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol levels) was significantly lower than among unaffected relatives, with the prevalence varying by the type of gene mutation, according to a study.

Repeated exposure of children to secondhand smoke is child abuse, expert argues Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:30 AM PDT Purposefully and repeatedly exposing children to secondhand smoke -- a known human carcinogen -- is child abuse, according to an opinion piece written by a physician expert.

Custom blood cells engineered by researchers Posted: 10 Mar 2015 09:30 AM PDT Researchers have successfully corrected a genetic error in stem cells from patients with sickle cell disease, and then used those cells to grow mature red blood cells, they report. The study represents an important step toward more effectively treating certain patients with sickle cell disease who need frequent blood transfusions and currently have few options.

Autism risk genes also linked to higher intelligence Posted: 10 Mar 2015 07:52 AM PDT Genes linked with a greater risk of developing autism may also be associated with higher intelligence, a study suggests.

New approach to HIV management in Tanzania and Zambia reduces deaths by almost one-third Posted: 10 Mar 2015 07:52 AM PDT A new approach to care for patients with advanced HIV in Tanzania and Zambia combining community support and screening for a type of meningitis has reduced deaths by 28 percent, according to research.

Engineered cells could help tackle third most common cancer in Chinese males Posted: 10 Mar 2015 07:52 AM PDT A new method of genetically engineering immune cells could lead to improved treatment of Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, researchers believe.

High levels of vitamin D is suspected of increasing mortality rates Posted: 10 Mar 2015 07:52 AM PDT The level of vitamin D in our blood should neither be too high nor to low. Scientists have now shown that there is a connection between high levels of vitamin D and cardiovascular deaths.

Design, build of synthetic DNA goes back to 'BASIC' Posted: 10 Mar 2015 07:48 AM PDT A new technique for creating artificial DNA that is faster, more accurate and more flexible than existing methods has been developed by scientists.

New electronic clinical decision support tool standardizes care for pneumonia patients and save lives, new study finds Posted: 10 Mar 2015 07:47 AM PDT Using advanced clinical decision support tools reduces mortality for the 1.1 million patients in the Unites States who are treated for pneumonia each year.

Younger immigrants at higher risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease Posted: 10 Mar 2015 06:15 AM PDT This is the first population-based study to demonstrate an increased risk of IBD in the children of immigrants to Canada. This indicates that the environment plays an important role in IBD pathogenesis, experts say.

Scientists have found a way to make the strongest spider silk fibers Posted: 10 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT The strongest spider silk fiber ever created has been developed by Spanish scienitsts. They used a technique that made popular the silk from Murcia in the 19th century. Given the good properties of this new material, this silk can be used for regenerative medicine.

Proteins critical in day-night cycles also protect cells from mutations Posted: 10 Mar 2015 06:13 AM PDT Two proteins critical for maintaining healthy day-night cycles also protect against mutations that could lead to cancer, scientists report. The study shows that the two proteins have an unexpected role in DNA repair, possibly protecting cells from cancer-causing mutations triggered by UV radiation.

MRSA can linger in homes, spreading among its inhabitants Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:44 AM PDT Households can serve as a reservoir for transmitting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to a study. Once the bacteria enters a home, it can linger for years, spreading from person to person and evolving genetically to become unique to that household.

New research into materials for tooth fillings Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:44 AM PDT Tooth decay is a serious health problem and it is often necessary to repair cavities. Dentists often use a composite filling material made of acrylate compounds, as it resembles the color of the teeth and is reasonably strong. But composite filling materials have some disadvantages and now researchers are working on an interdisciplinary collaboration between physicists and dentists to develop a material comprised of glass ionomer cement.

Hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women: Does it help or harm your heart? Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:44 AM PDT New evidence shows that hormone replacement therapy does not protect post-menopausal women against cardiovascular disease, and may even cause an increased risk of stroke.

More UK regulation of total hip replacement devices needed to prevent unnecessary surgery Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:41 AM PDT A new study is calling for more UK compulsory regulation of devices used in hip replacements to reduce the need for further traumatic and expensive surgery.

Boredom, frustration trigger skin-picking, other compulsive behaviors Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:41 AM PDT Individuals who get easily bored, frustrated or impatient are more inclined to develop skin-picking and other body-focused repetitive behaviors, say researchers. “Chronic hair-pulling, skin-picking disorder and nail-biting and various other habits are known as body-focused repetitive behaviors. Although these behaviors can induce important distress, they also seem to satisfy an urge and deliver some form of reward’’, says the principal investigator.

Depression puts low-income population at even greater risk for obesity and poor nutrition Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:40 AM PDT In a new study, researchers report that for people receiving food assistance there are significant links between depression, poor dietary quality, and high body mass index (BMI). They suggest that understanding the risk of depression among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants could be important to understanding the relationship among SNAP participation, diet, and weight.

Gene networks for innate immunity linked to PTSD risk Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:38 AM PDT Researchers have identified genetic markers, derived from blood samples that are linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The markers are associated with gene networks that regulate innate immune function and interferon signaling.

Cellular scissors chop up HIV virus Posted: 10 Mar 2015 04:38 AM PDT Imagine a single drug that could prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, treat patients who have already contracted HIV, and even remove all the dormant copies of the virus from those with the more advanced disease. It sounds like science fiction, but scientists have gotten one step closer to creating such a drug by customizing a powerful defense system used by many bacteria and training this scissor-like machinery to recognize the HIV virus.

Psychedelic drug use could reduce psychological distress, suicidal thinking, study suggests Posted: 09 Mar 2015 02:45 PM PDT A history of psychedelic drug use is associated with less psychological distress and fewer suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts, according to new research. The findings suggest that some nonaddictive psychedelic drugs, while illegal, may hold promise for depression, and that these psychedelics' highly restricted legal status should be reconsidered to facilitate scientific studies.

Tiny minority of Chinese adults enjoy ideal heart health Posted: 09 Mar 2015 12:55 PM PDT Nearly three out of four Chinese adults have poor cardiovascular health, with poor diet and growing rates of obesity compounding the risks associated with continuing high rates of smoking, according to a new survey.

Interdependence explained by ecologist Posted: 09 Mar 2015 11:50 AM PDT A community ecologist demonstrates important links between human health and the environment in the African savanna. Her fieldwork is a good example of researchers' continuing effort to understand exactly how environmental management affects disease emergence. In East Africa, she examines the direct impacts of human disturbance on landscape and wildlife, as well as a variety of factors affecting infectious disease risk.

New gene sequencing technology like a high-powered microscope Posted: 09 Mar 2015 11:50 AM PDT A new gene sequencing technology known as 'Capture Sequencing' allows us to explore the human genome at a much higher resolution than ever before, with revolutionary implications for research and cancer diagnosis, scientists report.

A real eye-opener: Narcolepsy bears classic autoimmune hallmarks Posted: 09 Mar 2015 10:50 AM PDT Narcoleptics suffer from bouts of sleepiness and sleep attacks, which impair their ability to function in daily life, but the precise cause of narcolepsy has long eluded scientists. Now a new study finds that narcolepsy bears the hallmarks of a classic autoimmune disorder and should be treated accordingly.

Novel drug candidate regenerates pancreatic cells lost in diabetes Posted: 09 Mar 2015 10:46 AM PDT In a screen of more than 100,000 potential drugs, only one, harmine, drove human insulin-producing beta cells to multiply, scientists report. "Our results provide a large body of evidence demonstrating that the harmine drug class can make human beta cells proliferate at levels that may be relevant for diabetes treatment," said the study's senior author.