ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Genes uniquely expressed by brain's immune cells
• Baby boys at higher risk of death, disability in preterm births
• Drug trial for top parasitic killer of the Americas
• New studies may explain fractures in some who take osteoporosis drugs
• Protein interplay in muscle tied to life span
• Dengue fever mystery in two US cities: Both exposed to risk
• State child restraint laws leave many unprotected
• Antibiotic resistance an international issue; could be addressed with education
• Glowing worms illuminate the roots of behavior
• Potential new treatment for sepsis
• Older adults with severe mental illness challenge healthcare system
• Lack of sleep in teens linked to higher risk of illness
• Genetic signature identified for leading cause of infant hospitalizations worldwide
• Early stages breast cancer could soon be diagnosed from blood samples
• Controversial cholesterol guidelines biggest change in 25 years
• Are probiotics a promising treatment strategy for depression?
• Surgeons often profoundly affected by surgical complications
• Women with asthma could face delay in becoming pregnant
• Cognitive scientists ID mechanism central to early childhood learning, social behavior
• Gene linked to common intellectual disability
• Microbiome changed by gluten increases incidences of type 1 diabetes
• Widespread use of opioid medications in nonsurgical hospital patients
• Plant oil suppresses viability of human prostate cancer cells
• High blood pressure in middle age vs old age may predict memory loss
• Newly discovered mechanism suggests novel approach to prevent type 1 diabetes
• Intranasal insulin improves cognitive function in patients with type 2 diabetes
• Genomics of antiplatelet heart medication being studied
• Researchers test bandaging for swollen arm
• Clues to cocaine's toxicity could lead to better tests for detection
• Few patients with hyperlipidemia receive recommended thyroid screening
• Compound stymies polyomaviruses in lab tests
• Can eyes help diagnose Alzheimer's disease?
• Higher altitudes result in reduced concussion rates in high school sports
• Could next new cancer drug come from Kentucky coal mines?
• Tomato therapy: Engineered veggies target intestinal lipids, improve cholesterol
• Molecular dissection of respiratory syncytial virus infection
• Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor promotes endometrial cancer

Genes uniquely expressed by brain's immune cells Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:34 PM PST Investigators have used a new sequencing method to identify a group of genes used by the brain's immune cells -- called microglia -- to sense pathogenic organisms, toxins or damaged cells that require their response. Identifying these genes should lead to better understanding of the role of microglia both in normal brains and in neurodegenerative disorders.

Baby boys at higher risk of death, disability in preterm births Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:34 PM PST Groundbreaking global studies on preterm birth and disability carried out by almost 50 researchers at 35 institutions and launched in association with World Prematurity Day finds baby boys are at a higher risk of death and disability due to preterm birth than baby girls. These disabilities range from learning problems and blindness to deafness and motor problems, including cerebral palsy.

Drug trial for top parasitic killer of the Americas Posted: 14 Nov 2013 04:34 PM PST According to results of the first-ever Phase 2 clinical trial in Bolivia, the drug candidate E1224 showed good safety and was effective at clearing the parasite causing Chagas disease, but had little to no sustained efficacy one year after treatment. On the other hand, standard therapy, benznidazole, was effective long term but continued to be associated with side effects. The results point to alternative dosing regimens and possible combination therapies to improve patient care.

New studies may explain fractures in some who take osteoporosis drugs Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST Research with baboons may help explain why some people who take bone-strengthening drugs like bisphosphonates are at risk for atypical fractures in the long bones in their legs.

Protein interplay in muscle tied to life span Posted: 14 Nov 2013 11:21 AM PST Biologists have uncovered a complicated chain of molecular events that leads from insulin to protein degradation in muscles and significantly diminished life span in fruit flies. The new study, which may have broad implications across species, identifies the fly version the mammalian protein activin as the central culprit in the process.

Dengue fever mystery in two US cities: Both exposed to risk Posted: 14 Nov 2013 10:24 AM PST As dengue fever continues to spread from Key West north into the Florida mainland, it remains a mystery as to why this dangerous mosquito-borne illness is not yet common around Tucson, Arizona -- even though outbreaks routinely occur in nearby Mexico and mosquitoes that can carry dengue are now common in the state, according to a new research.

State child restraint laws leave many unprotected Posted: 14 Nov 2013 10:19 AM PST Child restraint laws across many states have gaps that leave unprotected passengers highly vulnerable to vehicle-crash injuries, a study has found. The findings show that many child restraint laws lag behind existing research on vehicular safety and fail to follow guidelines adopted by medical experts.

Antibiotic resistance an international issue; could be addressed with education Posted: 14 Nov 2013 09:22 AM PST Antibiotic resistance is an international reality whose solution includes better educating physicians about using bacteria-fighting tools, says an infectious disease physician.

Glowing worms illuminate the roots of behavior Posted: 14 Nov 2013 09:22 AM PST Researchers have developed a system to image brain activity in multiple awake and unconstrained worms. The technology, which makes it possible to study the genetics and neural circuitry associated with animal behavior, can also be used as a high-throughput screening tool for drug development targeting autism, depression, and other brain disorders.

Potential new treatment for sepsis Posted: 14 Nov 2013 09:21 AM PST Sepsis is the leading cause of in-hospital death and there is no specific treatment for it. Now, research suggests a protein called recombinant human annexin A5 may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of this disease.

Older adults with severe mental illness challenge healthcare system Posted: 14 Nov 2013 09:21 AM PST Although older adults with serious mental illness didn't have more recorded physical illness and had fewer outpatient visits to primary care physicians, they made more medical emergency department visits and had considerably longer medical hospitalizations than older adults without mental illness according to a study.

Lack of sleep in teens linked to higher risk of illness Posted: 14 Nov 2013 09:21 AM PST Newly released findings have found that acute illnesses, such as colds, flu, and gastroenteritis were more common among healthy adolescents who got less sleep at night. Additionally, the regularity of teens' sleep schedules was found to impact their health.

Genetic signature identified for leading cause of infant hospitalizations worldwide Posted: 14 Nov 2013 08:36 AM PST Scientists have identified the genetic signature of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of infant hospitalizations around the world. The work is a key step toward a better understanding of the immune response to RSV, which will aid the development of a vaccine and a tool that could allow physicians to determine the severity of the infection when symptoms first develop.

Early stages breast cancer could soon be diagnosed from blood samples Posted: 14 Nov 2013 08:36 AM PST A new blood test for the early detection of breast cancer was shown in preliminary studies to successfully identify the presence of breast cancer cells from serum biomarkers.

Controversial cholesterol guidelines biggest change in 25 years Posted: 14 Nov 2013 07:19 AM PST New cholesterol guidelines for identifying adults at risk for heart disease represent the biggest change in such expert advice in more than 25 years, and could dramatically affect how patients are treated.

Are probiotics a promising treatment strategy for depression? Posted: 14 Nov 2013 06:47 AM PST Probiotics are not new, but their status as a nutritional buzzword is. Most folks have now heard and seen the term countless times in commercials and advertisements, as yogurt, dietary supplement, natural food product, and even cosmetic companies promote their probiotic-containing products. But what are they, and why are they important?

Surgeons often profoundly affected by surgical complications Posted: 13 Nov 2013 06:37 PM PST Many surgeons are seriously affected on an emotional level by major surgical complications, and they often feel that institutional support is inadequate. Those are among the conclusions of a small study published. The findings provide valuable insights into the factors that affect surgeons' reactions to surgical complications and how surgeons could be better supported in their aftermath.

Women with asthma could face delay in becoming pregnant Posted: 13 Nov 2013 06:37 PM PST Women with asthma could take longer to conceive, according to new research.

Cognitive scientists ID mechanism central to early childhood learning, social behavior Posted: 13 Nov 2013 03:25 PM PST A study provides compelling evidence for a new and possibly dominant way for social partners to coordinate joint attention, key for parent-child communication and early language learning. The findings open up new questions about language learning and the teaching of language. They could also have major implications for the treatment of children with early social-communication impairment, such as autism, where joint caregiver-child attention with respect to objects and events is a key issue.

Gene linked to common intellectual disability Posted: 13 Nov 2013 03:24 PM PST Researchers have taken a step forward in unravelling the causes of a commonly inherited intellectual disability, finding that a genetic mutation leads to a reduction in certain proteins in the brain.

Microbiome changed by gluten increases incidences of type 1 diabetes Posted: 13 Nov 2013 03:24 PM PST Research has shown that the intestinal microbiome plays a large role in the development of type 1 diabetes.

Widespread use of opioid medications in nonsurgical hospital patients Posted: 13 Nov 2013 03:24 PM PST A comprehensive analysis of more than 1 million hospital admissions in the United States finds that over 50 percent of all nonsurgical patients were prescribed opioids during their hospitalizations -- often at very high doses.

Plant oil suppresses viability of human prostate cancer cells Posted: 13 Nov 2013 01:25 PM PST Geranylgeraniol, found in linseed oil, Cedrela toona wood oil, sucupira branca fruit oil and more recently, annatto seed oil, may be a new weapon in the arsenal of mevalonate-suppressive isoprenoids with potential synergism in the fight against prostate cancer.

High blood pressure in middle age vs old age may predict memory loss Posted: 13 Nov 2013 01:23 PM PST People in middle age who have a high blood pressure measure called pulse pressure are more likely to have biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in their spinal fluid than those with lower pulse pressure, according to research published.

Newly discovered mechanism suggests novel approach to prevent type 1 diabetes Posted: 13 Nov 2013 11:35 AM PST New research demonstrates a disease mechanism in type 1 diabetes that can be targeted using simple, naturally occurring molecules to help prevent the disease. The work highlights a previously unrecognized molecular pathway that contributes to the malfunction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells in T1D in humans and mice, and shows that a chemical intervention can help beta cells function properly and survive.

Intranasal insulin improves cognitive function in patients with type 2 diabetes Posted: 13 Nov 2013 11:31 AM PST As the link between type 2 diabetes and dementia becomes more widely recognized, new findings offer promise of a new treatment for this growing problem.

Genomics of antiplatelet heart medication being studied Posted: 13 Nov 2013 10:21 AM PST Which antiplatelet medication is best after a coronary stent? The costly and potential life-or-death question lingers after most of the 600,000 angioplasties performed every year in the United States. The answer may lie in your genes, but professional cardiovascular societies and many working cardiologists question the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent recommendation that patients undergo genetic testing before taking Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate).

Researchers test bandaging for swollen arm Posted: 13 Nov 2013 10:21 AM PST As a complication of treatment, breast cancer patients may develop swelling in the arm, called lymphedema, which can last a long time. But there's no difference if simple compression bandages or a complicated daily lymphatic massage are used as treatment.

Clues to cocaine's toxicity could lead to better tests for detection Posted: 13 Nov 2013 10:01 AM PST A new study on cocaine, the notorious white powder illegally snorted, injected or smoked by nearly 2 million Americans, details how it may permanently damage proteins in the body. That information, gleaned from laboratory tests, could be used to potentially detect the drug in biofluids for weeks or months -- instead of days -- after use, say scientists. The findings could also help explain cocaine's long-term health effects.

Few patients with hyperlipidemia receive recommended thyroid screening Posted: 13 Nov 2013 10:01 AM PST Despite current guidelines that recommend newly diagnosed high-cholesterol patients have a TSH blood test done to make sure they do not have hypothyroidism, researchers have found that only about half of these patients were screened for thyroid dysfunction. The findings show the current guidelines may be underutilized.

Compound stymies polyomaviruses in lab tests Posted: 13 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST There is no approved medicine to treat polyomaviruses, which afflict those with weakened immune systems, but scientists have found that a chemical compound called Retro-2 is able to significantly reduce the infectivity and spread of the viruses in lab cell cultures. Now they are working to improve it further.

Can eyes help diagnose Alzheimer's disease? Posted: 13 Nov 2013 09:58 AM PST An international team of researchers studying the link between vision loss and Alzheimer's disease report that the loss of a particular layer of retinal cells not previously investigated may provide a new way to track disease progression. "The retina is an extension of the brain so it makes sense to see if the same pathologic processes found in an Alzheimer's brain are also found in the eye," they explain.

Higher altitudes result in reduced concussion rates in high school sports Posted: 13 Nov 2013 09:56 AM PST According to a recent study, high school athletes who play collision sports at higher altitudes are less likely to suffer from concussions than those who play at lower altitudes.

Could next new cancer drug come from Kentucky coal mines? Posted: 13 Nov 2013 09:56 AM PST In their ongoing quest to develop the latest and most effective drugs for disease treatment, researchers are looking deep — as in, deep underground.

Tomato therapy: Engineered veggies target intestinal lipids, improve cholesterol Posted: 13 Nov 2013 09:56 AM PST Researchers report that tiny amounts of a specific type of lipid in the small intestine may play a greater role than previously thought in generating the high cholesterol levels and inflammation that lead to clogged arteries. The team also found they could reduce the negative effects of these lipids in mice by feeding the animals a new genetically engineered tomato that is designed to mimic HDL ("good") cholesterol.

Molecular dissection of respiratory syncytial virus infection Posted: 12 Nov 2013 05:06 PM PST A study published reveals profound systemic dysregulation of the immune response induced by RSV infection in young children and suggest that molecular markers might be able to predict disease severity.

Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor promotes endometrial cancer Posted: 12 Nov 2013 05:06 PM PST A study published this week suggests that epigenetic modification of the HAND2 gene plays a critical role in the development of endometrial cancer. HAND2 is active in the healthy endometrium (the tissue lining the uterus) where it antagonizes the growth-inducing effects of estrogen. By contrast, in more than 90 percent of endometrial cancers, the gene has undergone hypermethylation, an epigenetic modification that doesn't change its DNA sequence but renders it inactive.

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