ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• New small molecule inhibitor could be a safe and first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer
• One in four physicians uses social media daily
• Scientists identify genes that predict whether trastuzumab will work for breast cancer patients
• Another muscular dystrophy mystery solved; Scientists inch closer to a therapy for patients
• One gene predicts rapid ALS progression 80 percent of the time
• New strategy to prevent or halt periodontal disease
• Severe morning sickness patients get relief from anti-seizure drug
• Obesity and overeating during menopause together promote breast tumor growth and progression
• Ethiopians and Tibetans thrive in thin air using similar physiology, but different genes
• New antidepressant acts very rapidly and is long lasting
• Patients with ICU delirium more likely to die, analysis finds
• Winning the battle against leukemia: Positive early results in clinical trial for DNA vaccine
• Diagnosing patients at an early stage
• Genetic cause discovered for rare disorder of motor neurons
• Putting electronic cigarettes to the test
• 'Organic' leaves a bad taste in the mouths of some consumers
• Paradox of aging: The older we get, the better we feel?
• Existing drugs may help more breast cancer patients
• Combining two genome analysis approaches supports immune system contribution to autism
• Cognitive behavioural therapy can reduce depression in those haven't responded to antidepressants
• Lenalidomide offers an effective alternative treatment for cutaneus lupus erythematosus, study suggests
• Fasting may benefit patients with epilepsy
• Severe acute kidney injuries rise rapidly in U.S.
• Immune system kill switch could be target for chemotherapy and infection recovery
• Protein controlling glucose metabolism also a tumor suppressor
• Nobody’s perfect: Catalog of deleterious and disease-causing genetic variants in healthy people created
• Don’t cut corners when it comes to clean knives
• 3-D model predicts severity of burns, impact of treatment: Natural vitamin E may mitigate burn injuries
• Research on blood vessel proteins holds promise for controlling 'blood-brain barrier'
• Bilirubin can prevent damage from cardiovascular disease, study finds
• New understanding of cellular activity can lead to future strategies for dealing with neurodegenerative diseases

New small molecule inhibitor could be a safe and first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer Posted: 07 Dec 2012 07:50 PM PST Previous research has shown that a family of genes, proteins and enzymes called the uPA system (for urokinase plasminogen activator) plays an active role in different facets of cancer's biology, including tumor cell invasion, the spread of metastases, and the growth of a primary tumor.

One in four physicians uses social media daily Posted: 07 Dec 2012 07:50 PM PST A new survey shows that about one in four physicians uses social media daily or multiple times a day to scan or explore medical information, and 14 percent use social media each day to contribute new information, according to an oncologist.

Scientists identify genes that predict whether trastuzumab will work for breast cancer patients Posted: 07 Dec 2012 07:50 PM PST Oncologists have discovered 27 genes that are significantly associated with a good outcome with concurrent use of trastuzumab and chemotherapy, as well as five other genes linked to a poor outcome using the same treatment regimen.

Another muscular dystrophy mystery solved; Scientists inch closer to a therapy for patients Posted: 07 Dec 2012 01:16 PM PST In a new study, researchers have discovered the missing pieces to a muscular dystrophy puzzle that could ultimately lead to a therapy and, potentially, a longer lifespan for patients suffering from the disease.

One gene predicts rapid ALS progression 80 percent of the time Posted: 07 Dec 2012 01:14 PM PST The debilitating symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, appear to be increased by a lack of inflammation-reducing T cells, and the expression of a gene that controls production of anti-inflammatory T cells (FoxP3) predict how quickly the disease will progress.

New strategy to prevent or halt periodontal disease Posted: 07 Dec 2012 10:32 AM PST By blocking a molecular receptor that bacteria normally target to cause chronic gum disease, or periodontitis, scientists have demonstrated an ability in a mouse model to both prevent periodontitis from developing and halt the progression of the disease once it has already developed.

Severe morning sickness patients get relief from anti-seizure drug Posted: 07 Dec 2012 10:28 AM PST Good news may be on the horizon for Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, and other women stricken with severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, thanks to the work of a professor who is conducting research on a drug that is showing success treating pregnant women with this condition.

Obesity and overeating during menopause together promote breast tumor growth and progression Posted: 07 Dec 2012 07:16 AM PST Obese women might be able to eliminate their increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer by taking measures during perimenopause to prevent weight gain and to therapeutically control the metabolic effects of their obesity, according to the results of a preclinical study.

Ethiopians and Tibetans thrive in thin air using similar physiology, but different genes Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:46 AM PST Scientists have pinpointed genetic changes that allow some Ethiopians to live more than a mile above sea level without getting altitude sickness. The genes differ from those reported previously for high-altitude Tibetans, even though both groups cope with low-oxygen in similar physiological ways. The results may help scientists understand why some people are more vulnerable to low oxygen caused by factors other than altitude -- such as asthma or heart problems -- and point to new treatments.

New antidepressant acts very rapidly and is long lasting Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:46 AM PST A first-of-its-kind antidepressant drug now tested on adults who have failed other antidepressant therapies has been shown to alleviate symptoms within hours, have good safety and produce positive effects that last for about seven days from a single dose. The novel therapeutic targets brain receptors responsible for learning and memory -- a very different approach from existing antidepressants. The new drug could be helpful in treating other neurological conditions.

Patients with ICU delirium more likely to die, analysis finds Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:43 AM PST Delirium, a condition developed by many patients in hospital intensive care units (ICU), is associated with higher mortality rates, more complications, longer stays in the ICU, and longer hospitalizations, finds a new meta-analysis.

Winning the battle against leukemia: Positive early results in clinical trial for DNA vaccine Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:05 AM PST Early results of a trial to treat leukemia with a WT1 DNA vaccine, has shown robust vaccine-specific antibody responses in all vaccinated patients evaluated to date. Furthermore, T cell immune responses, including those of the "killer T cells," were detected. Antibody and T cell responses are strong signals of the DNA vaccine's potential to treat the disease.

Diagnosing patients at an early stage Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:05 AM PST Researchers have developed the world's first sensor capable of measuring individual particles in a blood sample.

Genetic cause discovered for rare disorder of motor neurons Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:04 AM PST Scientists have identified an underlying genetic cause for a rare disorder of motor neurons, and believe this may help find causes of other related diseases.

Putting electronic cigarettes to the test Posted: 07 Dec 2012 06:04 AM PST Are e-cigarettes harmful to users? An unresolved question. It's harder still to judge the danger to bystanders. How many different substances do e-smokers exhale – and what are they? A new study brings light to the shadows.

'Organic' leaves a bad taste in the mouths of some consumers Posted: 07 Dec 2012 05:55 AM PST Labeling food as "organic" may not always lead to a positive impression, according to a recent study. The research flips the notion of a "halo" effect for ethical food labels.

Paradox of aging: The older we get, the better we feel? Posted: 07 Dec 2012 05:55 AM PST Aging has been viewed as a period of progressive decline in physical, cognitive and psychosocial functioning, and is viewed by many as the "number one public health problem" facing Americans today. This negative view of aging contrasts with results of a comprehensive study of 1,006 older adults in San Diego, Calif.

Existing drugs may help more breast cancer patients Posted: 07 Dec 2012 05:55 AM PST More patients can benefit from highly effective breast cancer drugs that are already available, according to DNA sequencing studies.

Combining two genome analysis approaches supports immune system contribution to autism Posted: 06 Dec 2012 05:34 PM PST Researchers using novel approaches and methodologies of identifying genes that contribute to the development of autism have found evidence that disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of autism spectrum disorders.

Cognitive behavioural therapy can reduce depression in those haven't responded to antidepressants Posted: 06 Dec 2012 05:32 PM PST Antidepressants are the most widely used treatment for people with moderate to severe depression. However, up to two thirds of people with depression don't respond fully to this type of treatment. New findings have shown cognitive behavioral therapy, provided in addition to usual care, can reduce symptoms of depression and help improve patients' quality of life.

Lenalidomide offers an effective alternative treatment for cutaneus lupus erythematosus, study suggests Posted: 06 Dec 2012 05:31 PM PST Although rare there are several treatments available for cutaneus lupus erythematosus (CLE). However other options are needed for people who do not respond to medication or relapse. A new study into the thalidomide derivative lenalidomide shows that treatment with lenalidomide is safe, with patients seeing an improvement in as little as two weeks.

Fasting may benefit patients with epilepsy Posted: 06 Dec 2012 05:31 PM PST Children with persistent and drug-resistant seizures treated with the high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet may get an added therapeutic benefit from periodic fasting, according to a small study.

Severe acute kidney injuries rise rapidly in U.S. Posted: 06 Dec 2012 05:31 PM PST Severe acute kidney injuries are becoming more common in the United States, rising 10 percent per year and doubling over the last decade, according to a retrospective study.

Immune system kill switch could be target for chemotherapy and infection recovery Posted: 06 Dec 2012 09:19 AM PST Researchers have discovered an immune system 'kill switch' that destroys blood stem cells when the body is under severe stress, such as that induced by chemotherapy and systemic infections. The discovery could have implications for protecting the blood system during chemotherapy or in diseases associated with overwhelming infection, such as sepsis.

Protein controlling glucose metabolism also a tumor suppressor Posted: 06 Dec 2012 09:19 AM PST A protein that regulates how cells process glucose also may be a tumor suppressor, adding to the potential that therapies directed at cellular metabolism may help suppress tumor growth. A multi-institutional research team describes finding that cells lacking the enzyme SIRT6, which controls how cells process glucose, quickly become cancerous. They also found evidence that uncontrolled glycolysis may drive tumor formation in the absence of SIRT6 and that suppressing glycolysis can halt tumor formation.

Nobody’s perfect: Catalog of deleterious and disease-causing genetic variants in healthy people created Posted: 06 Dec 2012 09:19 AM PST Researchers have found that, on average, a normal healthy person carries approximately 400 potentially damaging DNA variants and two variants known to be associated directly with disease traits. They showed that one in ten people studied is expected to develop a genetic disease as a consequence of carrying these variants.

Don’t cut corners when it comes to clean knives Posted: 06 Dec 2012 09:19 AM PST Poor hand hygiene is often thought to be the main cause of outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. Although it is well recognized that utensils used for food preparation can harbor bacteria, a new study is the first to find that viruses can just as easily be spread by cross-contamination from utensils such as knives and graters.

3-D model predicts severity of burns, impact of treatment: Natural vitamin E may mitigate burn injuries Posted: 06 Dec 2012 09:18 AM PST With more than a half million burns requiring medical intervention each year, scientists think they may have found a way to reduce the severity of burns by as much as fifty percent by applying a form of vitamin E within the first few hours after an injury.

Research on blood vessel proteins holds promise for controlling 'blood-brain barrier' Posted: 06 Dec 2012 09:17 AM PST Working with mice, researchers have shed light on the activity of a protein pair found in cells that form the walls of blood vessels in the brain and retina, experiments that could lead to therapeutic control of the blood-brain barrier and of blood vessel growth in the eye.

Bilirubin can prevent damage from cardiovascular disease, study finds Posted: 06 Dec 2012 06:47 AM PST Heart attacks and other symptoms of cardiovascular disease can be caused when blockage occurs in the arteries. In a recent study, a scientist has discovered a natural defense against arterial blockage: bilirubin.

New understanding of cellular activity can lead to future strategies for dealing with neurodegenerative diseases Posted: 06 Dec 2012 06:44 AM PST A new understanding of what takes place on the cellular level during the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS and Huntington's diseases, offers promise towards possible new strategies for combating such diseases, say researchers.

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