ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Computer models predict how patients will respond to HIV drugs without the need for resistance testing
• Shock treatment can kill: Clinical trial shows how 'standard' procedure results in children's deaths
• U.S. lifespans lags other high-income countries, tied to mortality rates under age 50
• Novel chemical that controls cell behavior: First-in-class chemical compound might control metastases
• Dwelling on stressful events can increase inflammation in the body, study finds
• Tobacco industry appears to have evaded FDA ban on 'light' cigarette descriptors
• Implementing HPV vaccinations at a young age is significant for vaccine effectiveness
• Goats' milk with antimicrobial lysozyme speeds recovery from diarrhea
• No attention-boosting drugs for healthy kids, doctors urge
• Drug treatment corrects autism symptoms in mouse model
• Symbols, such as traffic lights, on menus effective in educating diners
• New monoclonal antibody developed that can target proteins inside cancer cells
• Mechanism that regulates production of energy-burning brown fat discovered
• Molecule's structure reveals new therapeutic opportunities for rare diabetes
• New MRI method fingerprints tissues and diseases: Aims for fast and affordable scans, early and quick diagnoses
• Protein may alter inevitability of osteoarthritis
• Tapeworm DNA contains drug weak spots: Existing drugs could be effective in treating this damaging parasite, the first full tapeworm genomes reveal
• Immune cells cluster and communicate 'like bees,' researcher says
• How children can meet recommended activity goals
• Normal prion protein regulates iron metabolism
• Scientists find age-related changes in how autism affects the brain
• Polo takes the bait: A better 'mousetrap' discovered in fruit flies might stop a human cancer-driving kinase in its tracks
• New hope in fight against leading infectious cause of congenital birth defects
• Punishment can enhance performance, academics find
• Using hansfree kit or sending texts behind the wheel is as dangerous as being twice over legal alcohol limit, study suggests
• Local chemotherapy has a stronger effect on reducing tumor growth, research suggests
• Paving the way for greater use of ancient medical knowledge
• New approaches for controlling pesticide exposure in children
• Breakthrough in battle against leukemia
• Current HIV screening guidelines are too conservative
• Recovery in motion: Post-discharge activity level linked to risk of hospital readmission in elderly
• Polycystic ovary syndrome puts glucose control in double jeopardy
• Neuron loss in schizophrenia and depression could be prevented, study suggests
• Do blood thinners and stroke treatment mean danger? Study indicates risk is low
• Chicken pox vaccine saving children's lives
• Low cognitive score and risk of brain injury linked
• Use of adjunctive antipsychotic medications in depression

Computer models predict how patients will respond to HIV drugs without the need for resistance testing Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:40 PM PDT Computer models can predict how HIV patients whose drug therapy is failing will respond to a new treatment. Crucially for patients in poorer countries, the models do not require the results of expensive drug resistance tests to make their predictions. The study also showed that the models were able to identify alternative drug combinations that were predicted to work in cases where the treatment used in the clinic had failed, suggesting that their use could avoid treatment failure.

Shock treatment can kill: Clinical trial shows how 'standard' procedure results in children's deaths Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:40 PM PDT Children who are given fluid to treat shock have an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular collapse at 48 hours, according to new research.

U.S. lifespans lags other high-income countries, tied to mortality rates under age 50 Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:22 PM PDT A new study suggests higher mortality rates among Americans younger than 50 are responsible for much of why life expectancy is lower in the United States than most of the world's most developed nations. Most of the excess mortality of those younger than 50 was caused by noncommunicable diseases, including perinatal conditions, such as pregnancy complications and birth trauma, and homicide and unintentional injuries including drug overdose.

Novel chemical that controls cell behavior: First-in-class chemical compound might control metastases Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:22 PM PDT It's the spread of the original cancer tumor that kills most people. That's why cancer researchers vigorously search for drugs that can prevent metastases, the spread of cancer. Scientist have found a chemical compound that controls cell migration and adhesion, two important characteristics of metastatic cancer cells. The team recently published an article describing how the first-in-class compound acts on various cells.

Dwelling on stressful events can increase inflammation in the body, study finds Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:22 PM PDT Dwelling on negative events can increase levels of inflammation in the body, a new study finds. Researchers discovered that when study participants were asked to ruminate on a stressful incident, their levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of tissue inflammation, rose.

Tobacco industry appears to have evaded FDA ban on 'light' cigarette descriptors Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:22 PM PDT New research shows one year after the U.S. government passed a law banning such descriptors as "light," "mild," and "low" on cigarette packages, smokers can identify their brands because of color-coding that tobacco companies added to "light" packs after the ban. These findings suggest the companies have been able to evade the ban on misleading wording and still convey false and deceptive message that lights are safer than "regular" cigarettes.

Implementing HPV vaccinations at a young age is significant for vaccine effectiveness Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:21 PM PDT Initial vaccinations for human papillomavirus (HPV) at a young age is important for maximizing quadrivalent HPV vaccine effectiveness according to a Swedish study.

Goats' milk with antimicrobial lysozyme speeds recovery from diarrhea Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:21 PM PDT Milk from goats that were genetically modified to produce higher levels of lysozyme, a human antimicrobial protein, has proved effective in treating diarrhea in young pigs and may one day be used to help prevent human diarrheal diseases that each year claim the lives of 1.8 million children around the world.

No attention-boosting drugs for healthy kids, doctors urge Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:20 PM PDT The practice of prescribing drugs to boost cognitive function, or memory and thinking abilities, in healthy children and teens is misguided, according to a new statement by the American Academy of Neurology.

Drug treatment corrects autism symptoms in mouse model Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:20 PM PDT Autism results from abnormal cell communication. Testing a new theory, researchers have used a newly discovered function of an old drug to restore cell communications in a mouse model of autism, reversing symptoms of the devastating disorder.

Symbols, such as traffic lights, on menus effective in educating diners Posted: 13 Mar 2013 01:09 PM PDT The combination of a symbol and a numeric calorie count on a menu is the most effective way to influence patrons to select lower-calorie items.

New monoclonal antibody developed that can target proteins inside cancer cells Posted: 13 Mar 2013 01:07 PM PDT Scientists have created a unique monoclonal antibody that can effectively reach inside a cancer cell.

Mechanism that regulates production of energy-burning brown fat discovered Posted: 13 Mar 2013 01:07 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a mechanism that regulates the production of brown fat, a type of fat which plays an important role in heat production and energy metabolism. The findings may lead to new therapies that increase BAT formation to treat obesity.

Molecule's structure reveals new therapeutic opportunities for rare diabetes Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:26 AM PDT Researchers have determined the 3-D structure of a protein called HNF-4±. People with mature onset diabetes of the young (MODY1) have inherited mutations in the HNF-4± protein. This first-ever look at HNF-4±'s full structure uncovers new information about how it functions. The study also reveals new pockets in the protein that could be targeted with therapeutic drugs aimed at alleviating MODY1.

New MRI method fingerprints tissues and diseases: Aims for fast and affordable scans, early and quick diagnoses Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:25 AM PDT A new method of magnetic resonance imaging could routinely spot specific cancers, multiple sclerosis, heart disease and other maladies early, when they're most treatable, researchers say. Each body tissue and disease has a unique fingerprint that can be used to quickly diagnose problems, the scientists say.

Protein may alter inevitability of osteoarthritis Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:25 AM PDT Few things in life are inevitable - death, taxes, and, if you live long enough, osteoarthritis. Researchers have now unraveled the effects of a naturally occurring protein called lubricin, or Proteoglycans 4, that appears to protect against aging as well as helping with post-injury related changes.

Tapeworm DNA contains drug weak spots: Existing drugs could be effective in treating this damaging parasite, the first full tapeworm genomes reveal Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:14 AM PDT Tapeworms cause devastating disease around the world and new treatments are urgently needed. A new study describes possible targets on which currently licensed drugs could act, identified by genome sequencing. Re-using existing therapies will help to develop treatments more rapidly.

Immune cells cluster and communicate 'like bees,' researcher says Posted: 13 Mar 2013 10:19 AM PDT The immune system's T cells, while coordinating responses to diseases and vaccines, act like honey bees sharing information about the best honey sources, according to a new study.

How children can meet recommended activity goals Posted: 13 Mar 2013 10:19 AM PDT Despite overwhelming evidence about the benefits of physical activity for children, most American youngsters are not meeting the federal recommendation of 60 minutes a day. A new study has identified specific ways -- and estimated minutes for each approach -- that can help children achieve the recommended daily physical activity goal.

Normal prion protein regulates iron metabolism Posted: 13 Mar 2013 10:19 AM PDT An iron imbalance caused by prion proteins collecting in the brain is a likely cause of cell death in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, researchers have found. The breakthrough follows discoveries that certain proteins found in the brains of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients also regulate iron.

Scientists find age-related changes in how autism affects the brain Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:35 AM PDT Autism spectrum disorders affect the brain activity of children and adults differently, according to new research.

Polo takes the bait: A better 'mousetrap' discovered in fruit flies might stop a human cancer-driving kinase in its tracks Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:35 AM PDT A seemingly obscure gene in the female fruit fly that is only active in cells that will become eggs has led researchers to the discovery of a atypical protein that lures, traps, and inactivates the powerful Polo kinase, widely considered the master regulator of cell division. Its human homolog, Polo-like kinase-1 (Plk1), is misregulated in many types of cancer.

New hope in fight against leading infectious cause of congenital birth defects Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:35 AM PDT A virus most people probably have never heard of, but that the majority of us carry, is the No. 1 infectious cause of congenital birth defects in the U.S. today. Because of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, 1 in 750 children are born with or develop permanent disabilities. But efforts to develop a CMV vaccine are gaining ground. Researchers have discovered a cellular mechanism that could prove critical in creating a CMV vaccine.

Punishment can enhance performance, academics find Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PDT The stick can work just as well as the carrot in improving our performance, a team of academics has found.

Using hansfree kit or sending texts behind the wheel is as dangerous as being twice over legal alcohol limit, study suggests Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PDT Scientists have compared the effects of mobile phone use while driving with the effects of alcohol using a simulation. Their experiment demonstrates that using a handsfree kit or sending text messages is the same as being above the legal alcohol limit.

Local chemotherapy has a stronger effect on reducing tumor growth, research suggests Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:33 AM PDT Reducing the growth of a tumor by localized delivery of cancer medication can be achieved by using a combination of ultrasound, temperature-sensitive nanoparticles and MRI, new research suggests.

Paving the way for greater use of ancient medical knowledge Posted: 13 Mar 2013 08:24 AM PDT Scientists are reporting an advance toward overcoming a major barrier to tapping the potential of traditional Chinese medicine and India's Ayurvedic medicine in developing new and more effective modern drugs.

New approaches for controlling pesticide exposure in children Posted: 13 Mar 2013 08:24 AM PDT New research on household pesticide contamination emphasizes the need for less reliance on pesticides and more emphasis on neatness, blocking cracks where insects can enter and other so-called "integrated pest management" (IPM) measures, scientists have concluded.

Breakthrough in battle against leukemia Posted: 13 Mar 2013 08:24 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a critical weakness in leukemic cells, which may pave the way to new treatments.

Current HIV screening guidelines are too conservative Posted: 13 Mar 2013 07:04 AM PDT Researchers report that the CDC's current HIV screening guidelines are too conservative and that more frequent testing would be cost-effective in the long run for both high- and low-risk groups. The researchers performed a mathematical modeling study to assess "optimal testing frequencies" for HIV screening in different risk groups. They concluded screening should be done up to every three months for the highest-risk individuals and low-risk groups should be tested every three years.

Recovery in motion: Post-discharge activity level linked to risk of hospital readmission in elderly Posted: 13 Mar 2013 07:04 AM PDT A new study has found a link between the activity levels of elderly people who have just been released from the hospital and the risk that they will require readmission within 30 days.

Polycystic ovary syndrome puts glucose control in double jeopardy Posted: 13 Mar 2013 07:04 AM PDT Polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition affecting about 10 percent of women and characterized by excess male hormone and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, appears to cause a sort of double jeopardy for those struggling the hardest to control blood sugar levels, researchers report.

Neuron loss in schizophrenia and depression could be prevented, study suggests Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:55 AM PDT Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) deficits have been implicated in schizophrenia and depression. In schizophrenia, deficits have been particularly well-described for a subtype of GABA neuron, the parvalbumin fast-spiking interneurons. The activity of these neurons is critical for proper cognitive and emotional functioning. It now appears that parvalbumin neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress, a factor that may emerge commonly in development, particularly in the context of psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, where compromised mitochondrial function plays a role.

Do blood thinners and stroke treatment mean danger? Study indicates risk is low Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:53 AM PDT Millions of Americans take drugs to reduce their risk of heart attacks caused by blood clots. A new study suggests that a fear of brain bleeding if these patients receive stroke therapy may be unfounded, at least for most patients taking common clot-preventing therapies.

Chicken pox vaccine saving children's lives Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:52 AM PDT The widespread introduction of a chicken pox vaccine in Australia in 2006 has prevented thousands of children from being hospitalized with severe chicken pox and saved lives, according to new research.

Low cognitive score and risk of brain injury linked Posted: 12 Mar 2013 04:46 PM PDT Young men with low cognitive function and low socioeconomic status are significantly more likely to suffer from mild traumatic brain injury than those without, a new study suggests. Current literature suggests that mild traumatic brain injuries cause changes in brain tissues and have important long-term consequences on cognitive function, but new findings suggest that low cognitive function may come first.

Use of adjunctive antipsychotic medications in depression Posted: 12 Mar 2013 02:16 PM PDT A new finds that while antipsychotic medications are associated with small-to-moderate improvements in depressive symptoms in adults, there is little evidence for improvement on measures of quality of life and these medications are linked to adverse events such as weight gain and sedation.

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