Tuesday, December 31, 2019

From crab studies, a broader approach to identifying brain cells

In a new study, a team tests the notion that a cell's identity can be described solely by the genes it expresses. The study advocates a more 'multimodal' approach to defining cell identity.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191231111821.htm

Combining neurologic and blood pressure drugs reduces breast tumor development in mice

Adding a medication used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraines to a blood pressure medicine reversed some aspects of breast cancer in the offspring of mice at high risk of the disease because of the high fat diet fed to their mothers during pregnancy. Conversely, this treatment combination increased breast cancer development in the offspring whose mothers had not been fed a high fat diet during pregnancy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191231111819.htm

Objective subtle cognitive difficulties predict amyloid accumulation and neurodegeneration

Researchers report that accumulating amyloid protein occurred faster among persons deemed to have 'objectively-defined subtle cognitive difficulties' (Obj-SCD) than among persons considered to be 'cognitively normal,' offering a potential new early biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191231111811.htm

Novel combination of antibodies leads to significant improvement in cancer immunotherapy

The simultaneous use of antibodies based on two differing mechanisms of action leads to a more effective destruction of tumors. This has been demonstrated by a study in animal models by medical oncologists and scientists. Patients who do not respond to current immunotherapy options could benefit most from this new treatment.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191230153044.htm

'Keeping These Out of the Hands of Adolescents Is Critical'

Fred Hutch lung cancer expert testifies as Washington state weighs flavored vaping ban.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/keeping-hands-adolescents-critical

Monday, December 30, 2019

Want to Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk? Lose a Few Pounds

An analysis of nearly 200,000 women followed for a decade found that those who lost as few as five pounds had a lower risk.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/want-reduce-breast-cancer-risk-lose-pounds

Children who drank whole milk had lower risk of being overweight or obese

Researchers analyzed 28 studies from seven countries that explored the relationship between children drinking cow's milk and the risk of being overweight or obese.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191230104810.htm

Many younger patients with stomach cancer have a distinct disease

Many people under 60 who develop stomach cancer have a 'genetically and clinically distinct' disease, new research has discovered. Compared to stomach cancer in older adults, this new, early onset form often grows and spreads more quickly, has a worse prognosis, and is more resistant to traditional chemotherapy treatments, the study finds.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191230104803.htm

Learning from the bears

Grizzly bears spend many months in hibernation, but their muscles do not suffer from the lack of movement. Researchers report on how they manage to do this. The grizzly bears' strategy could help prevent muscle atrophy in humans as well.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191230104801.htm

Scientists link La Niña climate cycle to increased diarrhea

A study finds that spikes in cases of life-threatening diarrhea in young children are associated with La Niña climate conditions. The findings could provide the basis for an early-warning system that would allow public health officials to prepare for periods of increased diarrhea cases as long as seven months ahead of time.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191230104759.htm

How cells learn to 'count'

One of the wonders of cell biology is its symmetry. Mammalian cells have one nucleus and one cell membrane, and most humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191230084802.htm

Commercial Prognostic Tests for Prostate Cancer May Not Be Accurate in African-American Men

African Americans are underrepresented in many areas of public health research, including prognostic biomarker discovery in prostate cancer.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/commercial-prognostic-tests-prostate-cancer-may-accurate-africanamerican-men

Friday, December 27, 2019

Women with single dose of HPV vaccine gain similar protection as multiple doses

A new study revealed that one dose of the HPV vaccine may prevent infection from the potential cancer-causing virus, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191227171609.htm

Using deep learning to predict disease-associated mutations

A research team implemented a robust deep learning approach to predict disease-associated mutations of the metal-binding sites in a protein. This is the first deep learning approach for the prediction of disease-associated metal-relevant site mutations in metalloproteins, providing a new platform to tackle human diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191227104942.htm

The Type of Climate You Live in May Increase Your Risk of Cancer

Cancer rates are much higher in cold, wet regions than hot, dry areas.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/type-climate-live-may-increase-risk-cancer

Injection of virus-delivered gene silencer blocks ALS degeneration, saves motor function

Novel spinal therapy/delivery approach prevented disease onset in neurodegenerative ALS disease model in adult mice and blocked progression in animals already showing disease symptoms.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191227085239.htm

Researchers map malaria parasites proliferating in human blood cells

Malaria parasites transform healthy red blood cells into rigid versions of themselves that clump together, hindering the transportation of oxygen. The infectious disease affects more than 200 million people across the world and causes nearly half a million deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization's 2018 report on malaria. Until now, however, researchers did not have a strong understanding of how the parasite so effectively infiltrated a system's red blood cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191227085236.htm

Research Offers Reassurance About Breast-Conserving Surgery

In the study, less than 3% of women treated for early-stage breast cancer went on to develop invasive breast cancer.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/research-offers-reassurance-breastconserving-surgery

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Brain tumor organoids may be key to time-sensitive treatments for glioblastomas

Lab-grown brain organoids developed from a patient's own glioblastoma, the most aggressive and common form of brain cancer, may hold the answers on how to best treat it. A new study showed how glioblastoma organoids could serve as effective models to rapidly test personalized treatment strategies.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191226151741.htm

In vivo imaging of CREB dynamics: Coupling sensory experience to activity

Scientists have designed and developed novel biosensors that allow the simultaneous study of both sensory evoked neuronal activity and transcription factor dynamics.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191226151738.htm

Finally, machine learning interprets gene regulation clearly

A new brand of artificial neural network has solved an interpretability problem that has frustrated biologists. With it, scientists may solve mysteries about gene regulation and drug discovery.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191226134100.htm

Proton therapy lowers risk of side effects in cancer compared to traditional radiation

Proton therapy leads to significantly lower risk of side effects severe enough to lead to unplanned hospitalizations for cancer patients when compared with traditional radiation, while cure rates between the two groups are almost identical.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191226134054.htm

Mosquitoes can sense toxins through their legs

Researchers have identified a completely new mechanism by which mosquitoes that carry malaria are becoming resistant to insecticide.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191226084400.htm

Intermittent fasting: Live 'fast,' live longer?

For many people, the New Year is a time to adopt new habits as a renewed commitment to personal health. Newly enthusiastic fitness buffs pack into gyms and grocery stores are filled with shoppers eager to try out new diets.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191226084351.htm

A molecular map of the brain's decision-making area

Researchers have come one step closer toward understanding how the part of our brain that is central for decision-making and the development of addiction is organized on a molecular level. In mouse models and with methods used for mapping cell types and brain tissue, the researchers were able to visualize the organization of different opioid-islands in striatum. Their spatiomolecular map may further our understanding of the brain's reward-system.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191224193428.htm

Mouse pups born from eggs derived from the granulosa cells that surround oocytes

By introducing a chemical cocktail to granulosa cells, researchers induced the cells to transform into functional oocytes in mice. Once fertilized, these oocytes were then successfully able to produce healthy offspring, showing no differences from naturally bred mice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191224193422.htm

Why isn't there a vaccine for staph?

A study may help explain why previous attempts to develop a staph vaccine have failed, while also suggesting a new approach to vaccine design that focuses on activating an untapped set of immune cells, as well as inoculating against staph in utero or within the first few days after birth.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191224193421.htm

New technology allows control of gene therapy doses

Scientists have developed a special molecular switch that could be embedded into gene therapies to allow doctors to control dosing. The feat offers gene therapy designers what may be the first viable technique for adjusting the activity levels of their therapeutic genes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191224101306.htm

How cells relieve DNA replication stress

Scientists revealed that ATAD5 actively deals with replication stress, in addition to its known function to prevent such stressful situations. Though ATAD5 has been known as a tumor suppressor by maintaining genomic stability and suppressing tumorigenesis, it has been unclear whether the replication regulatory protein is also involved in the replication stress response.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191224085719.htm

For restricted eaters, a place at the table but not the meal

People with restricted diets -- due to allergies, health issues or religious or cultural norms -- are more likely to feel lonely when they can't share in what others are eating, new research shows.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191224085701.htm

California's stricter vaccine exemption policy and improved vaccination rates

California's elimination, in 2016, of non-medical vaccine exemptions from school entry requirements was associated with an estimated increase in vaccination coverage at state and county levels, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191224085655.htm

Study finds connection between cardiac blood test before surgery and adverse outcomes

The VISION study looked at whether levels of a cardiac blood test, NT-proBNP, measured before surgery can predict cardiac and vascular complications. Higher levels of NT-proBNP, which can be caused by various anomalies in the cardiac muscle, such as stress, inflammation or overstretch, can help identify which patients are at greatest risk of cardiac complications after surgery. The study included 10,402 patients aged 45 years or older having non-cardiac surgery with overnight stay from 16 hospitals in nine countries.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191224085653.htm

Fewer fats over the festive season may be the perfect formula for men's fertility

A diet low in fat and high in egg whites could be the key to boosting male fertility according to a new pilot study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191223122907.htm

Plant-rich diet protects mice against foodborne infection

Mice fed a plant-rich diet are less susceptible to gastrointestinal (GI) infection from a pathogen such as the one currently under investigation for a widespread E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce, UT Southwestern researchers report.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191223122851.htm

Targeted screening could prevent one in six prostate cancer deaths

The study modeled the harms and benefits of introducing four-yearly PSA screening for all men aged 55 to 69 versus more targeted checks for those at higher risk of the disease. The researchers concluded that the best approach would be to screen men at a slightly higher genetic risk - nearly half of men in that age group -- as this would have the biggest health benefit, preventing deaths from prostate cancer while minimizing unnecessary treatments for harmless tumors.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220150610.htm

Using a chip to find better cancer fighting drugs

Researchers have developed a new 'tumor-on-a-chip' device that can better mimic the environment inside the body, paving the way for improved screening of potential cancer fighting drugs. The device, has a 1 mm well at the center flanked by a series of 'microposts'. The culture is placed in the middle well, and cells that construct blood vessels are places along the microposts. Over a few days the vessels grow and attaches to the culture.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220105627.htm

This Story Contains A Warning That Might Cause Alarm — Or Apathy

Under Proposition 65, California has designated more than 900 substances as toxic, ranging from aloe vera to the deadly chemical benzene.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/story-contains-warning-might-cause-alarm-apathy

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Cigarette Smoking Among U.S. Adults Hits All-Time Low

But 34.2 million adults are still smoking and many are using other tobacco products.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/cigarette-smoking-among-us-adults-hits-alltime-low

Monday, December 23, 2019

For CRISPR, tweaking DNA fragments before inserting yields highest efficiency rates yet

Researchers have now achieved the highest reported rates of inserting genes into human cells with the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system, a necessary step for harnessing CRISPR for clinical gene-therapy applications. By chemically tweaking the ends of the DNA to be inserted, the new technique is up to five times more efficient than current approaches.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191223122915.htm

Super-resolution at all scales with active thermal detection

A research team found the temperature increase caused by the probe beam could be utilized to generate a signal per se for detecting objects. Notably, this so-called 'active thermal detection' enables super-resolution imaging at all scales.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191223122905.htm

Gone fishin' -- for proteins

Casting lines into human cells to snag proteins, a team of researchers has solved a 20-year-old mystery of cell biology.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191223122857.htm

Moms' obesity in pregnancy is linked to lag in sons' development and IQ

A mother's obesity in pregnancy can affect her child's development years down the road, according to researchers who found lagging motor skills in preschoolers and lower IQ in middle childhood for boys whose mothers were severely overweight while pregnant. At age 7, the boys whose mothers were overweight or obese in pregnancy had scores 5 or more points lower on full-scale IQ tests. No effect was found in the girls.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191223122808.htm

Artificial intelligence tracks down leukemia

Artificial intelligence can detect one of the most common forms of blood cancer - acute myeloid leukemia -- with high reliability. Researchers at the DZNE and the University of Bonn have now shown this in a proof-of-concept study. Their approach is based on the analysis of the gene activity of cells found in the blood. Used in practice, this approach could support conventional diagnostics and possibly accelerate the beginning of therapy. The research results have been published in the journal 'iScience'.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191223095351.htm

Development of a stretchable vibration-powered device using a liquid electret

Researchers developed a liquid electret material capable of semi-permanently retaining static electricity. They subsequently combined this material with soft electrodes to create the first bendable, stretchable vibration-powered device in the world. Because this device is highly deformable and capable of converting very subtle vibrations into electrical signals, it may be applicable to the development of healthcare-devices, such as self-powered heartbeat and pulse sensors.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191223095349.htm

Is Arts Engagement a Prescription for a Longer Life?

A large, long-term study found an association between attending museums, galleries and the theater and longevity.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/arts-engagement-prescription-longer-life

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Organic crop practices affect long-term soil health

Prior organic farming practices and plantings can have lasting outcomes for future soil health, weeds and crop yields, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220150618.htm

Immune mystery solved in mice points to better protection from rotavirus in humans

Researchers have discovered how a brief disruption to a molecular pathway in the guts of mice before they are born can compromise adult immunity to a common and often deadly intestinal virus.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220150606.htm

Improvements in vaccines against meningitis

New research could lead to an improved vaccine to protect against the bacterium, Neisseria meningitides that causes sepsis and meningitis.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220150559.htm

Popular gyms undermining health with tanning beds

Popular gym chains across the country capitalize on the broad desire to get healthy in the New Year with persuasive post-holiday marketing campaigns, but they're also undermining public health warnings about the dangers of indoor tanning, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220150555.htm

Researchers produce first laser ultrasound images of humans

Engineers have come up with an alternative to conventional ultrasound that doesn't require contact with the body to see inside a patient. The new laser ultrasound technique leverages an eye- and skin-safe laser system to remotely image the inside of a person.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220150553.htm

An algorithm for large-scale genomic analysis

The examination of Haplotypes makes it possible to understand the heritability of certain complex traits. However, genome analysis of family members is usually necessary, a tedious and expensive process. Researchers have developed SHAPEIT4, a powerful computer algorithm that allows the haplotypes of hundreds of thousands of unrelated individuals to be identified very quickly. Results are as detailed as when family analysis is performed. Their tool is available online under an open source license.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220105629.htm

Plant scientists identify new strategy to enhance rice grain yield

Rice provides a daily subsistence for about three billion people worldwide and its output must keep pace with a growing global population. In light of this, the identification of genes that enhance grain yield and composition is much desired. Findings from a research project have provided a new strategy to enhance grain yield in rice by increasing grain size and weight.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220105621.htm

Strong change of course for muscle research

Scientists have discovered a new subtype of muscle stem cells. These cells have the ability to build and regenerate new muscles, making them interesting targets for the development of gene therapies.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220105619.htm

CRISPR-Cas9 datasets analysis leads to largest genetic screen resource for cancer research

A comprehensive map of genes necessary for cancer survival is one step closer, following validation of the two largest CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screens in 725 cancer models, across 25 different cancer types. Scientists compared the consistency of the two datasets, independently verifying the methodology and findings. The study will help speed the discovery and development of new cancer drugs.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220095445.htm

A step closer to understanding evolution -- mitochondrial division conserved across species

A group of scientists showed for the first time that in red algae, an enzyme that is usually involved in cell division also plays a role in replication of mitochondria -- a crucial cell organelle. Moreover, they discovered a similar mechanism in human cells, leading them to believe that the process by which mitochondria replicate is similar across all eukaryotic species -- from simple to complex organisms.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220095441.htm

Children allergic to cow's milk smaller and lighter

Children allergic to cow's milk are smaller and weigh less, according to a study of growth trajectories from early childhood to adolescence in children with persistent food allergies.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220074250.htm

Caffeine may offset some health risks of diets high in fat, sugar

In a study of rats, scientists found that caffeine limited weight gain and cholesterol production, despite a diet that was high in fat and sugar.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220074245.htm

Filtered coffee helps prevent type 2 diabetes, show biomarkers in blood samples

Coffee can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes -- but only filtered coffee, rather than boiled coffee. New research show that the choice of preparation method influences the health effects of coffee.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219214147.htm

Saturday, December 21, 2019

New algorithm suggests four-level food web for gut microbes

A new computational model suggests that the food web of the human gut microbiome follows a hierarchical structure similar to that of larger-scale ecosystems.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219214144.htm

Why your first battle with flu matters most

Analyzing public health records from Arizona to study how different strains of the flu virus affect people of different ages, researchers found that the first strain we encounter during childhood sets the course of how our immune system responds to exposures later in life.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219142815.htm

Finding your way in the dark depends on your internal clock

Surprising results show how circadian rhythm changes the way mammals can see. Mice can accomplish a vision task better at night than during day. The researchers expected the body's internal clock to alter how strong nerve signals were at night, but discovered that the animal's behavior changed depending on the time of day instead. This opens interesting lines of inqury into how circadian rhythm changes behavior.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219142813.htm

Scientists discover medicinal cannabis substitute for treating Parkinson's disease

A drug that provides the benefits obtained from medicinal cannabis without the 'high' or other side effects may help to unlock a new treatment for Parkinson's disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219142809.htm

Friday, December 20, 2019

Augmenting attention treatment therapies for difficult-to-treat anxiety in children and adolescents

Between 30 to 50 percent of youth in the United States diagnosed with an anxiety disorder fail to respond to cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). A new study reports that computer-based attention training could reduce anxiety in children and adolescents.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219074748.htm

Long work hours at the office linked to both regular and hidden high blood pressure

Office workers who logged 49-plus hours on the job weekly were 70% more likely to have a hidden form of high blood pressure called masked hypertension, compared to people who work less than 35 hours per week. Masked hypertension is high blood pressure that doesn't appear during a regular blood pressure test at a medical visit and thus, often goes undetected.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219074644.htm

Close to half of US population projected to have obesity by 2030

Researchers predict a marked rise in American adults with obesity or severe obesity in ten years. Severe obesity -- once a rare condition -- is projected to be the most common BMI category in 10 states and in some demographic subgroups.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218173932.htm

CBT for social anxiety may have a protective effect on cells

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for patients with social anxiety not only helps to reduce anxiety levels but also seems to protect against accelerated cellular aging, a new study reports.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218213911.htm

Pregnancy hypertension risk increased by traffic-related air pollution

A new report suggests that traffic-related air pollution increases a pregnant woman's risk for dangerous increases in blood pressure, known as hypertension.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218173853.htm

Eating too much -- not exercising too little -- may be at core of weight gain

Forager-horticulturalist children in the Amazon rainforest do not spend more calories in their everyday lives than children in the United States, but they do spend calories differently. That finding provides clues for understanding and reversing global trends in obesity and poor metabolic health, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153543.htm

Why is drinking in moderation so difficult for some people?

Scientists have identified a specific circuit in the brain that could be targeted to treat compulsive drinking.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153516.htm

Concussions common among college students, more prevalent off the field than on

About one in 75 college students sustain a concussion each academic year, and the vast majority occur outside of organized sports, according to a new three-year study. It also found August is the peak month for concussions, and they're at least as common among females as males.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153514.htm

Possible link between cannabis use and structural changes to heart

Regular cannabis use could affect the structure and function of the heart.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153511.htm

Alzheimer's study shows promise in protecting brain from tau

A new study offers more reasons why the scientific community should be targeting tau in the search for an Alzheimer's cure.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153505.htm

NBC Journalist’s Reporting on Breast Cancer Led to Her Own Diagnosis [VIDEO]

“I remember thinking that the story would save lives,” writes Kristen Dahlgren. “I had no idea the life it would save would be my own."


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/nbc-journalists-reporting-breast-cancer-led-diagnosis-video

Obesity could affect brain development in children

New research found that obese children had a thinner pre-frontal cortex than normal weight children. The thinner cortex could be factor in the decreased executive function earlier studies observed among children with higher BMI. The new study confirmed that the obese subjects in the study had poorer working memory compared with normal weight children.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153444.htm

Saccharin derivatives give cancer cells a not-so-sweet surprise

Saccharin received a bad rap after studies in the 1970s linked consumption of large amounts of the artificial sweetener to bladder cancer in laboratory rats. Later, research revealed that these findings were not relevant to people. And in a complete turnabout, recent studies indicate that saccharin can actually kill human cancer cells. Now, researchers have made artificial sweetener derivatives that show improved activity against two tumor-associated enzymes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153437.htm

A self-healing sweat sensor

Wearable sensors that track heart rate or steps are popular fitness products. But in the future, working up a good sweat could provide useful information about a person's health. Now, researchers have developed a headband that measures electrolyte levels in sweat. And unlike many previous sweat sensors, the device can heal itself when cut or scratched during exercise.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153435.htm

Comparing heirloom and modern wheat effects on gut health

Amid concerns about gluten sensitivity, increasing numbers of people are avoiding wheat. Most have not been diagnosed with a wheat-related medical condition, yet they seem to feel better when they don't eat gluten-containing foods. A possible explanation is that modern varieties of wheat are responsible. But now, researchers have shown that a popular modern variety does not impair gastrointestinal health in mice compared with heirloom wheat.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153433.htm

Molecular features of anxiety in the brain

Investigators have taken a new approach to the search, developing a rational, computationally inspired method for the preclinical study of anxiety.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153427.htm

Solving the puzzle of IgG4-related disease, the elusive autoimmune disorder

IgG4-related disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting millions and has no established cure. Previous research indicates that T cells, a major component of the immune system, and the immunoglobulin IgG4 itself are key causative factors, but the mechanism of action of these components is unclear. Now, scientists have meticulously explored this pathway in their experiments, and their research brings to light new targets for therapy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153420.htm

Can good sleep patterns offset genetic susceptibility to heart disease and stroke?

A pioneering new study found that even if people had a high genetic risk of heart disease or stroke, healthy sleep patterns could help offset that risk.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153412.htm

Different mutations in a single gene can wreak many types of havoc in brain cells

Researchers have found that different mutations in a single gene can have myriad effects on a person's health, suggesting that gene therapies may need to do more than just replenish the missing or dysfunctional protein the gene is supposed to encode, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153408.htm

Parental coaching adolescents through peer stress

During early adolescence, especially the transition to middle school, kids face a number of challenges both socially and academically. Parents can act as social 'coaches,' offering support and advice to youth as they navigate these challenges. Researchers are finding that not all kids benefit from the same types of parental coaching because kids respond to stress differently.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153402.htm

Nutrition Tips for Cancer Caregivers

Foods can be ‘healthy,’ but are they healthy for somebody right now who is undergoing treatment?


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/nutrition-tips-cancer-caregivers

An atomic view of the trigger for the heartbeat

Tiny pores in heart cells generate electrical signals to initiate each heart beat. Structural studies of these channels provide details on their functions, and also on their malfunction due to different inherited mutations. These include ones behind sudden death in young athletes. Information on the architecture and mechanics of cardiac sodium channels could help develop better diagnostics and medications for life-threatening heart arrhythmia.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191220074305.htm

Are herpes virus infections linked to Alzheimer's disease?

Researchers refute the link between increased levels of herpes virus and Alzheimer's disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153350.htm

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Animal-assisted interventions positive for people's health

The impact of animal-assisted interventions for both patients and health services could be substantial, but more rigorous research is needed.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218090228.htm

Your DNA is not your destiny -- or a good predictor of your health

In most cases, your genes have less than five per cent to do with your risk of developing a particular disease, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219142739.htm

Gene drives work faster than non-drive approaches to control problem insects

When controlling mosquitoes that spread malaria, gene drives, which force genetic changes to proliferate in a population, are faster and more efficient than simply releasing mosquitoes that are immune to the parasite, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191219142646.htm

Surprise: Conservative Judges Decide Not to Kill All of Obamacare

But that doesn’t mean the Affordable Care Act is safe. Here’s what’s up next.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/surprise-conservative-judges-decide-kill-obamacare

Even with early treatment, HIV still attacks young brains

The majority of children living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa. While early antiretroviral therapy has ensured less deadly outcomes for children living with and exposed to HIV, the virus still may affect the brain, disrupting neurodevelopment. Michael Boivin, director of the Psychiatry Research Program in the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, has set out to understand exactly how HIV impacts children's neuropsychological development in a two-year longitudinal study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218090208.htm

Paper-based test could diagnose Lyme disease at early stages

After a day hiking in the forest, the last thing a person wants to discover is a tick burrowing into their skin. Days after plucking off the bloodsucking insect, the hiker might develop a rash resembling a bull's-eye, a tell-tale sign of Lyme disease. Yet not everybody who contracts Lyme disease gets the rash. Now, researchers have devised a blood test that quickly and sensitively diagnoses the disease at early stages.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218090200.htm

Artificial intelligence identifies previously unknown features associated with cancer recurrence

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has successfully found features in pathology images from human cancer patients, without annotation, that could be understood by human doctors. Further, the AI identified features relevant to cancer prognosis that were not previously noted by pathologists, leading to a higher accuracy of prostate cancer recurrence compared to pathologist-based diagnosis.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218090156.htm

New tool reveals DNA structures that influence disease

Disruption of certain DNA structures -- called topologically associating domains, or TADs -- is linked with the development of disease, including some cancers. With its newly created algorithm that quickly locates and helps elucidate the complex functions of TADs, an international team of researchers is making it easier to study these important structures and help prevent disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218090155.htm

Screen could offer better safety tests for new chemicals

Using specialized liver cells, researchers have created a new test that can quickly detect potentially cancer-causing DNA damage.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217152921.htm

Acute leukemia patients treated with common therapy have increased risk for heart failure

Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are treated with anthracyclines are at a heightened risk of heart failure -- most often within one year of exposure to the chemotherapy treatment, according to a new study. To help identify a patient's risk for heart failure following the treatment, researchers developed a risk score (0 to 21) based on clinical and echographic variables.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217141555.htm

Disruption of glycine receptors to study embryonic development and brain function

Researchers are studying glycine receptors, particularly glycine receptor alpha-4 (Glra4), during development. They demonstrated, in a new study, that Glra4 is not a brain exclusive gene, as was believed, but on the contrary, it facilitates the early embryonic development in mice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217141529.htm

Differentiating amino acids

Researchers develop the foundation for direct sequencing of individual proteins.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217124002.htm

New twist to fight against autoimmune diseases

Scientists an entirely new molecular process in mice that triggers T cell-driven inflammation and causes different auto-immune diseases. New research has implications for multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. It also will help efforts to find better treatments for autoimmune disease, still an urgent need in medicine.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217114232.htm

Brain waves in mice change based on memory age

Researchers have discovered signatures in brain activity that allow them to tell old and new memories apart. The team analyzed recordings from mouse brains using a machine-leaning algorithm, which was able to accurately classify memories as recent or remote. They also found robust communication between a frontal brain region and the hippocampus, a link which may form a concrete mechanism that tracks the age of memories.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217114229.htm

New health insurance insights

Economists analyze how patients and health care providers value Medicaid.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217105225.htm

When Caring for a Sick Spouse Shakes a Marriage to the Core

How can older couples navigate challenges and protect their relationships—an essential source of comfort and support—when illness strikes?


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/caring-sick-spouse-shakes-marriage-core

Modified cancer drug effective against multi-resistant bacteria

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are increasingly the source of deadly infections. Scientists have now modified an approved cancer drug to develop an active agent against multidrug-resistant pathogens.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217105214.htm

Researchers uncover genetic mystery of infertility in fruit flies

Researchers have discovered a novel parasitic gene in fruit flies that is responsible for destroying the eggs in the ovaries of their daughters.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217091417.htm

Walking and cycling to work linked with fewer heart attacks

Walking and cycling to work were associated with fewer heart attacks across 43 million adults in England, according to a new national study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218213915.htm

Healthy diet could save $50 billion in health care costs

Investigators analyzed the impact of 10 dietary factors -- including consumption of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, processed meats and more -- and estimated the annual CMD costs of suboptimal diet habits.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217141314.htm

What happens to gold nanoparticles in cells?

Gold nanoparticles, which are supposed to be stable in biological environments, can be degraded inside cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216151455.htm

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

How immune cells switch to attack mode

Macrophages have 2 faces: In healthy tissue, they perform important tasks and support their environment. However during an infection, they stop this work and hunt down the pathogens instead. Upon coming into contact with bacteria they change their metabolism drastically within minutes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217123953.htm

Turning light energy into heat to fight disease

An emerging technology involving particles that absorb light and turn it into localized heat sources shows great promise in several fields, including medicine. This heating must be carefully controlled however, and the ability to monitor temperature increases is crucial. Scientists report a method to measure these temperatures using terahertz radiation. The study involved gold nanorods in water in cuvettes, which were illuminated by a laser focused on a spot within the cuvette.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217114234.htm

Scientists find way to supercharge protein production

Researchers have found a way to increase production of proteins in bacteria up to a thousandfold, a discovery that could aid production of proteins used in the medical, food, agriculture, chemical and other industries.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153507.htm

Scientists identify harmful bacteria based on its DNA at a very low cost

Currently, the detection of food poison outbreaks caused by bacteria takes a long time and is expensive, but this does not have to be the case in the future. Researchers have found a method for the precise identification of bacteria in just a few hours on a mobile-phone-sized device that costs about 200 times less than alternative approaches.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153450.htm

Early-life exposure to dogs may lessen risk of developing schizophrenia

Ever since humans domesticated the dog, the faithful, obedient and protective animal has provided its owner with companionship and emotional well-being. Now, a study suggests that being around 'man's best friend' from an early age may have a health benefit as well -- lessening the chance of developing schizophrenia as an adult.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153448.htm

Chemical compound found in essential oils improves wound healing

Researchers have discovered that a chemical compound found in essential oils improves the healing process in mice when it is topically applied to a skin wound.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153447.htm

Blue light may not be as disruptive to our sleep patterns as originally thought

Contrary to common belief, blue light may not be as disruptive to our sleep patterns as originally thought -- according to scientists. According to the team, using dim, cooler, lights in the evening and bright warmer lights in the day may be more beneficial to our health.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216173654.htm

Zika vaccine protects fetus in pregnant monkeys

An experimental vaccine against the Zika virus reduced the amount of virus in pregnant rhesus macaques and improved fetal outcomes. The work could help support development and approval of an experimental Zika DNA vaccine currently in early stage trials in humans.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191218153526.htm

Changes in the immune system explain why belly fat is bad for thinking

Researchers have found for the first time that less muscle and more body fat may affect how flexible our thinking gets as we become older, and changes in parts of the immune system could be responsible.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217141531.htm

Residual Cancer Burden Can Predict Outcomes for People With Any Breast Cancer Type

This meta-analysis of residual cancer burden provides real-world evidence of how patients are responding to neoadjuvant treatments.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/residual-cancer-burden-can-predict-outcomes-people-breast-cancer-type

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Large study links sustained weight loss to reduced breast cancer risk

A large new study finds that women who lost weight after age 50 and kept it off had a lower risk of breast cancer than women whose weight remained stable, helping answer a vexing question in cancer prevention.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217073749.htm

Physics of Living Systems: How cells muster and march out

Many of the cell types in our bodies are constantly on the move. Physicists have developed a mathematical model that describes, for the first time, how single-cell migration can coalesce into coordinated movements of cohorts of cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216221258.htm

New way to make biomedical devices from silk yields better products with tunable qualities

Researchers have developed a novel, significantly more efficient fabrication method for silk that allows them to heat and mold the material into solid forms for a wide range of applications, including medical devices. The physical properties of the end products can be 'tuned' for specific needs, and can be functionally modified with bioactive molecules, such as antibiotics and enzymes. The thermal modeling of silk enables manufacturing flexibility common to many plastics.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216221256.htm

Fatty meal interrupts gut's communication with the body, but why?

Gut cells that normally tell the brain and the rest of the body what's going on after a meal shut down completely for a few hours after a high-fat meal, a team of researchers discovered in zebrafish. Enteroendocrine cells normally produce at least 15 different hormones to send signals to the rest of the body. The finding could be a clue to insulin resistance that leads to Type 2 diabetes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217141551.htm

Ancient 'chewing gum' yields insights into people and bacteria of the past

Researchers have succeeded in extracting a complete human genome from a thousands-of-years old 'chewing gum.' According to the researchers, it is a new untapped source of ancient DNA.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191217141549.htm

Researchers uncover defective sperm epigenome that leads to male infertility

One out of eight couples has trouble conceiving, with a quarter of those cases caused by unexplained male infertility. Research has linked that to defective sperm that fail to 'evict' proteins called histones from DNA during development. However, the mechanisms behind that eviction and where this is happening has remained unclear. Now, researchers show, using newer genome-wide DNA sequencing tools, the precise genetic locations of those retained histones, and a key gene regulating it.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216220907.htm

A new gene therapy strategy, courtesy of Mother Nature

Scientists have developed a new gene-therapy technique by transforming human cells into mass producers of tiny nano-sized particles full of genetic material that has the potential to reverse disease processes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216173700.htm

The effect of taking antidepressants during pregnancy

Exposure to antidepressants during pregnancy and the first weeks of life can alter sensory processing well into adulthood, according to research in mice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216173658.htm

How mysterious circular DNA causes cancer in children

Why do children develop cancer? An international team of researchers, led by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, now reveal that mysterious rings of DNA known as extrachromosomal circular DNA can contribute to cancer development in children. Producing the first detailed map of circular DNA, the scientists have shed new unanticipated insights on long standing questions in the field of cancer genetics. The work has been published in Nature Genetics*.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216173656.htm

Home hospital reduces costs, improves care

The results of the investigators' randomized controlled trial with more patients strengthens the evidence, showing that home hospital care reduced cost, utilization, and readmissions while increasing physical activity compared with usual hospital care.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216173645.htm

CVS to Broaden Access to Genetic Screening for Cancer Patients

A vote of confidence for a new, high-tech frontier in oncology


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/cvs-broaden-access-genetic-screening-cancer-patients

Simple test could prevent fluoride-related disease

Synthetic biologists developed a simple, inexpensive new test that can detect dangerous levels of fluoride in drinking water.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216173652.htm

Radiation breaks connections in the brain

One of the potentially life-altering side effects that patients experience after cranial radiotherapy for brain cancer is cognitive impairment. Researchers now believe that they have pinpointed why this occurs and these findings could point the way for new therapies to protect the brain from the damage caused by radiation.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216151453.htm

Climate change could make RSV respiratory infection outbreaks less severe, more common

Researchers studied annual outbreaks of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in one of the first examinations of how climate change could affect diseases transmitted directly from person to person. They found that while outbreaks of RSV could become generally less severe, infections may become more common, which could leave people more vulnerable to the virus over the long term, particularly children.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216110139.htm

New heat model may help electronic devices last longer

A team of engineers has found that the model currently used to predict heat loss in a common semiconductor material does not apply in all situations. By testing the thermal properties of gallium nitride semiconductors fabricated using four popular methods, the team discovered that some techniques produce materials that perform better than others. This new understanding can help chip manufacturers find ways to better diffuse the heat that leads to device damage and decreased device lifespans.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216110137.htm

Asthma severity linked to microbiome of upper airway

A new study suggests there is a link between bacteria that live in the upper airway and the severity of asthma symptoms among children with mild to moderate asthma.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216110119.htm

Super-resolution photoacoustic microscopy finds clogged blood vessels

200 years ago, a doctor from France used a stethoscope for the first time and countless efforts to observe human body have been made since then. Up to now, the best tool that provides anatomical, functional, and molecular information of human and animal is the photoacoustic microscopy. Super-resolution localization photoacoustic microscopy which is 500 times faster than the conventional photoacoustic microscopy system has now been developed.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216094531.htm

The rare genetic disorder identified in only 3 people worldwide

A team of researchers has cracked a rare gene variant for a disorder that causes severe neurodegeneration in infants.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216094529.htm

New CRISPR-based system targets amplified antibiotic-resistant genes

A research team at has developed a new CRISPR-based gene-drive system that dramatically increases the efficiency of inactivating a gene rendering bacteria antibiotic-resistant. The new system leverages technology in insects and mammals that biases genetic inheritance of preferred traits called 'active genetics.'

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216094506.htm

Free tool simplifies cancer research

Researchers have developed a new method for identifying which proteins are affected by specific drugs. The tool and the results it has already generated have been made freely available online.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216094504.htm

Fish consumption and mercury exposure in pregnant women in coastal Florida

A study of pregnant women in coastal Florida found that hair mercury concentration was associated with consumption of locally caught seafood and all seafood, a higher level of education, and first pregnancy. The highest concentrations were in women over 33 with the highest levels in Asian women. Pregnant women who ate seafood three times a week had the highest concentration - almost four times as high as those who did not consume any seafood.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216094502.htm

A self-cleaning surface that repels even the deadliest superbugs

A team of researchers has developed a self-cleaning surface that can repel all forms of bacteria, preventing the transfer of antibiotic-resistant superbugs and other dangerous bacteria in settings ranging from hospitals to kitchens.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191213123554.htm

Monday, December 16, 2019

More than 1 in 3 low- and middle-income countries face both extremes of malnutrition

Being undernourished or overweight are no longer separate public health issues. A new article details how more than one in three low- and middle-income countries face both extremes of malnutrition -- a reality driven by the modern food system.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216203756.htm

Excessive antibiotic prescriptions for children in low-, middle-income countries

Between 2007 and 2017, children in eight low- and middle-income countries received, on average, 25 antibiotic prescriptions from birth through age 5 -- up to five times higher than the already high levels observed in high-income settings. The number of antibiotic prescriptions for young children ranged from one per year for children in Senegal to 12 per year for children in Uganda.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191214122540.htm

Taking shape: Scientists propose new structure for shell of HIV-1 virus

The matrix shell of the HIV-1 virus may have a different shape than previously thought, and a newly proposed model has significant implications for understanding how the virus functions.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191213124917.htm

New measures to treat mental illness and opioid use

Opioid use among psychiatric hospital patients needs to be addressed through an integrated approach to managing mental illness, pain and substance use, a new study has found.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191213124915.htm

Saliva test shows promise for earlier and easier detection of mouth and throat cancer

Unfortunately, cancers that occur in the back of the mouth and upper throat are often not diagnosed until they become advanced. A new report describes the use of acoustofluidics, a new non-invasive method that analyzes saliva for the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV)-16, the pathogenic strain associated with oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs). This novel technique detected OPC in whole saliva in 40 percent of patients tested and 80% of confirmed OPC patients.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191213115448.htm

Origins of neurodegenerative disease

New research has shed light on the origins of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) and demonstrates effective new therapeutic pathways for SCA7 and the more than 40 other types of spinocerebellar ataxia.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216140707.htm

Finding a non-invasive way to predict effectiveness of cancer therapy

Researchers have taken a critical step toward developing a non-invasive nuclear medicine technique that can predict the effectiveness of therapy for cancerous tumors, allowing for personalized, precision treatment.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191213092509.htm

High-tech method for uniquely targeted gene therapy developed

Neuroscientists have developed new technology that engineers the shell of a virus to deliver gene therapy to the exact cell type in the body that needs to be treated. The researchers believe that the new technology can be likened to dramatically accelerating evolution from millions of years to weeks.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191213092508.htm

Scientists show how tiny, mutated neuron antennae impair brain connectivity

Axons are the long thread-like extensions of neurons that send electrical signals to other brain cells. Thanks to axonal connectivity, our brains and bodies can do all necessary tasks. Even before we're born, we need axons to grow in tracts throughout gray matter and connect properly as our brains develop. Researchers have now found a key reason why connectivity goes awry and leads to rare but debilitating neurodevelopmental conditions.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216140709.htm

Hydrogels control inflammation to help healing

Researchers test a sampling of synthetic, biocompatible hydrogels to see how tuning them influences the body's inflammatory response. The hydrogels are being developed to help heal wounds, deliver drugs and treat cancer.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216122411.htm

Women need professional emotional support during high-risk pregnancies, study finds

Little is known about how women manage emotional distress during high-risk pregnancies, but researchers learned that without psychosocial support, many women struggle with fears and tears while feeling isolated and worried.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191216132019.htm

Study highlights high cost of fossil fuel pollution on children's health

A new study has compiled the estimated per-case costs of 6 childhood health conditions linked to air pollution -- estimates that can be incorporated into benefits assessments of air pollution regulations and climate change mitigation policies.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191212163336.htm

Hydration may affect cognitive function in some older adults

Among women, lower hydration levels were associated with lower scores on a task designed to measure motor speed, sustained attention, and working memory. They did not find the same result for men.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191212142720.htm

With novel technique, new study is first to definitively map the early development of PTSD

Only 23 percent of people who experience trauma develop PTSD. New research offers new clues on identifying which trauma victims will develop the disorder and suggests potential interventions. Researchers used a mobile phone app to gather information from patients in the critical 30 days after the trauma event - when symptoms interact to create the full blown disorder - the first time such extensive information has been gathered.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191212122540.htm

Public Health Throws Shade on Tanning, and It Works

A new study shows a sharp drop in melanoma rates in people under 30, but skin cancer rates are still going up in those over 40.


from Cancer Health RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/public-health-throws-shade-tanning-works