ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Re-analysis of clinical trial data can change conclusions in one-third of studies
• Proactive office ergonomics can increase job satisfaction, employee retention
• Multiple sclerosis researchers find role for working memory in cognitive reserve
• Sickle cell patients who experience discrimination miss out on treatment
• Prioritizing pregnant women in malaria endemic regions for bed nets from clinics
• After two years on antiretroviral therapy, survival in South African patients meets rates from North America
• Whooping cough vaccine recommended for pregnant women amid spike in cases
• Developing first comprehensive guidelines for management of sickle cell disease
• 'Must-have' sexual health services for men outlined in report
• An evolutionary approach to epidemics
• Search for Ebola immune response targets
• Gambling is just plain fun for those players who are in control
• Why humans don't suffer from chimpanzee malaria: DNA region controlling red blood cell invasion holds genetic key to infection
• Genetic modifier impacts colon tumor formation
• Weekly text message could encourage healthier food choices, new study shows
• Radiation therapy, concurrent chemotherapy after surgery is effective treatment for high-risk endometrial cancer
• New molecular target key to enhanced brain plasticity
• Shared pain brings people together, study concludes
• After generics it's the turn of biosimilar drugs, a budding market
• Understanding a molecular motor responsible for human development
• Mapping the DNA sequence of Ashkenazi Jews
• Bacteria harbor secret weapons against antibiotics
• Liberal countries have more satisfied citizens while conservatives are happier individuals
• African American women receive less breast reconstruction after mastectomy
• Poverty, not bias, explains racial/ethnic differences in child abuse
• Race, ethnicity important when evaluating risk of fat around heart
• Eating habits, body fat related to differences in brain chemistry
• Tracing water channels in cell surface receptors
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases linked with asbestos exposure
• How stem cells can be used to treat lung disease
• Birth measurements could predict lung health in teen years
• Contrast-enhanced CT scan safe for most patients
• Intervention in 6-month-olds with autism eliminates symptoms, developmental delay
• Estrogen receptor expression may help explain why more males have autism
• Exercise before school may reduce ADHD symptoms in kids
• Eating is addictive but sugar, fat are not like drugs, study says
• Weakness in malaria parasite fats suggests new treatments
• How age alters our immune response to bereavement
• Xenon gas protects brain after head injury, research shows
• New methods enhance quality of myocardial perfusion imaging
• New infrared marker for bio-imaging
• Assessing risk of lung disease through contact with birds
• Breast milk may be protective against devastating intestinal disorder
• Study sheds light on asthma, respiratory viruses
• Positive outlook, social support help diabetes patients cope
• Milestone reached in work to build replacement kidneys in the lab
• New cancer drug for dogs benefits human research, drug development
• Advanced technologies vastly improve MRI for children
• Should lung cancer screening be covered for Medicare beneficiaries?
• Lipid deficiency linked to neuron degeneration in lab study
• Religious youths are less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol, study finds
• Researchers improve severe asthma care through new, antibody-based treatment

Re-analysis of clinical trial data can change conclusions in one-third of studies Posted: 09 Sep 2014 04:20 PM PDT As many as one-third of previously published randomized clinical trials could be re-analyzed in ways that modify the conclusions of how many or what types of patients need to be treated, according to a new study.

Proactive office ergonomics can increase job satisfaction, employee retention Posted: 09 Sep 2014 01:23 PM PDT Although office ergonomics training programs have been shown to improve employee well-being and productivity, in many cases training occurs only after complaints are logged. New research demonstrates that a comprehensive and proactive workplace ergonomics program can help to prevent discomfort and injury.

Multiple sclerosis researchers find role for working memory in cognitive reserve Posted: 09 Sep 2014 01:23 PM PDT Working memory may be an underlying mechanism of cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis, research shows. This finding informs the relationships between working memory, intellectual enrichment and long-term memory in this population.

Sickle cell patients who experience discrimination miss out on treatment Posted: 09 Sep 2014 12:27 PM PDT Experiencing discrimination because of their race or health condition can influence just how much trust people put into the health profession. In fact, having these experiences was associated with a 53 percent increase in the chances that someone suffering from sickle cell disease will not follow their doctors' orders, says one researcher.

Prioritizing pregnant women in malaria endemic regions for bed nets from clinics Posted: 09 Sep 2014 12:27 PM PDT Donors, Ministries of Health, implementing agencies, and other partners should prioritize providing pregnant women in malaria endemic regions with long-lasting insecticide treated nets through antenatal care clinics to help prevent malaria and its adverse effects on mother and infant, according to experts.

After two years on antiretroviral therapy, survival in South African patients meets rates from North America Posted: 09 Sep 2014 12:27 PM PDT Provided that therapy is started promptly, South Africans with HIV have chances of remaining alive beyond two years on antiretroviral therapy that are comparable to those of North American patients, according to new research.

Whooping cough vaccine recommended for pregnant women amid spike in cases Posted: 09 Sep 2014 11:44 AM PDT Expectant moms should be vaccinated for pertussis, or whooping cough, during their third trimester, according to obstetricians. Those in close contact with the infant also should be up to date with their whooping cough vaccine.

Developing first comprehensive guidelines for management of sickle cell disease Posted: 09 Sep 2014 11:44 AM PDT The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has released the first comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for management of sickle cell disease from birth to end of life. Sickle cell anemia is the most common form of sickle cell disease, a serious disorder in which the body makes sickle-shaped red blood cells.

'Must-have' sexual health services for men outlined in report Posted: 09 Sep 2014 11:44 AM PDT Compared with women, American men have worse access to reproductive and sexual health care, research shows, a disparity fueled in part by the lack of standard clinical guidelines on the types and timing of exams, tests and treatments that should be offered to all men of reproductive age. Now a report aims to fill that need.

An evolutionary approach to epidemics Posted: 09 Sep 2014 10:08 AM PDT An evolutionary analysis of public health data during a major disease outbreak, such as bird flu, E. coli contamination of food or the current Ebola outbreak could help the emergency services plan their response and contain the disease more effectively.

Search for Ebola immune response targets Posted: 09 Sep 2014 09:36 AM PDT The effort to develop therapeutics and a vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD) requires a complex understanding of the microorganism and its relationship within the host, especially the immune response. Adding to the challenge, EVD can be caused by any one of five known species within the genus Ebolavirus (EBOV), in the Filovirus family.

Gambling is just plain fun for those players who are in control Posted: 09 Sep 2014 09:35 AM PDT Most gamblers who play responsibly enjoy the experience and exhibit no problems, research suggests. These people set limits on how much money and time they can spend, and they are likely to gamble on the internet. But gambling is just one of several leisure activities these players undertake.

Why humans don't suffer from chimpanzee malaria: DNA region controlling red blood cell invasion holds genetic key to infection Posted: 09 Sep 2014 09:35 AM PDT By comparing the genomes of malaria parasites that affect chimpanzees and those that affect humans, researchers discovered that it is the difference in the parasites' surface proteins that determine which host it will infect.

Genetic modifier impacts colon tumor formation Posted: 09 Sep 2014 09:26 AM PDT Unexpected results from an ongoing experiment led to a potentially important discovery that could have an impact on how cancer researchers test anti-cancer therapies in mice, and possibly prevent colon cancer in people.

Weekly text message could encourage healthier food choices, new study shows Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT Many people are unaware that the US Food and Drug Administration's mandated nutrition labels are based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, but a simple weekly text message reminder can greatly improve that awareness, according to a new study.

Radiation therapy, concurrent chemotherapy after surgery is effective treatment for high-risk endometrial cancer Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT Radiation therapy with concurrent paclitaxel chemotherapy following surgery is an effective treatment for patients with high-risk endometrial cancer, according to a study. Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy. Patients with early-stage disease are typically treated with surgery alone; however, patients with advanced endometrial cancer have higher instances of local or distant recurrence.

New molecular target key to enhanced brain plasticity Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:36 AM PDT As Alzheimer's disease progresses, it kills brain cells mainly in the hippocampus and cortex, leading to impairments in 'neuroplasticity,' the mechanism that affects learning, memory, and thinking. Groundbreaking new research has discovered a new way to preserve the flexibility and resilience of the brain that offers a new target for drug design and an understanding of mechanisms of cognitive enhancement.

Shared pain brings people together, study concludes Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:33 AM PDT What doesn't kill us may make us stronger as a group, according to findings from new research. The research suggests that, despite its unpleasantness, pain may actually have positive social consequences, acting as a sort of 'social glue' that fosters cohesion and solidarity within groups.

After generics it's the turn of biosimilar drugs, a budding market Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:33 AM PDT Biosimilar drugs are the complex equivalents of generic ones and are destined to make a great impact on the healthcare system over the coming years. According to a researcher, 'they are going to have an importance on a par with that of the introduction of generics.' So it is necessary to set up a suitable regulatory framework, authors of a new study say.

Understanding a molecular motor responsible for human development Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:32 AM PDT Another mystery of the human body has been solved by scientists who have identified how a molecular motor essential for human development works. They have also pinpointed why mutations in genes linked to this motor can lead to a range of human diseases.

Mapping the DNA sequence of Ashkenazi Jews Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:32 AM PDT Researchers have created a data resource that will improve genomic research in the Ashkenazi Jewish population and lead to more effective personalized medicine. The team of experts focused on the Ashkenazi Jewish population because of its demographic history of genetic isolation and the resulting abundance of population-specific mutations and prevalence of rare genetic disorders.

Bacteria harbor secret weapons against antibiotics Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:32 AM PDT The ability of pathogenic bacteria to evolve resistance to antibiotic drugs poses a growing threat to human health worldwide, and scientists have now discovered that some of our microscopic enemies may be even craftier than we suspected, using hidden genetic changes to promote rapid evolution under stress and developing antibiotic resistance in more ways than previously thought.

Liberal countries have more satisfied citizens while conservatives are happier individuals Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:27 AM PDT People living in more liberal countries are happier on average than those in less liberal countries, but individually, conservatives are happier than liberals no matter where they live, according to a study of people in 16 Western European countries.

African American women receive less breast reconstruction after mastectomy Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:26 AM PDT African American women are 55 percent less likely to receive breast reconstruction after mastectomy regardless of where they received their care. Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is associated with better quality of life and other benefits — in fact insurance coverage for reconstruction is legislatively mandated.

Poverty, not bias, explains racial/ethnic differences in child abuse Posted: 09 Sep 2014 08:26 AM PDT Poverty -- rather than biased reporting -- seems to account for the higher rates of child abuse and neglect among black children, reports a new study.

Race, ethnicity important when evaluating risk of fat around heart Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:38 AM PDT A man's likelihood of accumulating fat around his heart -- an important indicator of heart disease risk -- may be better determined if doctors consider his race and ethnicity, as well as where on his body he's building up excess fat, reveals an international evaluation.

Eating habits, body fat related to differences in brain chemistry Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:38 AM PDT People who are obese may be more susceptible to environmental food cues than their lean counterparts due to differences in brain chemistry that make eating more habitual and less rewarding, according to new research.

Tracing water channels in cell surface receptors Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate most of our physiological responses to external stimuli and are involved in many diseases. Scientists have now used computer modeling to uncover central steps of GPCR signal transduction. This finding could help in developing new medicines targeting this important class of cell surface receptors.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases linked with asbestos exposure Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT A proportion of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cases may be linked with asbestos exposure, according to the results of a new study. If confirmed, the findings would mean that current treatment strategies need to be altered as people with a history of asbestos exposure are not currently able to access new treatments for IPF.

How stem cells can be used to treat lung disease Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT A new study has revealed how stem cells work to improve lung function in acute respiratory distress syndrome. The researchers investigated whether stem cells can affect the stimulation of the macrophages and promote the state in which they will suppress the inflammation.

Birth measurements could predict lung health in teen years Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT A new study has found that factors, such as birth weight, gestational age at birth and lung function, growth and other measures at 8 years old, can be used to predict lung function during mid to late teenage years.

Contrast-enhanced CT scan safe for most patients Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT Iodine-based contrast material injected intravenously to enhance CT images can be safely used in most patients, according to a study. Of the 80 million or more CT scans performed each year in the United States, iodine-based contrast material is used in at least half to enhance computed tomography (CT) images, according to researchers.

Intervention in 6-month-olds with autism eliminates symptoms, developmental delay Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT Treatment at the earliest age when autism spectrum disorder is detectable -- in infants as young as 6 months old -- significantly reduces symptoms so that by age 3 most who received the therapy had neither autism nor delay, a research study has found.

Estrogen receptor expression may help explain why more males have autism Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT The same sex hormone that helps protect females from stroke may also reduce their risk of autism, scientists say. In the first look at a potential role of the female sex hormone in autism, researchers have found expression of estrogen receptor beta -- which enables estrogen's potent brain protection -- is significantly decreased in autistic brains. The receptor also plays a role in locomotion as well as behavior, including anxiety, depression, memory, and learning.

Exercise before school may reduce ADHD symptoms in kids Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:37 AM PDT Offering daily, before-school, aerobic activities to younger, at-risk children could help in reducing the symptoms of ADHD in the classroom and at home, research suggests. Signs can include inattentiveness, moodiness and difficulty getting along with others.

Eating is addictive but sugar, fat are not like drugs, study says Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:36 AM PDT People can become addicted to eating for its own sake but not to consuming specific foods such as those high in sugar or fat, research suggests. An international team of scientists has found no strong evidence for people being addicted to the chemical substances in certain foods.

Weakness in malaria parasite fats suggests new treatments Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:36 AM PDT A new study has revealed a weak spot in the complex life cycle of malaria, which could be exploited to prevent the spread of the deadly disease, and may even lead to a vaccine. It found female malaria parasites put on fat differently to male ones, a process that can be used to develop drug targets.

How age alters our immune response to bereavement Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:36 AM PDT Young people have a more robust immune response to the loss of a loved one, according to new research, providing insight into how different generations cope with loss. The study shows how the balance of our stress hormones during grief changes as we age -- meaning elderly people are more likely to have reduced immune function and, as a result, suffer from infections.

Xenon gas protects brain after head injury, research shows Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:24 AM PDT Treatment with xenon gas after a head injury reduces the extent of brain damage, according to a study in mice. Head injury is the leading cause of death and disability in people aged under 45 in developed countries, mostly resulting from falls and road accidents. The primary injury caused by the initial mechanical force is followed by a secondary injury which develops in the hours and days afterwards. This secondary injury is largely responsible for patients' mental and physical disabilities.

New methods enhance quality of myocardial perfusion imaging Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:23 AM PDT New methods that enhance the quality of myocardial perfusion imaging were developed in a recent study, in which researchers invented a method which makes it possible to reduce the imaging time by up to 50%, making the scan session easier for the patient. Furthermore, the study also created two additional methods which correct errors resulting from patient movement during the scan. The methods were validated and they have already been taken into use in hospitals all over the world.

New infrared marker for bio-imaging Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:23 AM PDT The recently developed fluorescent protein Amrose is now being used for advanced near-IR imaging procedures. With the aid of a novel evolutionary platform technology, scientists have developed this infrared marker as part of a combined effort to improve the quality of tissue imaging.

Assessing risk of lung disease through contact with birds Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:23 AM PDT Ornamental birds and feather pillows, plus daily exposure to pigeons may contribute to the development hypersensitive pneumonitis, a disease that can cause irreversible damage to the lungs. Therefore, scientists designed an informative tool to assess the likelihood of suffering the disease.

Breast milk may be protective against devastating intestinal disorder Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:21 AM PDT A protein called neuregulin-4 (NRG4)—present in breast milk, but absent from formula, may be protective against the intestinal destruction caused in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Thirty percent of babies with NEC die from their disease, and even survivors can face lifelong consequences that may include removal of part of their intestine and dependence upon intravenous nutrition. Formula feeding is a known risk factor for the disease.

Study sheds light on asthma, respiratory viruses Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:21 AM PDT In a new study that compared people with and without asthma, researchers found no difference in the key immune response to viruses in the lungs and breathing passages. The work suggests that a fundamental antiviral defense mechanism is intact in asthma. This means that another aspect of the immune system must explain the difficulty people with asthma have when they encounter respiratory viruses.

Positive outlook, social support help diabetes patients cope Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:21 AM PDT A positive outlook and support from people around them helps patients with diabetes cope with psychosocial challenges of the disease, according to an international study. A better understanding of the emotional, psychological and social challenges people with diabetes face could improve health outcomes.

Milestone reached in work to build replacement kidneys in the lab Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:21 AM PDT Working with human-sized pig kidneys, researchers have developed the most successful method to date to keep blood vessels in the new organs open and flowing with blood. This is a significant hurdle in the quest to engineer replacement kidneys for patients.

New cancer drug for dogs benefits human research, drug development Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:21 AM PDT A new cancer drug for 'man's best friend' is helping advance cancer therapies for humans, too. The drug, Verdinexor, works by preventing powerful tumor suppressing proteins from leaving the nucleus of cells, an exodus which allows cancer to grow unchecked. It's the first new therapeutic option for dog lymphoma in more than two decades, potentially offering vets another alternative for treating the disease, which is the most common form of canine cancer.

Advanced technologies vastly improve MRI for children Posted: 09 Sep 2014 06:21 AM PDT Researchers have significantly reduced the amount of time it takes for a child to undergo an MRI scan. One reason is that in order to acquire a faithful MR image, patients must hold completely still while lying in a scanner, sometimes for over an hour. For young children, such a feat is nearly impossible. In addition, the confined space of the MRI machine combined with the loud noises it generates can upset children, making it even more difficult for them to remain still.

Should lung cancer screening be covered for Medicare beneficiaries? Posted: 08 Sep 2014 05:47 PM PDT Researchers analyzed evidence on the benefits and harms of lung cancer screening by age in a recent study. The author of an accompanying editorial concludes from the analysis that Medicare beneficiaries should not be excluded from screening. Clinicians should share with their patients the age-specific estimates of screening benefits and harms to help make an informed decision.

Lipid deficiency linked to neuron degeneration in lab study Posted: 08 Sep 2014 05:45 PM PDT A type of lipid that naturally declines in the aging brain impacts – within laboratory models used to study Parkinson's disease – a protein associated with the disease, according to a study. "This gets right to the heart of understanding, possibly, the mechanism by which one form of lipid is impacting the process of neuron degeneration," said one of the study's co-authors.

Religious youths are less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol, study finds Posted: 08 Sep 2014 05:43 PM PDT Young people who regularly attend religious services and describe themselves as religious are less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol, according to a new study.

Researchers improve severe asthma care through new, antibody-based treatment Posted: 08 Sep 2014 05:43 PM PDT Patients with severe asthma often require high doses of steroid-based treatments that can significantly impair their quality of life. A new drug is the only therapy that has been proven to be effective in well-established clinical trials to help reduce doses of steroid-based treatments such as prednisone for those with severe asthma.

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