ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Study reveals lack of data on opioid drugs for chronic pain
• When used effectively, discharge summaries reduce hospital readmissions
• Century-old drug reverses autism-like symptoms in fragile X mouse model
• Inventors choose to reveal their secret sauce before patent approval
• Obesity experts recommend weight loss drugs, surgery as supplement to lifestyle interventions
• In the Mood to Trade? Weather May Influence Institutional Investors' Stock Decisions
• Eczema woes not just skin deep
• Folic acid saves 1,300 babies each year from serious birth defects of brain, spine
• Environment, not genes, dictates human immune variation, study finds
• Prolonging lifespan: Researchers create 'Methuselah fly' by selecting best cells
• Tumor suppressor protein plays key role in maintaining immune balance
• Gold nanoparticles show promise for early detection of heart attacks
• Doctors who use health information technology are 'slightly' more likely to get patient data
• Long-acting drug effectively prevents HIV-like infection in monkeys
• Facebook sharing can boost involvement with news, information
• FDA approves first medical device for obesity treatment targeting brain-to-stomach signaling
• How melanoma can resist newly approved drug combo therapy
• Scientists find how cancers can evade treatment
• The secret of empathy: Stress from the presence of strangers prevents empathy, in both mice and humans
• Discovery of new signaling intermediates provides clues to novel therapies in pancreatitis
• Opioids administered in ER don't influence patient satisfaction, study shows
• Hirschsprung's disease: Research offers novel insight
• Yak dung burning pollutes indoor air of Tibetan households
• New approach to preventing fibrosing strictures in IBD
• Hope for muscular dystrophy patients: Harnessing gene helps repair muscle damage
• People can be convinced they committed a crime that never happened
• Damaged DNA amplified by activities such as smoking
• When heavy metals go off-kilter: Study in C. elegans shows excess iron promotes aging
• No more neuronal gibberish: How 100 billion nerve cells produce a clear thought or an action
• What makes pancreatic cancer so aggressive? New study sheds light
• Good Cosmetic Results, Safety with Liposculpture of the Hips, Flanks and Thighs
• Extra-short nanowires best for brain
• Lassa fever controls need to consider human-human transmission and role of super spreaders
• Up to eight percent of Asians carry gene mutation that causes heart failure
• Imaging test for autism spectrum disorder under development
• Novel approach to visualize, measure protein complexes in tumors
• Alzheimer's plaques reduced by targeting sugar attachment to the BACE1 enzyme
• Holistic assessment needed for wheelchair users with multiple sclerosis
• Academies call for long-term investments in education, care of small children
• Intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment for children with anemia
• Lower mortality rates among Asian, Hispanic lupus patients
• Difficult behavior in young children may point to later problems
• New sequencing technique reveals genetic clues to rare breast tumors
• Debunking aging myths in financial decisions

Study reveals lack of data on opioid drugs for chronic pain Posted: 15 Jan 2015 01:35 PM PST Researchers have found little to no evidence for the effectiveness of opioid drugs in the treatment of long-term chronic pain, despite the explosive recent growth in the use of the drugs.

When used effectively, discharge summaries reduce hospital readmissions Posted: 15 Jan 2015 01:35 PM PST For heart failure patients making the transition from hospital to home, a discharge summary that gets to their primary doctors quickly and contains detailed and useful information can mean the difference between recovering quickly or returning to the hospital, according to two studies.

Century-old drug reverses autism-like symptoms in fragile X mouse model Posted: 15 Jan 2015 01:35 PM PST Researchers previously reported that a drug used for almost a century to treat trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, reversed environmental autism-like symptoms in mice. Now, a new study suggests that a genetic form of autism-like symptoms in mice are also corrected with the drug, even when treatment was started in young adult mice.

Inventors choose to reveal their secret sauce before patent approval Posted: 15 Jan 2015 11:22 AM PST Common wisdom and prior economic research suggest that an inventor filing a patent would want to keep the technical know-how secret as long as possible. But a new study of nearly 2 million patents in the United States shows that inventors are not as concerned with secrecy as previously thought. Researchers found that since 2000, most inventors when given the choice opted to disclose information about their patents before patent approval -- even small inventors -- and this disclosure correlates with more valuable patents.

Obesity experts recommend weight loss drugs, surgery as supplement to lifestyle interventions Posted: 15 Jan 2015 11:16 AM PST A Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) has been released by experts on strategies for prescribing drugs to manage obesity and promote weight loss. Obesity is a worsening public health problem. According to the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, about 33.9 percent of adults ages 19-79 were overweight, 13.4 percent were obese and 6.4 were extremely obese.

In the Mood to Trade? Weather May Influence Institutional Investors' Stock Decisions Posted: 15 Jan 2015 11:16 AM PST Weather changes may affect how institutional investors decide on stock plays, according to a new study. Their findings suggest sunny skies put professional investors more in a mood to buy, while cloudy conditions tend to discourage stock purchases.

Eczema woes not just skin deep Posted: 15 Jan 2015 10:48 AM PST Adults who have eczema -- a chronic itchy skin disease that often starts in childhood -- have higher rates of smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and obesity and are less likely to exercise than adults who don't have the disease. They also have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. About 10 percent of US adults have eczema.

Folic acid saves 1,300 babies each year from serious birth defects of brain, spine Posted: 15 Jan 2015 10:48 AM PST Fortifying grain foods with the B vitamin folic acid has saved about 1,300 babies every year from serious birth defects of the brain and spine known as neural tube defects. All women capable of having a baby should take a multivitamin containing folic acid every day, experts say. Women who had a previous pregnancy affected by an NTD should take high-dose folic acid beginning at least four weeks before becoming pregnant and through the first trimester.

Environment, not genes, dictates human immune variation, study finds Posted: 15 Jan 2015 10:47 AM PST A study of twins shows that our environment, more than our heredity, plays the starring role in determining the state of our immune system, the body's primary defense against disease. This is especially true as we age, the study indicates.

Prolonging lifespan: Researchers create 'Methuselah fly' by selecting best cells Posted: 15 Jan 2015 10:46 AM PST Scientists have managed to considerably prolong the lifespan of flies by activating a gene which destroys unhealthy cells. The results could also open new possibilities in human anti-aging research.

Tumor suppressor protein plays key role in maintaining immune balance Posted: 15 Jan 2015 10:46 AM PST A protein widely known for suppressing tumor formation also helps prevent autoimmune diseases and other problems by putting the brakes on the immune response.

Gold nanoparticles show promise for early detection of heart attacks Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:21 AM PST A novel colloidal gold test strip is demonstrating great potential for early detection of certain heart attacks. Researchers are developing the strip to test for cardiac troponin I (cTn-I); its level is several thousand times higher in patients experiencing myochardial infarctions. The new strip uses microplasma-generated gold nanoparticles. Compared to AuNPs produced by traditional chemical methods, the surfaces of thesenanoparticles attract more antibodies, which results in significantly higher detection sensitivity.

Doctors who use health information technology are 'slightly' more likely to get patient data Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:21 AM PST Physicians who use health information technology systems are only slightly more likely to receive the patient information they need to provide coordinated care, report investigators. Although more than 70 percent of US doctors use electronic health records (EHR), up to half don't routinely receive the data necessary to coordinate patient care effectively, they say.

Long-acting drug effectively prevents HIV-like infection in monkeys Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:21 AM PST HIV infection can be prevented with regimens of antiretroviral drugs, however, their effectiveness depends on a patient's ability to take the pills as prescribed. HIV researchers hope cabotegravir would make compliance easier for some by requiring only one injection every three months.

Facebook sharing can boost involvement with news, information Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:21 AM PST People who share news on social media sites may connect more with that information -- and stay connected longer -- than people who casually read the news, according to a team of researchers.

FDA approves first medical device for obesity treatment targeting brain-to-stomach signaling Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:20 AM PST The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved EnteroMedic's VBLOC® vagal blocking therapy, delivered via the Maestro® System, which is the first medical device approved for obesity treatment that targets the nerve pathway between the brain and the stomach. The Obesity Society calls this a "a novel device that interrupts signals from the stomach to the brain that are believed to be involved with stomach emptying and feelings of fullness."

How melanoma can resist newly approved drug combo therapy Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:20 AM PST Researchers have uncovered how melanoma becomes resistant to a promising new drug combo therapy utilizing BRAF+MEK inhibitors in patients after an initial period of tumor shrinkage.

Scientists find how cancers can evade treatment Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:20 AM PST An unexpected observation has been made by a researcher while studying the locations inside cells where EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) can be found. His subsequent investigation revealed how some cancers evade clinical drugs: by sneaking through the cellular back door. Cancer cells are able to use the inactive EGFR form to thrive, the scientist reports.

The secret of empathy: Stress from the presence of strangers prevents empathy, in both mice and humans Posted: 15 Jan 2015 09:20 AM PST The ability to express empathy -- the capacity to share and feel another's emotions -- is limited by the stress of being around strangers, according to a new study. Empathy is increasingly being studied by scientists because of its known role in psychological disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and psychopathy.

Discovery of new signaling intermediates provides clues to novel therapies in pancreatitis Posted: 15 Jan 2015 08:15 AM PST Signaling initiated by pancreatic digestive enzyme-producing (acinar) cells is essential to development of both pain and inflammation in pancreatitis, according to research. Pancreatitis is a common disorder that complicates many ailments, including cystic fibrosis and alcoholism. Few therapies exist, and management of the severe pain associated with inflammation is a major obstacle that often requires strong narcotics.

Opioids administered in ER don't influence patient satisfaction, study shows Posted: 15 Jan 2015 08:15 AM PST There is no correlation between opioids administered in the emergency room setting and patient satisfaction scores, researchers report. Other factors such as wait time and physician and nurse communication play a far greater role in patient satisfaction, according to authors.

Hirschsprung's disease: Research offers novel insight Posted: 15 Jan 2015 08:15 AM PST Defects in the protein Sox10, a transcription factor that regulates gene expression, may play a role in the development of post-operative GI dysfunction in Hirschsprung's disease patients, according to new research. Hirschsprung's disease is a congenital disorder caused by the absence of ganglion cells in the colon, which causes problems with passing stool.

Yak dung burning pollutes indoor air of Tibetan households Posted: 15 Jan 2015 08:15 AM PST Tibet, the highest region on Earth and one of the most remote, is associated with vivid blue skies and the crystal clear air of the Himalayas. During the long cold season, however, the traditional nomadic people spend much of their time in snug dwellings where they cook and stay warm by burning yak dung. Their indoor air can be filled with dangerous levels of fine particulate matter, including black carbon, a new study finds.

New approach to preventing fibrosing strictures in IBD Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:28 AM PST A natural protein made by immune cells may limit fibrosis and scarring in colitis, according to research. Fibrosing strictures that can obstruct the intestines are a major complication of Crohn's disease. Although these obstructions can be removed surgically, disease tends to recur at those sites.

Hope for muscular dystrophy patients: Harnessing gene helps repair muscle damage Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:28 AM PST Researchers have successfully improved the ability of muscle to repair itself -- by artificially increasing levels of the BMI1 gene in the muscle-specific stem cells of mice with muscular dystrophy.

People can be convinced they committed a crime that never happened Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:28 AM PST Innocent adult participants can be convinced, over the course of a few hours, that they had perpetrated crimes as serious as assault with a weapon in their teenage years. This research indicates that the participants came to internalize the stories they were told, providing rich and detailed descriptions of events that never actually took place. fictitious

Damaged DNA amplified by activities such as smoking Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:28 AM PST For the first time, researchers have succeeded in amplifying genes altered by activities such as smoking -- with changes that can lead to lung cancer. As the amplified genes retain the altered information, this marks an important step towards quickly and efficiently localizing this type of genetic alteration and improving our ability to analyze causes of cancer.

When heavy metals go off-kilter: Study in C. elegans shows excess iron promotes aging Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:28 AM PST It's been long known that some metals, including iron, accumulate in tissues during aging and that toxic levels of iron have been linked to neurologic diseases, including Parkinson's. Common belief has held that iron accumulation happens as a result of the aging process. But research in C. elegans shows that iron accumulation itself may also be a significant contributor to the aging process causing dysfunction and malfolding of proteins already implicated in the aging process.

No more neuronal gibberish: How 100 billion nerve cells produce a clear thought or an action Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:27 AM PST We have approximately 100 billion nerve cells in our brains, all of which communicate with one another. Why do they lead to clear thoughts or purposeful actions instead of mere gibberish? The reason lies, among other things, in a small group of inhibitory nerve cells that can use the messenger GABA to curb the activity of other nerve cells, scientists say.

What makes pancreatic cancer so aggressive? New study sheds light Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:26 AM PST New research helps explain why pancreatic cancer is so lethal, with fewer than a third of patients surviving even early stage disease. The researchers found a gene known to be involved in nearly 90 percent of pancreatic cancers promotes cancer growth and spread. The gene, ATDC, plays a key role in how a tumor progresses from a preinvasive state to an invasive cancer to metastatic cancer.

Good Cosmetic Results, Safety with Liposculpture of the Hips, Flanks and Thighs Posted: 15 Jan 2015 07:26 AM PST Two decades of experience by senior plastic surgeons in different parts of the world show excellent cosmetic results and low complication rates with liposculpture of the hips, flanks, and thighs, reports a new paper.

Extra-short nanowires best for brain Posted: 15 Jan 2015 06:19 AM PST If in the future electrodes are inserted into the human brain -- either for research purposes or to treat diseases -- it may be appropriate to give them a 'coat' of nanowires that could make them less irritating for the brain tissue. However, the nanowires must not exceed a certain length, according to new research.

Lassa fever controls need to consider human-human transmission and role of super spreaders Posted: 15 Jan 2015 06:19 AM PST One in five cases of Lassa fever -- a disease that kills around 5,000 people a year in West Africa -- could be due to human-to-human transmission, with a large proportion of these cases caused by 'super-spreaders,' according to new research.

Up to eight percent of Asians carry gene mutation that causes heart failure Posted: 15 Jan 2015 06:18 AM PST Up to 8 percent of people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries carry a mutated gene that causes heart failure and potentially fatal heart attacks. A new study demonstrates how this gene mutation impairs the heart's ability to pump blood.

Imaging test for autism spectrum disorder under development Posted: 15 Jan 2015 06:18 AM PST A two-minute brain-imaging test that may be able to aid in the diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorder is currently under development in the United States. Usually, diagnosis -- an unquantifiable process based on clinical judgment -- is time consuming and trying on children and their families. That may change with this new diagnostic test.

Novel approach to visualize, measure protein complexes in tumors Posted: 15 Jan 2015 06:18 AM PST Cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions are often hampered by a lack of knowledge of the biological processes occurring within the tumor. Now researchers have developed a new approach to analyze these processes with a technique called proximity ligation assays (PLA). PLA allows specific protein complexes to be visualized and measured in cancer specimens. This may aid in patient treatment decisions in the future.

Alzheimer's plaques reduced by targeting sugar attachment to the BACE1 enzyme Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:31 AM PST Hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer's disease can be reduced when sugars are prevented from binding to one of the key enzymes implicated in the disease, scientists report. The new findings show that abnormal attachment of a particular sugar to the enzyme BACE1 is a critical factor leading to the formation of plaques in the brain.

Holistic assessment needed for wheelchair users with multiple sclerosis Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:31 AM PST People with multiple sclerosis (MS) need to be holistically assessed when being offered an electric wheelchair, a study suggests. The unique study of 91 wheelchair users, each severely affected by MS, found that 15% of the trial group had problematic pain, showing the need for a much more professional assessment.

Academies call for long-term investments in education, care of small children Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:30 AM PST The experiences we have as small children have a long-term impact on the entire course of our development. High-quality education and upbringing from an early age is thus crucial both for every individual and for society as a whole. In a new statement, European experts are calling for long-term investments in the high-quality education and care of small children.

Intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment for children with anemia Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:30 AM PST Researchers from Tanzania and South Africa have conducted an independent review to assess the effect of intermittent preventive antimalarial treatment (IPT) for children with anemia living in malaria endemic regions. This is a strategy of giving a treatment dose of antimalarial drugs to children at regular intervals just in case they have become infected.

Lower mortality rates among Asian, Hispanic lupus patients Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:30 AM PST Asian and Hispanic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have lower mortality rates compared to Black, White, or Native Americans with the disease, scientists have found. Findings indicate that the risk for death among White patients is much lower than in Black and Native American SLE patients.

Difficult behavior in young children may point to later problems Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:28 AM PST It's normal for a very young child to have tantrums and be otherwise disruptive, but researchers have found that if such behavior is prolonged or especially intense, the child may have conduct disorder. The research teams recommends that children who exhibit these symptoms be referred to mental health professionals for evaluation and possible intervention.

New sequencing technique reveals genetic clues to rare breast tumors Posted: 15 Jan 2015 05:28 AM PST The genetic underpinnings of a rare type of breast tumor called phyllodes tumors have been characterized by researchers, offering the first comprehensive analysis of the molecular alterations at work in these tumors.

Debunking aging myths in financial decisions Posted: 14 Jan 2015 05:28 PM PST Cognitive decline is real, but does not spell doom for making financial choices, new research indicates. "An alternative route to making sound financial decisions comes from experience--and that improves with age," one author notes.

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