Saturday, February 29, 2020

Lessons learned from addressing myths about Zika and yellow fever outbreaks in Brazil

When disease epidemics and outbreaks occur, conspiracy theories often emerge that compete with the information provided by public health officials. A new study finds that information used to counter myths about Zika in Brazil not only failed to reduce misperceptions but also reduced the accuracy of people's other beliefs about the disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227160554.htm

Study unravels how our immune system deals with fungal and viral infections

The body's immune response to fungal infections changes when a patient is also infected by a virus, according to new research which investigated the two types of infection together for the first time.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227144226.htm

Inhalation therapy shows promise against pulmonary fibrosis in mice, rats

A new study shows that lung stem cell secretions -- specifically exosomes and secretomes -- delivered via nebulizer, can help repair lung injuries due to multiple types of pulmonary fibrosis in mice and rats.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228073026.htm

Early intervention following traumatic brain injury reduces epilepsy risk

A research team has found that brains treated with certain drugs within a few days of an injury have a dramatically reduced risk of developing epilepsy later in life. The development of epilepsy is a major clinical complication after brain injury, and the disease can often take years to appear.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227160546.htm

Artisanal CBD not as effective as pharmaceutical CBD for reducing seizures

Children and teens with epilepsy who were treated with pharmaceutical cannabidiol (CBD) had much better seizure control than those who were treated with artisanal CBD, according to a preliminary study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227160545.htm

Could new discovery play a role in diagnosing Alzheimer's earlier?

Scientists have detected that a previously overlooked gene behavior could potentially lead to a new way to diagnose Alzheimer's earlier.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227144249.htm

Cells carrying Parkinson's mutation could lead to new model for studying disease

Parkinson's disease researchers have used gene-editing tools to introduce the disorder's most common genetic mutation into marmoset monkey stem cells and to successfully tamp down cellular chemistry that often goes awry in Parkinson's patients.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227144247.htm

New algorithm tracks pediatric sepsis epidemiology using clinical data

Researchers have developed a novel computational algorithm to track the epidemiology of pediatric sepsis, allowing for the collection of more accurate data about outcomes and incidence of the condition over time, which is essential to the improvement of care.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227144228.htm

Handheld 3D printers developed to treat musculoskeletal injuries

Biomedical engineers recently developed a handheld 3D bioprinter that could revolutionize the way musculoskeletal surgical procedures are performed.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227122117.htm

New technique could streamline drug design

Technique uses 3D structural models to predict how combinations of molecular blocks might work together.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227122109.htm

One year into 'soda tax,' researchers find law did not affect sugary-beverage consumption

One year into Philadelphia's 1.5-cents-per-ounce 'soda tax,' new findings show that the law had minimal to no influence on what Philadelphians are drinking.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114557.htm

Immunology: Tonsils as a testbed

Biomedical researchers have isolated immune cells from human tonsils obtained following routine surgery, and used them to analyze aspects of the immune response and test the effects of anti-inflammatory agents at the cellular level.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228102259.htm

Friday, February 28, 2020

Artificial intelligence can scan doctors' notes to distinguish between types of back pain

Researchers have designed an artificial intelligence model that can determine whether lower back pain is acute or chronic by scouring doctors' notes within electronic medical records, an approach that can help to treat patients more accurately, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228102221.htm

Who Is Most Susceptible to the New Coronavirus?

People with cancer, heart disease and diabetes are at increased risk for serious illness from COVID-19.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/who-is-most-susceptible-new-coronavirus

Antioxidant supplements do not improve male fertility

Antioxidant supplements do not improve semen quality among men with infertility, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228105232.htm

Sugar gets the red light from consumers in new study

Researchers have found that sugar content is the most important factor for people when making healthy food choices -- overriding fat and salt.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228102257.htm

Kids eat more calories in post-game snacks than they burn during the game

A new study by public health researchers finds the number of calories kids consume from post-game snacks far exceeds the number of calories they actually burn playing in the game.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228102240.htm

The first Cell Atlas for the human Thymus

Scientists have composed a complete map of the cells in the developing human thymus. This novel approach with single cell resolution allowed them to identify more than 50 different cell states in the human thymus which dynamically change in abundance during life.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228102236.htm

Genetic signature boosts protein production during cell division

A research team has uncovered a genetic signature that enables cells to adapt their protein production according to their state. The researchers report that this newly discovered mechanism plays a role in the regulation of protein production during cell division.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228102234.htm

Eating a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables, soy linked to lower stroke risk

People who eat a vegetarian diet rich in nuts, vegetables and soy may have a lower risk of stroke than people who eat a diet that includes meat and fish, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228102225.htm

COVID-19 a reminder of the challenge of emerging infectious diseases

The emergence and rapid increase in cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, pose complex challenges to the global public health, research and medical communities, write scientists.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228142016.htm

Physiotherapy could be done at home using virtual reality

Virtual reality could help physiotherapy patients complete their exercises at home successfully thanks to researchers who managed to combine VR technology with 3D motion capture.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228142014.htm

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) imaging features overlap with SARS and MERS

Although COVID-19's imaging features are variable and nonspecific, the findings thus far do show ''significant overlap'' with those of severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome. The early evidence suggests that initial chest imaging will show abnormality in at least 85% of patients, with 75% of patients having bilateral lung involvement initially that most often manifests as subpleural and peripheral areas of ground-glass opacity and consolidation.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228142018.htm

HIV Drugmaker Tests a Possible Treatment for New Coronavirus

Gilead Sciences is giving its antiviral remdesivir to nearly 1,000 people as part of two clinical trials.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/maker-hiv-drugs-gilead-sciences-tests-possible-treatment-remdesivir-new-coronavirus

When should you eat to manage your weight? Breakfast, not late-night snacks

The balance between weight gain and weight gain loss is predominantly determined by what you eat, how much you eat, and by how much exercise you get. But another important factor is often neglected... it's not just how many calories you eat, but WHEN you eat them that will determine how well you burn those calories.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228125230.htm

Drug meant for Ebola may also work against coronaviruses

Researchers who have discovered why the drug remdesivir is effective in treating the coronaviruses that cause Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) expect it might also be effective for treating patients infected with the new COVID-19 strain.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227122123.htm

DNA discovery can lead to new types of cancer drugs

Researchers have discovered that our cells replicate their DNA much more loosely than previously thought. The new knowledge might be useful for developing novel treatments against aggressive forms of cancers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228105218.htm

The enemy within: How a killer hijacked one of nature's oldest relationships

Researchers have discovered how a notorious pathogen may have hijacked one of nature's most enduring mutual relationships.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228105203.htm

Printer toner linked to genetic changes, health risks in new study

According a new study, the microscopic toner nanoparticles that waft from laser printers may change our genetic and metabolic profiles in ways that make disease more likely.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114551.htm

Scientists discover new 'Jekyll and Hyde' immune cell

Scientists have identified a rare, new cell in the immune system with 'Jekyll and Hyde properties.' These cells play a key protective role in immunity to infection but -- if unregulated -- also mediate tissue damage in autoimmune disorders. The findings should help us design more effective vaccines to prevent infections such as MRSA, and may also assist help us develop of new therapies for autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114532.htm

Genetic 'fingerprints' implicate gut bacterium in bowel cancer

A common type of bacteria found in our guts could contribute to bowel cancer, according to new research. Scientists have shown that a toxin released by a strain of E. coli causes unique patterns, or 'fingerprints,' of DNA damage to the cells lining the gut.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114543.htm

Thursday, February 27, 2020

A common gut microbe secretes a carcinogen

Cancer mutations can be caused by common gut bacteria. By exposing human mini-guts to a particular strain of Escherichia coli, scientist uncovered that these bacteria induce a unique mutational pattern in human DNA. This pattern was also found in colon cancer patients, implying that the bacteria induced these mutations. For the first time the researchers establish a direct link between microbes and mutations driving tumorigenesis. This might lead to new measures in colorectal cancer prevention.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114540.htm

SNIPRs take aim at disease-related mutations

Scientists describe a new method for detecting point mutations. The technique can be applied in living cells, offering a rapid, highly accurate and inexpensive means of identifying mutations relevant to human health.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114538.htm

A molecular atlas of skin cells

Our skin protects us from physical injury, radiation and microbes, and at the same time produces hair and facilitates perspiration. Details of how skin cells manage such disparate tasks have so far remained elusive. Now, researchers have systematically mapped skin cells and their genetic programs, creating a detailed molecular atlas of the skin in its complexity.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114536.htm

Huntington's disease-causing DNA repeat mutations reversed in the lab

An international team of researchers identifies a compound that corrects genetic abnormalities involved in the onset and progression of Huntington's disease for which there is no definitive treatment. They successfully reversed disease-causing DNA expansion mutations with no off-target effects in the lab. They hope that their discovery may help treat other DNA repeat diseases like myotonic dystrophy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114528.htm

Coronavirus News: Vital Ingredients in HIV Meds Are Synthesized in China

Should you worry about your supply? Plus: good and bad news about Vice President Pence leading the U.S. coronavirus response.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/coronavirus-news-vital-ingredients-hiv-meds-synthesized-china

How caloric restriction prevents negative effects of aging in cells

If you want to reduce levels of inflammation throughout your body, delay the onset of age-related diseases, and live longer -- eat less food. That's the conclusion of a new study that provides the most detailed report to date of the cellular effects of a calorie-restricted diet in rats. While the benefits of caloric restriction have long been known, the new results show how this restriction can protect against aging in cellular pathways.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227144259.htm

How door-to-door canvassing slowed an epidemic

Liberia was the epicenter of a high-profile Ebola outbreak in 2014-15, which led to more than 10,000 deaths in West Africa. But for all the devastation the illness caused, it could have been worse without an innovative, volunteer-based outreach program Liberia's government deployed in late 2014. A study shows how much that program, consisting of door-to-door canvassing by community volunteers, spread valuable information and changed public practices during the epidemic.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227144251.htm

Skin and non-adhesive cells found to play pivotal role in formation of fingers

Human fingers are sculpted from a primitive pad-like structure during embryonic development. Sometimes, this process goes awry and babies are born with fused fingers or toes. A new study reveals new factors involved in the congenital malformation called syndactyly.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227160556.htm

Distrust of past experience may underlie obsessive-compulsive symptoms

People with higher obsessive-compulsive symptoms may place less trust in their past experience, leading to increased uncertainty, indecisiveness, and exploratory behaviors, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227144320.htm

How enzymes build 'sugar trees'

Researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate for the first time the structure and function of a very small enzyme embedded in cell membranes. This enzyme builds complex sugar trees that are subsequently attached to other membrane proteins. The findings could accelerate the development of new, protein-based medications.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114511.htm

New immunotherapeutic strategy shows promise in eradicating infectious biofilms

The same way baking soda breaks down grease and grime, making surfaces easier to clean, researchers now show that a new therapeutic molecule can break apart communities of harmful bacteria, opening the way for bacteria-killing antibiotics to more effectively clear out infections.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114507.htm

Philly Set to Open First Supervised Injection Site in U.S.

Federal judge rules in favor of nonprofit seeking to open the country's first overdose prevention facility.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/philly-set-open-first-supervised-injection-site-us

Excellent long-term stability of treatment gains of stepwise treatment for pediatric OCD

A study reports that the long-term stability of treatment gains for children and adolescents diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), participating in a stepwise manualized treatment, is excellent.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227114456.htm

Metals could be the link to new antibiotics

Compounds containing metals could hold the key to the next generation of antibiotics to combat the growing threat of global antibiotic resistance. Researchers, working with a network of international collaborators, have discovered 23 previously unexplored compounds containing metals such as silver, manganese, zinc, ruthenium and iridium that have antibacterial and antifungal activity.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200227091206.htm

Second type of schizophrenia discovered

In a study of more than 300 patients from three continents, over one third had brains that looked similar to healthy people.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226212012.htm

Portable 'electronic nose' can accurately pick up esophageal cancer precursor

A portable 'electronic nose' can accurately pick up the precursor condition to food pipe (esophageal) cancer, known as Barrett's esophagus, indicates a proof of principle study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226181124.htm

Scientists find link between genes and ability to exercise

A team of researchers have discovered a genetic mutation that reduces a patient's ability to exercise efficiently.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226171112.htm

Creating nanomaterials for detecting cancer earlier

For the first time, a team of scientists has created functional nanomaterials with hollow interiors that can be used to create highly sensitive biosensors for early cancer detection.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226130517.htm

'Low' socioeconomic status is the biggest barrier to STEM participation

A new study has found that socioeconomic status (SES) has the strongest impact on whether secondary school students study the STEM sciences.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226171121.htm

Stretchable, wearable coils may make MRI, other medical tests easier on patients

A team created an adaptable, wearable and stretchable fabric embroidered with conductive threads that provides excellent signal-to-noise ratio for enhanced MRI scanning.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226091235.htm

COVID-19 vaccine development

Scientists have recently identified a set of potential vaccine targets for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, to guide experimental efforts towards vaccine development against novel pneumonia (COVID-19).

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226091227.htm

Slow, steady increase in exercise intensity is best for heart health

For the vast majority of people, the benefits of physical exercise outweigh the risks. However, for those who have inadequate training or who have underlying heart problems that may not have been detected, the risks of heart issues from extreme exercise, such as participation in marathons and triathlons, are increased.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226072108.htm

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Possible new treatment strategy for fatty liver disease

Researchers have identified a molecular pathway that when silenced could restore the normal function of immune cells in people with fatty liver disease. The findings could lead to new strategies for treating the condition, which is a major health risk for people with obesity.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226142151.htm

Multi-sensor band quickly and simply records subtle changes in patients with MS

An international team of scientists has developed a new, multi-sensor tool that measures subtle changes in multiple sclerosis patients, allowing physicians to more frequently and more quickly respond to changes in symptoms or patient condition.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226171115.htm

These Renowned Speakers Will Headline the AIDS 2020 Conference

The International AIDS Conference takes place July 6 to 10 in San Francisco and Oakland.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/renowned-speakers-will-headline-aids-2020-conference

Gene catalog comprising community of microbes in vaginal microbiome

Researchers have created the first catalogue of genes that comprise the community of microbes, which inhabit the human vagina. The catalogue, called human vaginal non-redundant gene catalog (VIRGO), was recently released as a public resource that can be used by researchers to facilitate a more in-depth understanding of the role of vaginal microorganisms in women's health and to potentially develop future treatments.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226160615.htm

CT provides best diagnosis for COVID-19

In a study of more than 1,000 patients published in the journal Radiology, chest CT outperformed lab testing in the diagnosis of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The researchers concluded that CT should be used as the primary screening tool for COVID-19.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226151951.htm

How resident microbes restructure body chemistry

A comparison of normal and germ-free mice revealed that as much as 70% of a mouse's gut chemistry is determined by its gut microbiome. Even in distant organs, such as the uterus or the brain, approximately 20% of molecules were different in the mice with gut microbes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226131312.htm

Sex-specific traits of the immune system explain men's susceptibility to obesity

Researchers have uncovered important differences between the male and female immune system which may explain why men are more susceptible to obesity and metabolism-related associated diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It has long been known that men are more likely than women to develop unhealthy obesity and related metabolic diseases, while women are more prone to certain autoimmune diseases such as arthritis. These findings suggested the male and female immune systems differ, but until now scientists weren't sure how.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226131305.htm

Mathematician identifies new tricks for the old arch in our foot

Walking and running subjects our feet to forces in excess of body weight. The longitudinal arch of the feet was thought to be the reason the feet do not deform under such load. However, researchers have illustrated that the transverse arch may be more important for this stiffness.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226110848.htm

Bone or cartilage? Presence of fatty acids determines skeletal stem cell development

In the event of a bone fracture, fatty acids in our blood signal to stem cells that they have to develop into bone-forming cells. If there are no blood vessels nearby, the stem cells end up forming cartilage. The finding that specific nutrients directly influence the development of stem cells opens new avenues for stem cell research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226131314.htm

Sweat sensor detects stress levels; May find use in space exploration

A researcher has developed a sweat sensor capable of monitoring levels of cortisol in the body.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226134124.htm

Researchers uncover hidden antibiotic potential of cannabis

The research team found that CBG had antibacterial activity against drug-resistant MRSA. It prevented the ability of that bacteria to form biofilms, which are communities of microorganisms that attach to each other and to surfaces; and it destroyed preformed biofilms and cells resistant to antibiotics. CBG achieved this by targeting the cell membrane of the bacteria. These findings in the laboratory were supported when mice with an MRSA infection were given CBG.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226131325.htm

New bile discovery will rewrite textbooks

Forget what you know about bile because that's about to change, thanks to a new discovery.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226131321.htm

New CRISPR base-editing technology slows ALS progression in mice

With a new CRISPR gene-editing methodology, scientists have inactivated one of the genes responsible for an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- a debilitating and fatal neurological disease for which there is no cure. The novel treatment slowed disease progression, improved muscle function and extended lifespan in mice with an aggressive form of ALS.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226130523.htm

New compounds thwart multiple viruses, including coronavirus

According to a Feb. 13 report from the World Health Organization, the Wuhan coronavirus has stricken more than 46,000 people and has caused over 1,300 deaths since the first cases in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Now, researchers have designed compounds that block the replication of similar coronaviruses, as well as other disease-causing viruses, in the lab. The compounds have not yet been tested in people. 

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226130648.htm

Poor cleaning can jeopardize sterilization of medical tools

Vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) failed to completely sterilize surgical tools 76% of the time when the tools were soiled with salts or blood and not cleaned prior to sterilization, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226110833.htm

Nanosize device 'uncloaks' cancer cells in mice and reveals them to the immune system

Scientists report they have designed and successfully tested an experimental, super small package able to deliver molecular signals that tag implanted human cancer cells in mice and make them visible for destruction by the animals' immune systems. The new method was developed, say the researchers, to deliver an immune system 'uncloaking' device directly to cancer cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226110831.htm

Scientists discover new clue behind age-related diseases and food spoilage

Scientists have made a surprising discovery that could help explain our risk for developing chronic diseases or cancers as we get older, and how our food decomposes over time.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226110829.htm

Fur-friendly 'wearable for pets' and their humans

Researchers have invented a new health tracking sensor for pets and people that monitors vital signs through fur or clothing.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226102141.htm

Tone down your risk of skin cancer

Social media smarts could make you less susceptible to skin cancer as new research shows that media literacy skills can help change people's attitudes about what is believed to be the 'tanned ideal.'

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226095509.htm

Cellular metabolism regulates the fate decision between pathogenic and regulatory T cells

Preclinical research shows a pivotal role for cellular metabolism to regulate the fate decision of naïve CD4 T cells as they differentiate into either destructive Th17 cells that mediate chronic inflammation or regulatory Treg T cells, a decision that occurs very early in the activation of CD4 T cells. This opens a possibility that manipulating the cellular metabolism of T cells may provide a therapeutic intervention in chronic autoimmune disorders.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226091233.htm

Women firefighters face high exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals

San Francisco's women firefighters are exposed to higher levels of certain toxic PFAS chemicals than women working in downtown San Francisco offices, shows a new study. The study represents one of the first published results from the Women Firefighter Biomonitoring Collaborative, a long-term investigation into breast cancer risks faced by women firefighters.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226080620.htm

Researchers make asthma breakthrough

Researchers have made a breakthrough that may eventually lead to improved therapeutic options for people living with asthma. The researchers have uncovered a critical role for a protein (Caspase-11), which had previously never been implicated in the disease, and which may offer a promising target for drug designers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226080629.htm

Drinks with added sugars linked to lipid imbalance, which increases CVD risk

Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages daily was linked to lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), ('good' cholesterol), and higher triglyceride levels, both of which can increase cardiovascular disease risk. Drinking up to 12 ounces of 100% fruit juice per day was not associated with adverse changes in blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226072110.htm

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Weight-based bullying linked to increased adolescent alcohol, marijuana use

Adolescents who are bullied about their weight or body shape may be more likely to use alcohol or marijuana than those who are not bullied, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225154338.htm

How sleep helps teens deal with social stress

Study found that adequate sleep allowed students to cope with discrimination and challenges associated with ethnic or racial bias. It also helps them problem-solve more effectively and seek peer support when faced with hardships.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225143511.htm

Moral distress of physicians who care for older adults

Researchers report that about four of 10 doctors caring for older adult patients who require a surrogate decision-maker experienced moral distress.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225101314.htm

Leukemia drugs hold promise for treatment-resistant lung cancer

New live-cell drug discovery tool identifies two leukemia drugs and other small molecules as potential treatments for lung tumours that stopped responding to therapy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224111411.htm

Heatwave exposure linked to increased risk of preterm birth in California

A new study found that exposure to heatwaves during the last week of pregnancy was strongly linked to an increased risk of preterm delivery -- the hotter the temperature or the longer the heatwave, the greater the risk.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225133736.htm

Insulin signaling suppressed by decoys

The discovery of an insulin 'decoy' molecule shakes up understanding of insulin signaling, with implications for diabetes, longevity and aging research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225133733.htm

The effects of obesity mirror those of aging

R esearchers argue that obesity should be considered premature aging. They look at how obesity predisposes people to acquiring the kinds of potentially life-altering or life-threatening diseases normally seen in older individuals: compromised genomes, weakened immune systems, decreased cognition, increased chances of developing type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other illnesses.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225122954.htm

Lab-free infection test could eliminate guesswork for doctors

A new infection test, made up of sheets of paper patterned by lasers, has been developed by researchers to allow diagnosis at the point of care -- helping doctors give patients the right treatment, faster.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225114414.htm

Ulcerative colitis linked to missing gut microbes

About 1 million people in the United States have ulcerative colitis, a serious disease of the colon that has no cure and whose cause is obscure. Now, a study by Stanford University School of Medicine investigators has tied the condition to a missing microbe.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225114412.htm

Pregnant HIV-Positive Women Forcibly Sterilized in South Africa

“You must be closed up because you HIV people like making babies, and it just annoys us.”


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/pregnant-hivpositive-women-forcibly-sterilized-south-africa

'Arms race' between bacteria and viruses

A new study helps improve our understanding of bacteria and viruses.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225105004.htm

Psychiatry: Five clearly defined patterns

Psychiatrists have used a computer-based approach to assign psychotic patients diagnosed as bipolar or schizophrenic to five different subgroups. The method could lead to better therapies for psychoses.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225105002.htm

New RNA mapping technique shows how RNA interacts with chromatin in the genome

A group led by scientists from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have developed a new method, RADICL-seq, which allows scientists to better understand how RNA interacts with the genome through chromatin--the structure in which the genome is organized.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225105000.htm

Discovery of bacterial ancestor yields new insight on calcium channels

The discovery of a calcium channel that is likely a 'missing link' in the evolution of mammalian calcium channels has been reported today.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225104958.htm

New study associates intake of dairy milk with greater risk of breast cancer

Intake of dairy milk is associated with a greater risk of breast cancer in women -- up to 80% depending on the amount consumed -- according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225101323.htm

Short-lived 'soda' tax worked

A study of beverage sales in Cook County, Illinois, shows that for four months in 2017 -- when the county implemented a penny-per-ounce tax on both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks -- purchases of the taxed beverages decreased by 21%, even after an adjustment for cross-border shopping.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225101318.htm

Neural cells speed up function in 3D bioprinted skeletal muscle constructs

Scientists improve on 3D bioprinting research by investigating the effects of neural cell integration into bioprinted muscle constructs to accelerate functional muscle regeneration.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224183507.htm

Engaging with schizophrenia: Experts argue for new approaches to treatment

A better understanding of the lived experience of people with schizophrenia would enable clinicians to help patients live with their condition, alongside treating symptoms with medication and psychotherapy, say experts.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224183459.htm

'Resetting' immune cells improves traumatic brain injury recovery in preclinical trials

Targeting overactive immune cells and dampening their chronic neurotoxic effects may offer new therapeutic strategies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to new preclinical research in mice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224131139.htm

Allergists encourage parents of food-allergic kids to recognize their own anxiety

Allergists in the study said thoughtful and balanced communication and having credible information to share with your child go a long way toward helping your child with fears about their food allergy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225075105.htm

Supplementing diet with amino acid successfully staves off signs of ALS in pre-clinical study

The addition of dietary L-serine, a naturally occurring amino acid necessary for formation of proteins and nerve cells, delayed signs of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in an animal study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224102022.htm

Walking together: Personal traits and first impressions affects step synchronization

Walking is one of our most natural, daily actions. Now, a new study suggests that walkers use step synchronization as a form of non-verbal social communication. The results lend credence to the effects of psychological traits on movement interaction between humans. 

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221160737.htm

Noninvasive, self-adhesive sensor predicted worsening heart failure in veterans

A removable, noninvasive, self-adhesive sensor successfully predicted worsening heart failure and the need for hospitalization in veterans several days before hospitalization occurred. The researchers used machine learning to analyze the data provided remotely by the sensor to detect if, and when, a patient's heart failure was worsening.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200225075107.htm

Monday, February 24, 2020

Too much of a good thing may lead to too much of a liver as well

Researchers suggest that prolonged exposure to a pair of antioxidant proteins may contribute to enlargement of the liver and fatty liver diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224165301.htm

How cancer cells stiff-arm normal environmental cues to consume energy

Using human lung cancer cells, researchers have uncovered how cells in general modulate their energy consumption based on their surroundings and, furthermore, how cancer cells override those cues to maximize energy use.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224152928.htm

Social determinant screening not enough to capture patients at risk of utility shut-off

Researchers have found that only a fraction of patients at risk of having their utilities shut off were identified through social determinants of health (SDOH) screening. The research showed that among the patients who received a utility protection letter in 2018, 70% were screened for SDOH and only 16% screened positive for difficulty paying their utility bills.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224152658.htm

A promising new strategy to help broken bones heal faster

To improve how broken bones heal in people with diabetes, researchers are leading work to develop an affordable oral therapy -- grown in plants.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224133835.htm

Releasing brakes: Potential new methods for Duchenne muscular dystrophy therapies

Testing of small molecules in mouse models for Duchenne muscular dystrophy shows promise for restoration of muscle structure and function.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224131133.htm

Researchers end decade-long search for mechanical pain sensor

Researchers have discovered that a protein found in the membrane of our sensory neurons are involved in our capacity to feel mechanical pain, laying the foundation for the development of powerful new analgesic drugs.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224131131.htm

Antibodies: The body's own antidepressants

Antibodies can be a blessing or a curse to the brain -- it all depends on their concentration.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224131129.htm

Complexity scientists present 'meme' model for multiple diseases

Interacting contagious diseases like influenza and pneumonia -- and perhaps coronavirus too -- follow the same complex spreading patterns as social trends, like the adoption of new slang or technologies. This new finding could lead to better tracking and intervention when multiple diseases spread through a population at the same time.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224111409.htm

Researchers ID protein function in parasites that cause sometimes fatal diseases

In the quest to develop more effective treatments for parasitic diseases, scientists look for weaknesses in the organisms' molecular machinery. Researchers recently contributed to that understanding by discovering the function of a specific protein in the three related parasites that cause African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis -- diseases that are sometimes fatal and afflict millions worldwide.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224131115.htm

New tech takes radiation out of cancer screening

Researchers have developed a new, inexpensive technology that could save lives and money by routinely screening women for breast cancer without exposure to radiation. The system uses harmless microwaves and artificial intelligence (AI) software to detect even small, early-stage tumors within minutes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224111415.htm

New method gives glaucoma researchers control over eye pressure

Neuroscientists have developed a new method that permits continuous regulation of eye pressure without damage, becoming the first to definitively prove pressure in the eye is sufficient to cause and explain glaucoma.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224111413.htm

CRISPR gene cuts may offer new way to chart human genome

In search of new ways to sequence human genomes and read critical alterations in DNA, researchers say they have successfully used the gene cutting tool CRISPR to make cuts in DNA around lengthy tumor genes, which can be used to collect sequence information.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224111330.htm

Oldest reconstructed bacterial genomes link farming, herding with emergence of new disease

Using Salmonella enterica genomes recovered from human skeletons as old as 6,500 years, an international team of researchers illustrates the evolution of a human pathogen and provides the first ancient DNA evidence in support of the hypothesis that the cultural transition from foraging to farming facilitated the emergence of human-adapted pathogens that persist until today.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224111227.htm

Directing nanoparticles straight to tumors

Modern anticancer therapies aim to attack tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. A team of researchers has now produced tiny nanoparticles that are designed to specifically target cancer cells. They can navigate directly to the tumor cells and visualize those using advanced imaging techniques. Both in Petri dishes and animal models, the scientists were able to effectively guide the nanoparticles to the cancer cells. The next step is to combine the new technique with therapeutic approaches.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224111332.htm

Vision rehab treatment effective for stroke and injury related blindness

A new study shows that visual rehabilitation is effective for patients who have suffered vision loss related to stroke or traumatic brain injury.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224102021.htm

Study of 418,000 Europeans finds different foods linked to different types of stroke

Different types of food are linked to risks of different types of stroke, according to the largest study to investigate this. The study of more than 418,000 people in nine European countries investigated ischaemic stroke and haemorrhagic stroke separately.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224102024.htm

Could this plaque identifying toothpaste prevent a heart attack or stroke?

For decades, researchers have suggested a link between oral health and inflammatory diseases affecting the entire body -- in particular, heart attacks and strokes. Results of a randomized pilot trial of Plaque HD®, the first toothpaste that identifies plaque so that it can be removed with directed brushing, showed that it produced a statistically significant reduction in C-reactive protein, a sensitive marker for future risks of heart attacks and strokes, among those with elevations at baseline.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224100554.htm

New tool for an old disease: Use of PET and CT scans may help develop shorter TB treatment

Experts believe that tuberculosis, or TB, has been a scourge for humans for some 15,000 years, with the first medical documentation of the disease coming out of India around 1000 B.C.E. Today, the World Health Organization reports that TB is still the leading cause of death worldwide from a single infectious agent, responsible for some 1.5 million fatalities annually.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224082804.htm

Specific gut bacteria may be associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Researchers have found a specific bacterial profile in the gut of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a chronic and progressive disease that causes constriction of arteries in the lungs. The unique bacterial profile predicted pulmonary arterial hypertension with 83% accuracy.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200224073924.htm

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Mediterranean diet ingredient may extend life

Researchers discover a potential new way in which diet influences aging-related diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221125120.htm

Osteosarcoma profiling reveals why immunotherapy remains ineffective

Comprehensive profiling of tumor samples taken from patients with osteosarcoma shows that multiple factors contribute to the traditionally poor responses observed from treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221084811.htm

Iron in brain shows cognitive decline in people with Parkinson's

A cutting-edge MRI technique to detect iron deposits in different brain regions can track declines in thinking, memory and movement in people with Parkinson's disease, finds a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220193447.htm

Researchers develop label-free microscopic techniques to visualize extracellular vesicles

Medical researchers can now use label-free microscopic techniques to visualize extracellular vesicles, which are associated with cancer.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220182752.htm

Exploring a genome's 3D organization through a social network lens

Computational biologists have taken an algorithm used to study social networks, such as Facebook communities, and adapted it to identify how DNA and proteins are interconnected into communities within the cell nucleus. The behavior of these communities may prove key to understanding basic cellular processes and disease mechanisms, such as aging and cancer development.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220130441.htm

Some antibiotics prescribed during pregnancy linked with birth defects

Children of mothers prescribed macrolide antibiotics during the first trimester of pregnancy are at an increased risk of major birth defects when compared with penicillin, and the drugs should be used 'with caution' according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219184601.htm

Discovery may illuminate a missing link between atherosclerosis and aging

Using a preclinical model of atherosclerosis, researchers have uncovered a long, noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that may point the way toward new therapies for atherosclerosis and shed light on why the likelihood of the disease increases with age.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219152835.htm

Controlling CAR T cells with light selectively destroys skin tumors in mice

Bioengineers have developed a control system that could make CAR T-cell therapy safer and more powerful when treating cancer. By programming CAR T cells to switch on when exposed to blue light, the researchers controlled the cells to destroy skin tumors in mice without harming healthy tissue.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219152832.htm

New test identifies poisonous mushrooms

A simple, portable test can detect the deadliest of the mushroom poisons in minutes, researchers say. Eating toxic mushrooms causes more than 100 deaths a year, globally, and leaves thousands of people in need of urgent medical assistance. Amanitin is the class of mushroom toxins that cause the most serious issues.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219124236.htm

Getting children to eat their greens? Both parents need to set an example

A positive example set by both the mother and the father promotes the consumption of vegetables, fruit and berries among 3-5-year-old children, according to a new study. The study explored the association of the home food environment and parental influence with the consumption of vegetables among kindergarten-aged children.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220101021.htm

A deep dive into cellular aging

Scientists have discovered that mitochondria trigger senescence, the sleep-like state of aged cells, through communication with the cell's nucleus --a nd identified an FDA-approved drug that helped suppress the damaging effects of the condition in cells and mice. The discovery could lead to treatments that promote healthy aging or prevent age-associated diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and more.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220091534.htm

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Your home's water quality could vary by the room -- and the season

A study has found that the water quality of a home can differ in each room and change between seasons, challenging the assumption that the water in a public water system is the same as the water that passes through a building's plumbing at any time of the year.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219152859.htm

Breakthrough in coronavirus research results in new map to support vaccine design

Researchers have made a critical breakthrough toward developing a vaccine for the 2019 novel coronavirus by creating the first 3D atomic scale map of the part of the virus that attaches to and infects human cells. Mapping this part, called the spike protein, is an essential step so researchers around the world can develop vaccines and antiviral drugs to combat the virus.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219152850.htm

Antidote to pain and negativity? Let it be

Merely a brief introduction to mindfulness helps people deal with physical pain and negative emotions, a new study shows. The effect of mindfulness was so pronounced, they found, that even when participants were subjected to high heat on their forearm, their brain responded as if it was experiencing normal temperature.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219152827.htm

Blood supply to the brain, as needed

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for how the brain and its arteries communicate to supply blood to areas of heightened neural activity. The findings enable new avenues of study into the role of this process in neurological diseases.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219152823.htm

Weed-derived compounds in Serbian groundwater could contribute to endemic kidney disease

People living in Balkan farming villages along the Danube River have long suffered from a unique type of kidney disease known as Balkan endemic nephropathy. Recently, scientists linked the disorder to compounds from a local weed that could be taken up into food crops from the soil. Now, researchers have discovered that contaminated groundwater could be another important source of human exposure.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219113749.htm

Lensless on-chip microscopy platform shows slides in full view

Biomedical engineers have demonstrated a lensless on-chip microscopy platform that eliminates several of the most common problems with conventional optical microscopy and provides a low-cost option for the diagnosis of disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219113742.htm

CRISPR enhances production of EPO used to treat anemia

EPO, an important drug for treating anemia, can now be produced in higher quantities and with better quality in mammalian cells designed using CRISPR.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219113740.htm

Fetal balloon treatment for lung-damaging birth defect works best when fetal and maternal care are highly coordinated

Researchers report new evidence that fetuses with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a rare but life-threatening, lung-damaging condition, experience a significantly high rate of success for the fetal treatment known as FETO, if they and their mothers receive coordinated and highly experienced care in the same expert setting.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219113738.htm

MRI findings predict shoulder stiffness for rotator cuff tears

Two MRI findings -- joint capsule edema and thickness at the axillary recess, specifically -- proved useful in predicting stiff shoulder in patients with small to large (< 5 cm) full-thickness rotator cuff tears, according to new research. This study is important because it is the first to highlight joint capsule abnormality on MRI as a factor associated with stiff shoulder in patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219113736.htm

Enriching newborns' environment in the right way helps heal young, injured brains

Preclinical model of oxygen deprivation, a common consequence of prematurity, showed better recovery when exposed to a combination of increased physical activity, socialization and cognitive stimulation.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219092555.htm

Lower dose of newer clot-buster may be appropriate for some stroke patients

In a comparison of 0.25mg/kg and 0.40mg/kg doses of the newer and more convenient clot-busting medication tenecteplase, there was no advantage in increasing the dose above 0.25mg/kg in stroke patients who planned to have mechanical clot retrieval. In addition, administering tenecteplase may decrease the need for mechanical clot removal.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220154905.htm

New drug helps to preserve brain cells for a time after stroke

After 50 years of research and the testing of over 1,000 drugs, there is new hope for preserving brain cells for a time after stroke. Treating acute ischemic stroke patients with an experimental neuroprotective drug, combined with a surgical procedure to remove the clot improves outcomes as shown by clinical trial results.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220154903.htm

Research team tackles superbug infections with novel therapy

Superbug infections kill 35,000 people in the US annually. A team of researchers has found that a treatment known as AB569 kills pseudomonas aeruginosa in humanized cells in mouse models. The treatment does not harm these humanized cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141729.htm

Plant-based relatives of cholesterol could give boost to gene therapy

Gene-infused nanoparticles used for combating disease work better when they include plant-based relatives of cholesterol because their shape and structure help the genes get where they need to be inside cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220091538.htm

Friday, February 21, 2020

Physics tool helps track cancer cell diversity

A team took a novel, interdisciplinary approach to analyzing the behavior of breast tumor cells by employing a statistical modeling technique more commonly used in physics and economics. The team was able to demonstrate how the diversity, or heterogeneity, of cancer cells can be influenced by their chemical environment -- namely, by interactions with a specific protein, which leads to tumor growth.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220154902.htm

Brain cells protect muscles from wasting away

Several processes in the roundworm C. elegans boost the stress response in cells, incidentally making worms resistant to a high-fat diet and extending their lifespan. Researchers have found another: cells called glia that release a hormone that boosts the unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum of the worm's cells, effectively doubling lifespan. This could lead to interventions to tune up peripheral cells, such as muscle cells, and prevent age-related deterioration in humans.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221180935.htm

Surgeons successfully treat brain aneurysms using a robot

A robot was used to treat brain aneurysms for the first time. The robotic system could eventually allow remote surgery, enabling surgeons to treat strokes from afar.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221160731.htm

Changing what heart cells eat could help them regenerate

Switching what the powerhouses of heart cells consume for energy could help the heart regenerate when cells die.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221160729.htm

Drug cocktail holds promise for spinal injuries

Scientists have discovered a combination of two commonly available drugs that could help the body heal spinal fractures.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221084809.htm

Neighborhood features and one's genetic makeup interact to affect cognitive function

Few studies have examined how the neighborhood's physical environment relates to cognition in older adults. Researchers categorized 4,716 individuals by apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype -- a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) to determine if there are cognitive benefits of living in neighborhoods with greater access to social, walking and retail destinations. Results showed that the positive influence of neighborhood environments on cognition are strongest among those who are at the lowest risk for AD, specifically APOE ?2 carriers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219092534.htm

Watch Never-Before-Seen HIV Episodes of “Friends” and “The Office”

HIV facility Casey House edited and dubbed the five-minute segments to smash HIV/AIDS stigma. The result is must-see TV.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/watch-neverbeforeseen-hiv-episodes-friends-office

Scientists solve long-debated puzzle of how the intestine heals itself

Scientists find that normal intestinal cells 'de-differentiate' en masse into stem cells that generate the cells needed for a healthy intestinal lining. New study establishes de-differentiation as the predominant mode of stem cell recover in the intestine.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141738.htm

Want to live longer? Stay in school, study suggests

A multi-institution study has attempted to tease out the relative impact of two variables most often linked to life expectancy -- race and education -- by combing through data about 5,114 black and white individuals in four US cities.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220193449.htm

Artificial intelligence yields new antibiotic

Using a machine-learning algorithm, researchers have identified a powerful new antibiotic compound. In laboratory tests, the drug killed many of the world's most problematic disease-causing bacteria, including some strains that are resistant to all known antibiotics. It also cleared infections in two different mouse models.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141748.htm

People who eat a big breakfast may burn twice as many calories

Eating a big breakfast rather than a large dinner may prevent obesity and high blood sugar, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219092539.htm

Pill-sized 'heater' could increase accessibility in diagnosing infectious disease

Researchers have developed a tiny 'heater' -- about the size of a pill -- that could allow resource-limited regions around the world to test for infectious diseases without the need for specialized training or costly lab equipment.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220130439.htm

U=U Meets With “Extreme Backlash” in Thailand

Here’s how you can stand up for the HIV fact that Undetectable Equals Untransmittable.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/uu-meets-extreme-backlash-thailand

Therapeutic cooling effectively targets site of brain injury

Investigators successfully measure brain temperature in newborn babies undergoing therapeutic cooling, showing that the treatment effectively targets the core of the brain.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141715.htm

Origins of immune system mapped, opening doors for new cancer immunotherapies

A first cell atlas of the human thymus gland could lead to new immune therapies to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Researchers mapped thymus tissue through the human lifespan to understand how it develops and makes vital immune cells called T cells. In the future, this information could help researchers to generate an artificial thymus and engineer improved therapeutic T cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141708.htm

Antidepressant harms baby neurons in lab-grown 'mini-brains'

Researchers have demonstrated the use of stem-cell-derived 'mini-brains' to detect harmful side effects of a common drug on the developing brain. Mini-brains are miniature human brain models, developed with human cells and barely visible to the human eye, whose cellular mechanisms mimic those of the developing human brain.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200221084815.htm

Thursday, February 20, 2020

For 'blade runners' taller doesn't necessarily mean faster

The governing body for the Paralympics recently lowered the allowable height for sprinters who use prosthetic legs, or blades, during competition. The rules are based on the assumption that the taller you are the faster you run. But a new study has found otherwise.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220182745.htm

Curing genetic disease in human cells

Scientists show for the first time that a newer type of CRISPR, called base-editing, can safely cure cystic fibrosis in stem cells derived from patients.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141740.htm

New discovery has important implications for treating common eye disease

Scientists have made an important discovery with implications for those living with a common, debilitating eye disease (age-related macular degeneration, AMD) that can cause blindness. They have discovered that the molecule TLR2, which recognises chemical patterns associated with infection in the body, also seems to play an important role in the development of retinal degeneration. When TLR2 is removed in model systems, a degree of protection is conferred.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220141727.htm

Long-lasting and precise dosing of medication

Using a mixture of oil droplets and hydrogel, medical active agents can be not only precisely dosed, but also continuously administered over periods of up to several days. The active agents inside the droplets are released at a constant rate, decreasing the risk of over- or underdosage.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220130451.htm

COVID-19 Puts People With HIV in China at Risk of Med Shortages

The outbreak of new coronavirus is having a “major impact” on their lives, and many are “very panicked.”


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/covid19-puts-people-hiv-china-risk-med-shortages

Why Zika virus caused most harmful brain damage to Brazilian newborns

Researchers have found that the strain of Zika that circulated in Brazil during the microcephaly epidemic that began in 2015 was particularly damaging to the developing brain.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218163106.htm

Magnet-controlled bioelectronic implant could relieve pain

An electrical and computer engineer has introduced the first neural implant that can be programmed and charged remotely with a magnetic field.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220101110.htm

New front opened in fight against common cancer driver

Researchers have revealed a new vulnerability in lymphomas that are driven by one of the most common cancer-causing changes in cells. The team hopes that this could be a new target for treating a range of cancers.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220104050.htm

Cell biology: How to keep the nucleus clean

RNA turnover in the nuclei of eukaryotic cells is controlled by the RNA exosome aided by numerous cofactors. Researchers at now show how two major nuclear exosome cofactors recognize their RNA targets to keep a clean nuclear environment. This is important for the health of our cells - and thus humans.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220101115.htm

More Research Is Needed to Guide Response to Rural Opioid Crisis

Researchers found critical gaps in the scientific knowledge about the opioid epidemic.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/research-needed-guide-response-rural-opioid-crisis

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Targeting turncoat immune cells to treat cancer

A new study has identified a mechanism by which regulatory T cells, which suppress immune responses, adapt their metabolism to thrive in the harsh microenvironment of the tumor.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218182210.htm

Think all BPA-free products are safe? Not so fast, scientists warn

Using 'BPA-free' plastic products could be as harmful to human health -- including a developing brain -- as those products that contain the controversial chemical, suggest scientists.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218182202.htm

Highly sensitive sensors show promise in enhancing human touch

People rely on a highly tuned sense of touch to manipulate objects, but injuries to the skin and the simple act of wearing gloves can impair this ability. Scientists report the development of a new tactile-enhancement system based on a highly sensitive sensor. The sensor has remarkable sensitivity, allowing the wearer to detect the light brush of a feather. This crack-based sensor was inspired by a spider's slit organ.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218182158.htm

Exposure to cleaning products in first 3 months of life increases risk of childhood asthma

New research shows that frequent exposure to common household cleaning products can increase a child's risk of developing asthma.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218182154.htm

How too much fluoride causes defects in tooth enamel

Exposing teeth to excessive fluoride alters calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and gene expression in the cells forming tooth enamel -- a novel explanation for how dental fluorosis, a condition caused by overexposure to fluoride during childhood, arises.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218143719.htm

Late fall may be best time of year to try to conceive

First-of-its-kind study accounts for when couples are most likely to start trying to conceive, finding couples conceive quicker in late fall and early winter, especially in southern states.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218143716.htm

Getting a grip: An innovative mechanical controller design for robot-assisted surgery

Scientists designed a new type of controller for the robotic arm used in robotic surgery. Their controller combines the two distinct types of gripping used in commercially available robotic systems to leverage the advantages of both, reducing the efforts of the surgeon and providing good precision.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218124342.htm

Beta-arrestin-2 increases neurotoxic tau driving frontotemporal dementia

The certain protein increases the accumulation of neurotoxic tau tangles, a cause several forms of dementia, by interfering with removal of excess tau from the brain, a new study found.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217162345.htm

Atomic structures mapped in measles, mumps, flu and RSV

Researchers have, for the first time, determined the 3D atomic structure of a key complex in paramyxoviruses, a family of viruses that includes measles, mumps, human parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217162343.htm

Boys with inattention-hyperactivity face increased risk for traumatic brain injuries

Researchers show that boys exhibiting inattention-hyperactivity at age 10 have a higher risk for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in adolescence and adulthood. Treatments to reduce these behaviors may decrease the risk for TBIs.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219113757.htm

A new way to assess male fertility

Current tests for male fertility include measuring the concentration and motility of spermatozoa. However, other characteristics of sperm, such as their ability to follow a chemical trail to the egg, can influence the likelihood of fertilization. Now, researchers have devised a quick and convenient microfluidic chip to assess this chemotactic response of spermatozoa, which could help provide a more complete picture of a man's fertility.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219113751.htm

HIV Funding From Private Sources in 2018 Remained “Relatively Flat”

Plus: Top 10 philanthropic funders of HIV, according to the latest report from Funders Concerned About AIDS


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/hiv-funding-private-sources-2018-remained-relatively-flat

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Western diet rich in fat and sugar linked to skin inflammation

Dietary components, rather than obesity itself, may lead to skin inflammation and the development of psoriasis, a study has found.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218161720.htm

How low oxygen levels in the heart predispose people to cardiac arrhythmias

Low oxygen levels in the heart have long been known to produce life-threatening arrhythmias, even sudden death. Until now, it was not clear how. New findings reveal the underlying mechanism for this dangerous heart disorder.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218152310.htm

Masking the memory of fear: Treating anxiety disorders such as PTSD with an opioid

While fear memory -- or the ability to remember contexts in which to be afraid -- is important for survival, too much of it, and an inability to forget contexts that no longer apply, hinders daily activities. Recently, scientists found that a certain opioid drug can help mask some fear memory without causing undesirable side effects. This could make new therapies possible for anxiety disorders like phobias or PTSD.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218124349.htm

How malaria detects and shields itself from approaching immune cells

Malaria parasites can sense a molecule produced by approaching immune cells and then use it to protect themselves from destruction, according to new findings.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218124346.htm

B cells may travel to remote areas of the brain to improve stroke recovery

New research shows that the immune system may target other remote areas of the brain to improve recovery after a stroke.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218104718.htm

Risk factors for endometrial cancer

An analysis of 149 scientific studies has identified 24 genetic variants which predispose women to endometrial cancer.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217192031.htm

Memory games: Eating well to remember

A healthy diet is essential to living well, but should we change what we eat as we age? Researchers have found strong evidence of the link between food groups and memory loss and its comorbidities. Her findings point to a need for age-specific dietary guidelines as the links may vary with age -- people aged 80+ with a low consumption of cereals are at highest risk of memory loss and comorbid heart disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218124351.htm

Stress in small children separated from their parents may alter genes

Several studies show that small children cared for outside the home, especially in poor quality care and for 30 or more hours per week, have higher levels of cortisol than children at home.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218131850.htm

Reproductive genome from the laboratory

Researchers have for the first time developed a genome the size of a minimal cell that can copy itself.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218130501.htm

How One Man Boosted Russian Interest in HIV Testing 5,500%

Plus: Of the 1.4 million HIV cases in Russia since 1987, over half were registered after Putin’s third term began in 2012.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/one-man-boosted-russian-interest-hiv-testing-5500

Insufficient evidence backing herbal medicines for weight loss

Researchers have conducted the first global review of herbal medicines for weight loss in 19 years, finding insufficient evidence to recommend any current treatments.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218104715.htm

natural sugars in breastmilk linked to early childhood height and weight

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) found in breastmilk may influence a child's growth from infancy through early childhood, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218104738.htm

First glimpse of body's 'steering wheel' joint sparks hope

For the first time, scientists have found a way to reveal the mechanics of the human body's 'steering wheel' -- the subtalar joint.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218104725.htm

Antioxidant in mushrooms may relieve features of 'pregnancy hypertension'

A new study in rats suggests that the natural antioxidant L-ergothioneine could alleviate the characteristics of pre-eclampsia.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218104743.htm

Genes from scratch: Far more common and important than we thought

Scientists have discovered that de novo genes -- genes that have evolved from scratch -- are both more common and more important than previously believed.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218104740.htm

Monday, February 17, 2020

Vaccine misinformation and social media

People who rely on social media for information were more likely to be misinformed about vaccines than those who rely on traditional media, according to a new study. The study, based on surveys of nearly 2,500 US adults, found that up to 20% of respondents were at least somewhat misinformed about vaccines.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217163004.htm

New guidelines on aspirin in primary prevention

New guidelines recommend aspirin use in primary prevention for people ages 40 to 70 years old who are at higher risk of a first cardiovascular event, but not for those over 70. Yet, people over 70 are at higher risks of cardiovascular events than those under 70. As a result, health care providers are understandably confused about whether or not to prescribe aspirin for primary prevention of heart attacks or strokes, and if so, to whom.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217162354.htm

Leaking away essential resources isn't wasteful, actually helps cells grow

Experts have been unable to explain why cells from bacteria to humans leak essential chemicals necessary for growth into their environment. New mathematical models reveal that leaking metabolites -- substances involved in the chemical processes to sustain life with production of complex molecules and energy -- may provide cells both selfish and selfless benefits.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134741.htm

States with highest rates of melanoma due to ultraviolet radiation identified

A new study finds a wide state-by-state variation in rates of melanoma caused by ultraviolet (UV) exposure with highest rates in several states on the East and West Coast including Hawaii, but also a few landlocked states, including Utah, Vermont, and Minnesota.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217085228.htm

The skinny on why poor sleep may increase heart risk in women

A new study suggests that for women, poor sleep could contribute to unhealthy food choices, increasing the risk of obesity and heart disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217085214.htm

Combination drug therapy for childhood brain tumors shows promise in laboratory models

In experiments with human cells and mice, researchers report evidence that combining the experimental cancer medication TAK228 (also called sapanisertib) with an existing anti-cancer drug called trametinib may be more effective than either drug alone in decreasing the growth of pediatric low-grade gliomas.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217085212.htm

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Computer simulations visualize how DNA converts cells into stem cells

Researchers have revealed how an essential protein helps to activate genomic DNA during the conversion of regular adult human cells into stem cells.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134731.htm

Green tea extract combined with exercise reduces fatty liver disease in mice

The combination of green tea extract and exercise reduced the severity of obesity-related fatty liver disease by 75% in mice fed a high-fat diet, according to researchers, whose recent study may point to a potential health strategy for people.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134655.htm

Key modifier identified in large genetic deletion related to neurodevelopmental disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders, including schizophrenia and autism, likely result from complex interactions that modify the effects of individual genes, according to new research.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134108.htm

Can bilingualism protect the brain even with early stages of dementia?

Psychology researchers provide new evidence that bilingualism can delay symptoms of dementia. Researchers found bilingualism provides the brain with greater cognitive reserve, delaying onset of symptoms.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213132619.htm

Acid reflux drug is a surprising candidate to curb preterm birth

Lansoprazole, an over-the-counter acid reflux drug that is often taken by pregnant women, may be a promising therapy to reduce preterm birth, according to a computational drug repurposing study that also tested several of the drugs in mice.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213091224.htm

Cocoa could bring sweet relief to walking pain for people with peripheral artery disease

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) who consumed a flavanol-rich cocoa beverage three times daily for six months saw significant improvements in their 6-minute walking distance compared to a placebo, in a small, phase II randomized study. While this data is preliminary and requires confirmation, it suggests a potential therapeutic effect of cocoa on walking performance in patients with PAD.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214084900.htm

Differences in airway size develop during puberty

Sex differences in airway size are not innate, but likely develop because of hormonal changes around puberty, reports a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214084858.htm

Remdesivir prevents MERS coronavirus disease in monkeys

The experimental antiviral remdesivir successfully prevented disease in rhesus macaques infected with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), according to a new study. Remdesivir prevented disease when administered before infection and improved the condition of macaques when given after the animals already were infected.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213160128.htm

Unraveling mechanisms of ventricular enlargement linked to schizophrenia

Scientists have implicated two microRNAs in the biological processes that underlie the ventricle enlargement observed in models of schizophrenia.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214105244.htm

Subtle decline in cognition predicts progression to Alzheimer's pathology

Researchers report that abnormal levels of beta-amyloid plaques in brain predict cognitive decline and higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, but also that cognitive performance predicts progression from normal to abnormal levels of beta-amyloid.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134653.htm

World's first congenital pituitary hypoplasia model developed using patient-derived iPS cells

Researchers have developed the world's first congenital pituitary hypoplasia (CPH) model using patient-derived iPS cells. The research group succeeded in using the model to illuminate the mechanisms underlying CPH. The team has been attempting to apply this model to other pituitary diseases and drug discovery.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214111522.htm

Device mimics brain cells used for human vision

In a study featured as the cover article appearing today in the journal Science Advances, a UCF research team showed that by combining two promising nanomaterials into a new superstructure, they could create a nanoscale device that mimics the neural pathways of brain cells used for human vision.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214144252.htm

Molecule offers hope for halting Parkinson's

A promising molecule has offered hope for a new treatment that could stop or slow Parkinson's, something no treatment can currently do.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214183216.htm

Organ-specific signature profiles for blood vessel cells

Researchers have discovered that endothelial cells have unique genetic signatures based on their location in the body.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213135756.htm

New potential cause of Minamata mercury poisoning identified

One of the world's most horrific environmental disasters -- the 1950 and 60s mercury poisoning in Minamata, Japan -- may have been caused by a previously unstudied form of mercury discharged directly from a chemical factory, new research has found.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213135755.htm

Novel targeted drug shows promise in advanced kidney cancer

Scientists report promising activity of a novel drug that targets a key molecular driver of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in patients with metastatic disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213132623.htm

Artificial intelligence finds disease-related genes

An artificial neural network can reveal patterns in huge amounts of gene expression data, and discover groups of disease-related genes. The scientists hope that the new method can eventually be applied within precision medicine and individualized treatment.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213132615.htm

Mending a broken heart, the bioengineering way

Bioengineers have developed a prototype patch that does the same job as crucial aspects of heart tissue. Their work essentially takes us one step closer to being able to mend a broken heart.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213124229.htm

Friday, February 14, 2020

Eco-friendly way to stop mosquitoes

An innovative -- and inexpensive -- technique targets mosquito larvae where they live.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213090720.htm

Molecular switch mechanism explains how mutations shorten biological clocks

A new study of molecular interactions central to the functioning of biological clocks explains how certain mutations can shorten clock timing, making some people extreme 'morning larks' because their internal clocks operate on a 20-hour cycle instead of being synchronized with the 24-hour cycle of day and night. Researchers found that the same molecular switch mechanism affected by these mutations is at work in animals ranging from fruit flies to people.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213090716.htm

Preclinical study links human gene variant to THC reward in adolescent females

A common variation in a human gene that affects the brain's reward processing circuit increases vulnerability to the rewarding effects of the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis in adolescent females, but not males, according to preclinical research. As adolescence represents a highly sensitive period of brain development with the highest risk for initiating cannabis use, these findings in mice have important implications for understanding the influence of genetics on cannabis dependence in humans.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212164646.htm

A good blood supply is good for memory

Memory performance and other cognitive abilities benefit from a good blood supply to the brain. This applies in particular to people affected by a condition known as 'sporadic cerebral small vessel disease'. Researchers suggest that blood perfusion of the so-called hippocampus could play a key role in age- and disease-related memory problems.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134725.htm

Fast food intake leads to weight gain in preschoolers

There is a strong link between the amount of fast food that pre-school age children consume and their likelihood of becoming overweight or obese, according to a new study.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134723.htm

WWI helmets protect against shock waves just as well as modern designs

Biomedical engineers have demonstrated that, despite significant advancements in protection from ballistics and blunt impacts, modern military helmets are no better at protecting from shock waves than their World War I counterparts. One model in particular, the French Adrian helmet, actually performed better than modern designs. The research could help improve the blast protection of future helmets through choosing different materials, layering multiple materials of different acoustic impedance, or altering their geometry.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134721.htm

WHO underestimates the spread of the Coronavirus

The coronavirus probably has a stronger ability to spread than the World Health Organization has estimated so far. This according to a review of previous studies of the coronavirus' transmissibility.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214111519.htm

Low-cost 'smart' diaper can notify caregiver when it's wet

Researchers have developed a ''smart'' diaper embedded with a moisture sensor that can alert a caregiver when a diaper is wet. When the sensor detects dampness in the diaper, it sends a signal to a nearby receiver, which in turn can send a notification to a smartphone or computer.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214144334.htm

Component of human breast milk enhances cognitive development in babies

Investigators show that early exposure to a carbohydrate found in breast milk, called 2'FL, positively influences neurodevelopment.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212150143.htm

Cracking the code for hookworm infestation

Monash University researchers have uncovered a key way that hookworms evade the immune system - providing new hope in the search for a vaccine.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131502.htm

New mouse model for celiac disease to speed research on treatments

Researchers have developed the first truly accurate mouse model of celiac disease. The animals have the same genetic and immune system characteristics as humans who develop celiac after eating gluten. This provides a vital research tool for developing and testing new treatments for the disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131500.htm

Absent p53, oral cancers recruit and reprogram nerves to fuel tumor growth

Loss of an important tumor-suppressing gene allows head and neck cancer to spin off signals to nearby nerves, changing their function and recruiting them to the tumor, where they fuel growth and cancer progress.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131456.htm

Air pollution's tiny particles may trigger nonfatal heart attacks

Scientists have found that even a few hours' exposure to ambient ultrafine particles common in air pollution may potentially trigger a nonfatal heart attack.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134717.htm

New pathogenic mechanism for influenza NS1 protein found

Researchers report the biological effects of influenza protein NS1 binding to RIG-I -- the binding directly quiets the alarm that activates the cellular innate immunity defense against the infection. This is a newly described way for flu to antagonize the host cellular antiviral response.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134715.htm

Rogue cells at root of autoimmune disease

Breakthrough cellular genomics technology has allowed researchers to reveal genetic mutations causing rogue behavior in the cells that cause autoimmune disease.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213135800.htm

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Effectiveness of travel bans -- readily used during infectious disease outbreaks -- mostly unknown

While travel bans are frequently used to stop the spread of an emerging infectious disease, a new study of published research found that the effectiveness of travel bans is mostly unknown.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213175923.htm

Brain inflammation in veterans with Gulf War illness

In a new discovery, researchers have detected widespread inflammation in the brains of veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Illness.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213175919.htm

'Smart' bandages heal chronic wounds

A new 'smart bandage' could help improve clinical care for people with chronic wounds.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213160048.htm

Much shorter radiation treatment found to be safe, effective for people with soft tissue sarcoma

A new study found that treating soft tissue sarcoma with radiation over a significantly shorter period of time is safe, and likely just as effective, as a much longer conventional course of treatment.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213160044.htm

Second antibiotic no advantage for treating super-bug Golden Staph

A world-first clinical trial has called into question the effectiveness of using more than one antibiotic to treat the deadly 'super-bug', Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bacteremia, commonly known as Golden Staph.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213141526.htm

Scientists make human organs transparent to allow 3D maps at cellular level

For the first time, researchers managed to make intact human organs transparent. Using microscopic imaging they could revealed underlying complex structures of the see-through organs at the cellular level. Resulting organ maps can serve as templates for 3D-bioprinting technologies. In the future, this could lead to the creation of on demand artificial organs for many patients in need.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213135807.htm

TV Preacher Jim Bakker Suggests His $125 Product Kills Coronavirus and HIV

Silver Solution “has the ability to kill every pathogen it has ever been tested on, including SARS and HIV.”


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/tv-preacher-jim-bakker-suggests-125-product-kills-coronavirus-hiv

10,000 steps a day: Not a magical formula for preventing weight gain

For years now, 10,000 steps a day has become the gold standard for people trying to improve their health -- and recent research shows some benefits can come from even just 7,500 steps. But if you're trying to prevent weight gain, a new study suggests no number of steps alone will do the trick.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213160107.htm

Scientists find ally in fight against brain tumors: Ebola

Glioblastomas are relentless, hard-to-treat, and often lethal brain tumors. Scientists have enlisted a most unlikely ally in efforts to treat this form of cancer -- elements of the Ebola virus.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212150149.htm

'Multitasking' AI tool to extract cancer data in record time

To better leverage cancer data for research, scientists are developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based natural language processing tool to improve information extraction from textual pathology reports. In a first for cancer pathology reports, the team developed a multitask convolutional neural network (CNN) -- a deep learning model that learns to perform tasks, such as identifying key words in a body of text, by processing language as a two-dimensional numerical dataset.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212150148.htm

Immune cells consult with neighbors to make decisions

Researchers have uncovered new evidence that immune cells count their neighbors before deciding whether or not the immune system should kick into high gear.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213090722.htm

Heart rate measurements of wearable monitors vary by activity, not skin color

Biomedical engineers have demonstrated that while different wearable technologies, like smart watches and fitness trackers, can accurately measure heart rate across a variety of skin tones, the accuracy between devices begins to vary wildly when they measure heart rate during different types of everyday activities, like typing.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212121950.htm

If pregnant women use cosmetics containing parabens, this may have consequences

Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetics. If pregnant women use cosmetics containing parabens that remain on the skin for protracted periods, this may have consequences for their child's subsequent weight development.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212111438.htm

Half of US deaths related to air pollution are linked to out-of-state emissions

More than half of all air-quality-related early deaths in the United States are a result of emissions originating outside of the state in which those deaths occur, researchers report.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131520.htm

Half of Initial Coronavirus Infections Were Spread Inside a Wuhan Hospital

Immediate risk of transmission to the American public is still low, according to experts.


from POZ RSS - Categories https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/half-initial-coronavirus-infections-spread-inside-wuhan-hospital

Huge bacteria-eating viruses close gap between life and non-life

Bacterial viruses, called bacteriophages, are simple genetic machines, relying on their bacterial hosts to replicate and spread. But scientists have found hundreds of huge phages that carry a slew of bacterial proteins that the phages evidently use to more efficiently manipulate their microbial hosts. These proteins include those involved with ribosomal production of proteins and the CRISPR bacterial immune system, as if the phages are a hybrid between living microbes and viral machines.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131458.htm

Hybrid microscope could bring digital biopsy to the clinic

By adding infrared capability to the ubiquitous, standard optical microscope, researchers hope to bring cancer diagnosis into the digital era. Pairing infrared measurements with high-resolution optical images and machine learning algorithms, the researchers created digital biopsies that closely correlated with traditional pathology techniques and also outperformed state-of-the-art infrared microscopes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213090921.htm

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Bacteriophages may play a role in childhood stunting... and be able to help treat it

New research has discovered that bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) found in the intestinal tracts of children may play a role in childhood stunting, a significant impediment to growth that affects 22% of children under the age of five around the world.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212150158.htm

Antibiotics discovered that kill bacteria in a new way

A new group of antibiotics with a unique approach to attacking bacteria has been discovered, making it a promising clinical candidate in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. The newly-found corbomycin and the lesser-known complestatin have a never-before-seen way to kill bacteria, which is achieved by blocking the function of the bacterial cell wall. The discovery comes from a family of antibiotics called glycopeptides that are produced by soil bacteria.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131523.htm

Children's fingertip injuries could signal abuse

Many children who suffer fingertip injuries have been abused, according to a new study. The researchers found that children who had a documented history of abuse or neglect were 23 percent more likely to suffer a fingertip injury before age 12.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212131447.htm

Researchers discover new arsenic compounds in rice fields

Researchers have systematically investigated under which conditions, and to what extent, sulfur-containing arsenic compounds are formed in rice-growing soils. Their work highlights the urgent need for research with a view to protecting consumers from health risks.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200211121510.htm

Thyroid cancer, genetic variations, cell phones linked in new study

New research finds that radiation from cell phones is associated with higher rates of thyroid cancer among people with genetic variations in specific genes.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212121948.htm

X-ray microscopy at BESSY II: Nanoparticles can change cells

Nanoparticles easily enter into cells. New insights about how they are distributed and what they do there are shown for the first time by high-resolution 3D microscopy images from BESSY II. For example, certain nanoparticles accumulate preferentially in certain organelles of the cell. This can increase the energy costs in the cell.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212111434.htm

Right beneath the skin we all have the same bacteria

In the dermis skin layer, the same bacteria are found across age and gender. This has been shown in a new study which has studied skin samples from knees and hips. The researchers hope it is a step in the direction of a better understanding of why skin disorders occur.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212104733.htm

Research reverses the reproductive clock in mice

Researchers have lifted fertility rates in older female mice with small doses of a metabolic compound that reverses the ageing process in eggs, offering hope for some women struggling to conceive.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212103035.htm

How kirigami can help us study the muscular activity of athletes

Scientists devise an elastic and durable skin-contact patch for measuring the electromyographic activity of the palm muscle inspired by ancient Japanese paper crafts.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212103019.htm

Optimism linked to lower stroke severity, inflammation

Optimistic stroke survivors had lower inflammation levels, reduced stroke severity and less initial physical disability after three months compared to less optimistic survivors, according to the findings of a small study. Previous studies have associated optimism with improved health outcomes for other medical conditions, however, no studies previously assessed if this association exists among stroke patient.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212084408.htm

Stimulation of nerve cluster during stroke may have beneficial effects

Promising new stimulation treatment increases blood flow to the brain, improves hand strength in patients with minor stroke and may decrease disability in many patients with stroke. Nerve cluster stimulation could provide a new treatment option to stroke patients who aren't eligible for clot-dissolving drugs or clot removal.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212084407.htm

Golfing regularly could be a hole-in-one for older adults' health

Regularly golfing, at least once per month, was found to lower the risk of death among older adults. While the protective effects of playing golf have not been linked to reduction of heart attack and stroke risk, researchers note the positive effects of exercise and social interaction for older adults unable to participate in more strenuous exercise.

from Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200212084405.htm