ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Six new genetic risk factors for Parkinson's found
• Surgical safety program greatly reduces surgical site infections for heart operations
• New tools help neuroscientists analyze 'big data'
• New, noncommittal mechanism of drug resistance discovered
• Drugs used to treat lung disease work with body clock
• New drug target can break down cancer's barrier against treatment
• Epigenetic changes can drive cancer, study shows
• Trees save lives, reduce respiratory problems
• Primary texting bans associated with lower traffic fatalities, study finds
• Clearing cells to prevent cervical cancer
• Computerized ADHD testing
• Smartphone experiment tracks whether our life story is written in our gut bacteria
• Shift work linked to heightened risk of type 2 diabetes
• Cell therapy for multiple sclerosis patients: Closer than ever?
• Klotho: neuroprotective against Alzheimer's disease
• Microbes make the sake brewery
• Genetic switch discovered that can prevent peripheral vascular disease in mice
• Female triathletes at risk for pelvic floor disorders, other complications
• Ferric Citrate May Reduce Dialysis Patients' Need for Multiple Medications
• Genetic test helps predict which children with kidney disease will respond to standard therapy
• Incomplete HPV vaccination may offer some protection
• Creating sustainable STEM teacher programs
• Physician advocates awareness, collaboration to combat peaking Hep C virus
• New mechanism for neurodegeneration found
• Fighting bacteria -- with viruses
• Gene changes in breast cancer cells pinpointed with new computational method
• New way to determine cancer risk of chemicals found
• Invertebrate numbers nearly halve as human population doubles
• First IPS cells created to offer human model of insulin resistance

Six new genetic risk factors for Parkinson's found Posted: 27 Jul 2014 01:57 PM PDT Using data from over 18,000 patients, scientists have identified more than two dozen genetic risk factors involved in Parkinson's disease, including six that had not been previously reported. "Unraveling the genetic underpinnings of Parkinson's is vital to understanding the multiple mechanisms involved in this complex disease, and hopefully, may one day lead to effective therapies," said the senior author of the study.

Surgical safety program greatly reduces surgical site infections for heart operations Posted: 27 Jul 2014 01:57 PM PDT A common postoperative complication after open heart operations -- infection at the surgical site -- has been reduced by 77 percent at a Canadian hospital through its participation in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®), according to a new case study.

New tools help neuroscientists analyze 'big data' Posted: 27 Jul 2014 01:57 PM PDT New technologies for monitoring brain activity are generating unprecedented quantities of information. That data may hold new insights into how the brain works -- but only if researchers can interpret it. To help make sense of the data, neuroscientists can now harness the power of distributed computing with Thunder, a library of tools.

New, noncommittal mechanism of drug resistance discovered Posted: 27 Jul 2014 01:57 PM PDT Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi can evade treatment by acquiring mutations in the genes targeted by antibiotics or antifungal drugs. These permanent mutations were once thought to be the only way for drug resistant strains to evolve. Now a new study has shown that microorganisms can use a temporary silencing of drug targets -- known as epimutations -- to gain the benefits of drug resistance without the commitment.

Drugs used to treat lung disease work with body clock Posted: 27 Jul 2014 01:56 PM PDT Scientists have discovered why medication to treat asthma and pneumonia can become ineffective. The findings show that drugs widely used to treat lung diseases work with the body clock. The research found out that cells lining the lung airways have their own body clock which is the time-keeper for lung inflammation - both conditions cause swelling (inflammation) in the lungs.

New drug target can break down cancer's barrier against treatment Posted: 27 Jul 2014 01:56 PM PDT Targeting a molecule in blood vessels can make cancer therapy significantly more effective, according to research. Researchers have found that a molecule, called focal adhesion kinase (FAK), signals the body to repair itself after chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which kill cancer cells by damaging DNA. When the researchers removed FAK from blood vessels that grew in melanoma or lung cancer models, both chemotherapy and radiation therapies were far more effective in killing the tumors.

Epigenetic changes can drive cancer, study shows Posted: 26 Jul 2014 05:23 AM PDT A mouse model has been created providing the first in vivo evidence that epigenetic alterations alone can cause cancer. Epigenetic alterations don't change the DNA sequence but how it is 'read.' In particular, DNA methylation, the addition of a methyl group (or molecule), is an epigenetic switch that can stably turn off genes, suggesting the potential to cause cancer just as a genetic mutation can. Until now, direct evidence that DNA methylation drives cancer formation was lacking.

Trees save lives, reduce respiratory problems Posted: 25 Jul 2014 01:35 PM PDT In the first broad-scale estimate of air pollution removal by trees nationwide, scientists have calculated that trees are saving more than 850 human lives a year and preventing 670,000 incidences of acute respiratory symptoms. The study considered four pollutants for which the U.S. EPA has established air quality standards: nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in aerodynamic diameter.

Primary texting bans associated with lower traffic fatalities, study finds Posted: 25 Jul 2014 11:44 AM PDT States that allow officers to pull over a driver for texting while driving saw fewer deaths than those that use secondary enforcement of texting bans. Some states have banned all drivers from texting while driving, while others have banned only young drivers. Also, some states' texting bans entail secondary enforcement, meaning an officer must have another reason to stop a vehicle, like speeding or running a red light, before citing a driver for texting while driving. These differences appear to impact traffic deaths, this study concludes.

Clearing cells to prevent cervical cancer Posted: 25 Jul 2014 10:15 AM PDT A novel approach to preventing cervical cancer has been described by researchers, based on findings showing successful reduction in the risk of cervical cancer after removal of a discrete population of cells in the cervix. The findings come from a study that looked at squamocolumnar junction cells, or SCJ cells. These cells reside in the cervical canal and have been implicated as the origins of cervical cancer.

Computerized ADHD testing Posted: 25 Jul 2014 08:07 AM PDT A new technology can now be utilized on patients called the Quotient® ADHD Test. t is FDA-cleared for the objective measurement of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, as an aid in the assessment of ADHD. ADHD is a common childhood condition characterized by more than normal difficulty with focus, behavior control, impulsivity and hyperactivity.

Smartphone experiment tracks whether our life story is written in our gut bacteria Posted: 25 Jul 2014 05:04 AM PDT Life events such as visiting another country or contracting a disease cause a significant shift in the make-up of the gut microbiota -- the community of bacteria living in the digestive system, according to. Two participants in a recent study used smartphone apps to collect information every day for a year. The authors think the method could be rolled out to studies of human-bacteria relationships with many more participants.

Shift work linked to heightened risk of type 2 diabetes Posted: 24 Jul 2014 04:20 PM PDT Shift work is linked to a heightened risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with the risk seemingly greatest among men and those working rotating shift patterns, indicates an analysis of the available evidence. This heightened risk rose to 37% for men, after further analysis to look at the potential effects of gender, study design, study location, job, shift schedule, body mass index (BMI), family history of diabetes and physical activity levels.

Cell therapy for multiple sclerosis patients: Closer than ever? Posted: 24 Jul 2014 03:29 PM PDT For the first time, scientists generated induced pluripotent stem cells lines from skin samples of patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis and further, they developed an accelerated protocol to induce these stem cells into becoming oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system implicated in multiple sclerosis and many other diseases.

Klotho: neuroprotective against Alzheimer's disease Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:21 PM PDT Researchers may have found a way to delay or even prevent Alzheimer's disease. They discovered that pre-treatment of neurons with the anti-aging protein Klotho can prevent neuron death in the presence of the toxic amyloid protein and glutamate. Alzheimer's disease is the most frequent age-related dementia affecting 5.4 million Americans including 13 percent of people age 65 and older and more than 40 percent of people over the age of 85.

Microbes make the sake brewery Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:20 PM PDT A sake brewery has its own microbial terroir, meaning the microbial populations found on surfaces in the facility resemble those found in the product, creating the final flavor according to research. This is the first time investigators have taken a microbial census of a sake brewery.

Genetic switch discovered that can prevent peripheral vascular disease in mice Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:18 PM PDT Millions of people in the United States have a circulatory problem of the legs called peripheral vascular disease. It can be painful and may even require surgery in serious cases. This disease can lead to severe skeletal muscle wasting and, in turn, limb amputation. Scientists have tested a non-surgical preventative treatment in a mouse model of the disease and it was associated with increased blood circulation.

Female triathletes at risk for pelvic floor disorders, other complications Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:18 PM PDT Female triathletes are at risk for pelvic floor disorders, decreased energy, menstrual irregularities and abnormal bone density, according to researchers. "There has been a surge in popularity of high-impact sports such as triathlons, but little has been known until now about the prevalence of pelvic health and certain other issues associated with endurance training and events," said a study investigator.

Ferric Citrate May Reduce Dialysis Patients' Need for Multiple Medications Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:17 PM PDT Ferric citrate effectively reduced blood phosphorus levels while increasing iron stores and decreasing the need for intravenous iron and anemia medications in dialysis patients, researchers report after conducting a study. The medication may help reduce complications and costs associated with kidney disease care.

Genetic test helps predict which children with kidney disease will respond to standard therapy Posted: 24 Jul 2014 02:17 PM PDT Among children with sporadic nephrotic syndrome, genetic mutations in the kidney's filtration barrier were frequently linked with a lack of response to immunosuppressive treatments, researchers report. The genetic test was even more predictive than a kidney biopsy for identifying children who would not benefit from immunosuppressive therapies.

Incomplete HPV vaccination may offer some protection Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:43 AM PDT Minority women who received the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination even after becoming sexually active had lower rates of abnormal Pap test results than those who were never vaccinated, researchers report. According to the researchers, continued surveillance of HPV vaccination is necessary to identify clinical benefits, particularly given the low rate of vaccine uptake and completion and vaccination of many young women after sexual debut.

Creating sustainable STEM teacher programs Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:42 AM PDT Faculty members who choose to champion physics teacher education, in combination with institutional motivation and commitment, ensure that STEM teacher education programs remain viable after initial funding ends.

Physician advocates awareness, collaboration to combat peaking Hep C virus Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:42 AM PDT Eliminating hepatitis C virus infection is feasible, can provide economic benefits, enhance capacity to address other health challenges, and improve health care disparities, an expert argues. More than 185 million people worldwide, 3 percent of the world's population, are living with HCV and 350,000 die each year.

New mechanism for neurodegeneration found Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:42 AM PDT A surprising mechanism behind neurodegeneration in mice, one that involves a defect in a key component of the cellular machinery that makes proteins, known as transfer RNA or tRNA, has been found by researchers. A mutation in a gene that produces tRNAs operating only in the central nervous system results in a "stalling" or pausing of the protein production process in the neuronal ribosomes. When another protein the researchers identified, GTPBP2, is also missing, neurodegeneration results, they report.

Fighting bacteria -- with viruses Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:42 AM PDT Research reveals how viruses called bacteriophages destroy the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which is becoming a serious problem in hospitals and healthcare institutes, due to its resistance to antibiotics. The study could help bring about a new way of fighting this and other bacteria.

Gene changes in breast cancer cells pinpointed with new computational method Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:42 AM PDT Computer scientists working with high-throughput data generated by breast cancer biologists have devised a computational method to determine how gene networks are rewired as normal breast cells turn malignant and as they respond to potential cancer therapy agents.

New way to determine cancer risk of chemicals found Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:16 AM PDT It is possible to predict long-term cancer risk from a chemical exposure by measuring the short-term effects of that same exposure, new research has found. The findings will make it possible to develop simpler and cheaper tests to screen chemicals for their potential cancer causing risk.

Invertebrate numbers nearly halve as human population doubles Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:16 AM PDT Invertebrate numbers have decreased by 45 percent on average over a 35 year period in which the human population doubled, reports a study on the impact of humans on declining animal numbers. This decline matters because of the enormous benefits invertebrates such as insects, spiders, crustaceans, slugs and worms bring to our day-to-day lives, including pollination and pest control for crops, decomposition for nutrient cycling, water filtration and human health.

First IPS cells created to offer human model of insulin resistance Posted: 24 Jul 2014 11:14 AM PDT The first iPSCs that offer a human model of insulin resistance, a key driver of type 2 diabetes, have been created by researchers. "There have been no good human cell models to study insulin resistance, but such cells can now be made with iPSCs," says a co-senior author on a new paper.

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