ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Tick-tock: How to quite literally speed up a woman's biological clock
• Cell discovery brings blood disorder cure closer
• Scientists boost potential of passive immunization against HIV
• Single gene controls jet lag, study finds
• Surprising differences in how teen athletes experience concussion
• New insights into survival, transmission strategy of malaria parasites
• Prostate cancer prevention trial identifies men mostly likely to undergo challenging study procedure
• Involuntary eye movement a foolproof indication for ADHD diagnosis
• Tests to Diagnose Invasive Aspergillosis with 100% Accuracy
• Hospital replaces heart valve outside the heart
• Modern anesthesia traces roots to American civil war
• 3D microscope method to look inside brains
• With advances in HIV care, survivors face other disease risks
• Ebola protein blocks early step in body's counterattack on virus
• Gut flora influences HIV immune response
• Care facility choice after hospital discharge about more than location, location, location
• MRSA colonization common in groin, rectal areas
• Bacteria growing less susceptible to common antiseptic
• Clues uncovered about how most important tuberculosis drug attacks its target
• Teachers play key role in program to fight childhood obesity
• Exercise associated with reduced risk of breast cancer in African American women
• HPV vaccine could 'close the gap' on Australian Indigenous health
• Why seniors don't eat: It's complicated
• Reduction of tau protein improves symptoms in model of severe childhood epilepsy
• Passengers who survived terrifying flight help psychologists uncover new clues about post-traumatic stress vulnerability
• How arbitrary is language? English words structured to help kids learn
• Rural hospitals: Lean six sigma principles shorten queues, save time
• Gene that controls nerve conduction velocity linked to multiple sclerosis
• What are advantages of being married to a physician?
• Infants absorb more than we might think, noting mobility differences as early as ten months
• Where's my car? Key brain region in contextual memories studied by researchers
• Shift workers: Evidence for sleep-inducing and alertness drugs is weak
• Clotting drug linked to fewer blood transfusions in joint surgery
• Gene linked to disease found to play a critical role in normal memory development
• Nearly half of women at risk of preterm birth do not receive cheap drug that could prevent millions of newborn deaths
• Two out of every five Americans expected to develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime
• Model to predict COPD hospital readmission developed
• Decline in daily functioning related to decreased brain activity in Alzheimer's
• Oxidative stress is significant predictor for hip fracture, research shows
• Digital literacy reduces cognitive decline in older adults, experts find
• New analysis reveals tumor weaknesses in epigenetics
• Heart failure is a substantial health burden in low- and middle-income countries
• Hand sanitizers in classrooms do not reduce school absences in children
• Imaging system guides brain tumor removal to improve patient outcomes
• Approach used to conduct meta-analyses may affect outcomes
• Delay in correcting a-fib irregular cardiac rhythm linked with increased complications
• Experiencing a-fib while hospitalized for surgery linked with increased risk of stroke
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy screening reduces colorectal cancer incidence, rate of death
• Prostate cancer diagnosis improves with MRI technology
• Calcium isotope analysis used to predict myeloma progression
• Potential MERS transmission mechanism found between bats, humans

Tick-tock: How to quite literally speed up a woman's biological clock Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT The metaphor of a ticking clock is often used to refer to a woman's growing urge -- from puberty onwards to menopause -- to conceive before her childbearing years are over. New research shows that there's more truth to this phrase than you might think. "The very subtle sound prime of a ticking clock changed the timing with which women sought to have children and the traits they sought in potential partners -- both central aspects of women's mating-related psychology," says one researcher.

Cell discovery brings blood disorder cure closer Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT A cure for a range of blood disorders and immune diseases is in sight, according to scientists who have unraveled the mystery of stem cell generation. Found in the bone marrow and in umbilical cord blood, HSCs are critically important because they can replenish the body's supply of blood cells. Leukemia patients have been successfully treated using HSC transplants, but medical experts believe blood stem cells have the potential to be used more widely.

Scientists boost potential of passive immunization against HIV Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:21 AM PDT Scientists are pursuing injections or intravenous infusions of broadly neutralizing HIV antibodies (bNAbs) as a strategy for preventing HIV infection. This technique, called passive immunization, has been shown to protect monkeys from a monkey form of HIV called simian human immunodeficiency virus, or SHIV. To make passive immunization a widely feasible HIV prevention option for people, scientists want to modify bNAbs such that a modest amount of them is needed only once every few months.

Single gene controls jet lag, study finds Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:20 AM PDT A master gene responsible for sleep and wake cycles has been identified by scientists, offering hope for a drug that could help reset sleep. The discovery of the role of this gene, called Lhx1, provides scientists with a potential therapeutic target to help night-shift workers or jet lagged travelers adjust to time differences more quickly. The results can point to treatment strategies for sleep problems caused by a variety of disorders.

Surprising differences in how teen athletes experience concussion Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:20 AM PDT The latest research on sports concussions in teens has been the focus of recent study. "We discovered a bidirectional relationship between both emotional symptoms developing in conjunction with physical symptoms, and also emotional symptoms developing because of the physical symptoms," said one researcher. In other words, "this research gives us a better understanding of the interaction between physical and emotional symptoms in concussion and will allow us to explore ways to help adolescents recover in a more timely fashion."

New insights into survival, transmission strategy of malaria parasites Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:11 AM PDT Malaria parasites exploit the function of the epigenetic regulator HP1 to promote survival and transmission between human hosts, a new study shows. Using HP1 the parasite controls expression of surface antigens to escape immune responses in the infected victim. This prolongs survival of the parasite in the human blood stream and secures its transmission via mosquitoes. The study paves important avenues for new intervention strategies to prevent severe disease and malaria transmission.

Prostate cancer prevention trial identifies men mostly likely to undergo challenging study procedure Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:11 AM PDT Healthy men participating in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial who actively participate in all steps of the clinical trial are most likely to undergo a biopsy, according to a study. "We also found that participants were more likely to adhere to biopsies if the study site that recruited the participant enrolled more than 200 participants and/or had resources for conducting activities to encourage continued participation in the trial," said one investigator.

Involuntary eye movement a foolproof indication for ADHD diagnosis Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:10 AM PDT Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed -- and misdiagnosed -- behavioral disorder in American children. Now a new study can provide the objective tool medical professionals need to accurately diagnose ADHD. The study indicates that involuntary eye movements accurately reflect the presence of ADHD.

Tests to Diagnose Invasive Aspergillosis with 100% Accuracy Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:10 AM PDT The fungal infection invasive aspergillosis (IA) can be life threatening, especially in patients whose immune systems are weakened by chemotherapy or immunosuppressive drugs. Despite the critical need for early detection, IA remains difficult to diagnose. A study compared three diagnostic tests and found that the combination of nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) detects aspergillosis with 100% accuracy.

Hospital replaces heart valve outside the heart Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:09 AM PDT For the first time in the United States, doctors used a minimally invasive procedure to replace a failing, hard-to-reach heart valve with a new one – and placed it just outside the heart. Approximately 5 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with heart valve disease annually. With an aging population that is often too frail for open-heart surgery, more than 20,000 Americans die of the disease each year.

Modern anesthesia traces roots to American civil war Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:09 AM PDT The common use of anesthetic agents came of age during the American Civil War, as battlefield medicine translated to civilian use. "Prior to the war, alcoholic drinks, physical restraints, opioid drugs and bite blocks were the most typically employed methods of keeping a patient under control during surgery," an author said. "It was thought to be unmanly for a male to undergo surgery with an anesthetic, which was usually reserved for women and children."

3D microscope method to look inside brains Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:00 AM PDT A method for turning a small, $40 needle into a 3-D microscope capable of taking images up to 70 times smaller than the width of a human hair has been developed by scientists. the microscope technique works when an LED light is illuminated and guided through a fiberoptic needle or cannula. Returned pictures are reconstructed into 3-D images using algorithms.

With advances in HIV care, survivors face other disease risks Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:00 AM PDT As effective treatments for HIV become more widely available in low- and middle-income countries, there's an urgent need to assess and manage health risks in the growing number of people living with HIV. "Today, with over 35 million people living (and aging) with HIV and over two million becoming infected every year, we are faced with a new challenge: addressing morbidity and mortality -- heart disease, stroke, diabetes and metabolic complications, renal disease, cancers, liver disease, and mental illness," authors write.

Ebola protein blocks early step in body's counterattack on virus Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:00 AM PDT One of the human body's first responses to a viral infection is to make and release signaling proteins called interferons, which amplify the immune system response to viruses. Over time, many viruses have evolved to undermine interferon's immune-boosting signal, and a new study describes a mechanism unique to the Ebola virus that defeats attempts by interferon to block viral reproduction in infected cells.

Gut flora influences HIV immune response Posted: 13 Aug 2014 10:00 AM PDT Normal microorganisms in the intestines appear to play a pivotal role in how the HIV virus foils a successful attack from the body's immune system, according to new research. "Gut flora keeps us all healthy by helping the immune system develop, and by stimulating a group of immune cells that keep bacteria in check," said the study's senior author. "But this research shows that antibodies that react to bacteria also cross-react to the HIV envelope."

Care facility choice after hospital discharge about more than location, location, location Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:39 AM PDT Deciding on the right post-hospital discharge rehabilitation destination is important to future health and quality of life. However, it is a decision for which many patients and families are unprepared and unsupported, according to scientists.

MRSA colonization common in groin, rectal areas Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:39 AM PDT Colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus allows people in the community to unknowingly harbor and spread this life-threatening bacteria. The inside of the front of the nose is where this bacteria is most predominant, but new research shows nearly all colonized individuals have this bacteria living in other body sites, including the groin and rectal areas.

Bacteria growing less susceptible to common antiseptic Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:39 AM PDT Bacteria that cause life-threatening bloodstream infections in critically ill patients may be growing increasingly resistant to a common hospital antiseptic, according to a recent study. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) has been increasingly used in hospitals in light of recent evidence that daily antiseptic baths for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) may prevent infections and stop the spread of healthcare-associated infections. The impact of this expanded use on the effectiveness of the disinfectant is not yet known.

Clues uncovered about how most important tuberculosis drug attacks its target Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:39 AM PDT A new clue to understanding how the most important medication for tuberculosis (TB) works to attack dormant TB bacteria in order to shorten treatment has been found by researchers. The antibiotic Pyrazinamide (PZA) has been used to treat TB since the 1950s, but its mechanisms are the least understood of all TB drugs. The PZA findings may help researchers identify new and more effective drugs not only for TB -- which can require six months or more of treatment -- but other persistent bacterial infections.

Teachers play key role in program to fight childhood obesity Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:39 AM PDT An innovative physical activities guide is helping North Carolina fight childhood obesity. New research shows that when teachers direct these physical activities, young children become more active and less sedentary. "For the first time in over a century, children's life expectancies are declining because of increased numbers of overweight kids," researchers note. These statistics are especially alarming, they say, because research has long shown that being overweight during childhood is associated with health issues later in life.

Exercise associated with reduced risk of breast cancer in African American women Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:38 AM PDT Regular exercise, including brisk walking, is associated with a decrease in the incidence of breast cancer in African American women. In a recently published study, researchers found strong evidence linking physical exercise to a lower rate of breast cancer in African American women, a group in which previous evidence has been lacking.

HPV vaccine could 'close the gap' on Australian Indigenous health Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:37 AM PDT In just four years, the HPV vaccine has resulted in a dramatic drop in genital warts in young Australians from a range of backgrounds, a result that could herald further good news for cervical cancer rates in future. These are the results of the most comprehensive assessment of its type, the researchers report.

Why seniors don't eat: It's complicated Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:36 AM PDT More than half of older adults who visit emergency departments are either malnourished or at risk for malnutrition, but not because of lack of access to health care, critical illness or dementia. Despite clear signs of malnutrition or risk of malnutrition, more than three-quarters had never previously been diagnosed with malnutrition, according to the results of a study.

Reduction of tau protein improves symptoms in model of severe childhood epilepsy Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:36 AM PDT Reducing brain levels of the protein tau effectively blocks the development of disease in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome, a severe intractable form of childhood epilepsy, researchers report. Dravet syndrome is one of the most challenging forms of childhood epilepsy, resulting from a specific genetic mutation that affects sodium channels in the brain. Frequent, relentless seizures are accompanied by cognitive impairments and behavioral problems similar to autism, and up to 20% of patients succumb to sudden death.

Passengers who survived terrifying flight help psychologists uncover new clues about post-traumatic stress vulnerability Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:36 AM PDT An extraordinary opportunity to study memory and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a group of Air Transat passengers who experienced 30 minutes of unimaginable terror over the Atlantic Ocean in 2001 has resulted in the discovery of a potential risk factor that may help predict who is most vulnerable to PTSD.

How arbitrary is language? English words structured to help kids learn Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:35 AM PDT Words in the English language are structured to help children learn, according to research. Words like "woof" accurately represent the sound of a dog while sounds with similar meanings may have a similar structure, such as the "sl" sound at the beginning of a word often has negative properties as in "slime, slur, slum, slug."

Rural hospitals: Lean six sigma principles shorten queues, save time Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:34 AM PDT By adapting the "Lean Six Sigma" principle of manufacturing to rural hospitals, researchers suggest that patient queues might be shortened by 91 percent while consultation time could be reduced to about a third of the time.

Gene that controls nerve conduction velocity linked to multiple sclerosis Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:34 AM PDT A novel gene that controls nerve conduction velocity has been identified in a new study. Investigators report that even minor reductions in conduction velocity may aggravate disease in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and in mice bred for the MS-like condition experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

What are advantages of being married to a physician? Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:30 AM PDT Doctors share their strategies for success for balancing demanding careers alongside marriage and family obligations. Researchers interviewed 25 physicians and spouses to learn how "medical marriages" succeed and the resulting report is rich with data and anecdotes about live-in in-laws, role definition, financial security and the advantage of avoiding the emergency room because Mom or Dad knows how to stitch a bad cut.

Infants absorb more than we might think, noting mobility differences as early as ten months Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:57 PM PDT Does a baby know that a dog can jump a fence while a school bus can't? Can a toddler grasp that a cat can avoid colliding with a wall, while a table being pushed into a wall can't? Infants as young as 10-months old can tell the difference between the kinds of paths naturally taken by a walking animal, compared to a moving car or piece of furniture.

Where's my car? Key brain region in contextual memories studied by researchers Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:57 PM PDT A previously understudied part of the brain, the retrosplenial cortex, is essential for forming the basis for contextual memories, which help you to recall events ranging from global disasters to where you parked your car. Although it is known that a specific network of brain regions is important for contextual memory, it has remained unknown how different parts of the network contribute to this process, until now.

Shift workers: Evidence for sleep-inducing and alertness drugs is weak Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:57 PM PDT Shift workers are taking drugs to help them stay awake or get to sleep despite weak evidence for their benefit, according to a new review. The authors of the review found only small numbers of trials testing over-the-counter and prescription drugs used by shift workers, and the results suggest that for some people they might do more harm than good.

Clotting drug linked to fewer blood transfusions in joint surgery Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:57 PM PDT Giving the clotting drug tranexamic acid to patients undergoing joint replacement surgery can reduce the need for blood transfusions while not increasing the risk of complications, finds a study. Tranexamic acid was significantly associated with an up to 69% reduction in the need for blood transfusions and was not associated with an increased risk of complications, including serious blood clots and acute kidney failure, researchers say.

Gene linked to disease found to play a critical role in normal memory development Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:53 PM PDT It has been more than 20 years since scientists discovered that mutations in the gene huntingtin cause the devastating progressive neurological condition Huntington's disease, which involves involuntary movements, emotional disturbance and cognitive impairment. Surprisingly little, however, has been known about the gene's role in normal brain activity. Now, a study shows it plays a critical role in long-term memory.

Nearly half of women at risk of preterm birth do not receive cheap drug that could prevent millions of newborn deaths Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:52 PM PDT A major international study of more than 303,000 births in 29 low-income and middle-income countries has found that only half (52%) of women who are eligible to receive a simple, effective, low-cost treatment to prevent death and disability in their newborn babies are getting it. Use of antenatal corticosteroids was highly variable ranging from 16-20% of eligible women in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, and Niger which have particularly high rates of neonatal deaths, to 91% in Jordan and 88% in the Occupied Palestinian territory.

Two out of every five Americans expected to develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime Posted: 12 Aug 2014 08:52 PM PDT Close to half (40%) of the adult population of the USA is expected to develop type 2 diabetes at some point during their lifetime, suggests a major study. The future looks even worse for some ethnic minority groups, with one in two Hispanic men and women and non-Hispanic black women predicted to develop the disease.

Model to predict COPD hospital readmission developed Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:38 PM PDT Predictors of early rehospitalization among patients hospitalized for complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been identified by a study. In an American nationwide analysis of more than 8,000 commercially insured adult patients with COPD, researchers concluded that several modifiable factors, such as appropriate prescriptions upon discharge and early follow up after discharge from the hospital, were associated with lower likelihood of early readmission.

Decline in daily functioning related to decreased brain activity in Alzheimer's Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:38 PM PDT Decline in daily functioning associated with Alzheimer's disease is related to alterations in activity in certain regions of the brain, according to a study. Impairment in instrumental activities of daily living -- or an inability to perform high-level daily activities such as calculating finances, remembering appointments and medications, and driving -- is first seen when a person has mild cognitive impairment, which can later progress to dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, experts warn.

Oxidative stress is significant predictor for hip fracture, research shows Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:37 PM PDT Oxidative stress is a significant predictor for hip fracture in postmenopausal women, according to new research. Oxidative stress is defined as physiological stress on the body that is caused by the cumulative damage done by free radicals, which are inadequately neutralized by antioxidants. Free radicals are unstable molecules that react with other substances in the human body to damage cells or organs.

Digital literacy reduces cognitive decline in older adults, experts find Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:37 PM PDT Researchers have found a link between digital literacy and a reduction in cognitive decline, according to a study. The data measures delayed recall from a 10-word-list learning task across 5 separate measurement points. Higher wealth, education and digital literacy improved delayed recall, while people with functional impairment, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, depressive symptoms or no digital literacy showed decline.

New analysis reveals tumor weaknesses in epigenetics Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:35 PM PDT Epigenetic markers in cancer cells could improve patient treatment, researchers report. Scientists have known for decades that cancer can be caused by genetic mutations, but more recently they have discovered that chemical modifications of a gene can also contribute to cancer. These alterations, known as epigenetic modifications, control whether a gene is turned on or off.

Heart failure is a substantial health burden in low- and middle-income countries Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:35 PM PDT Heart failure is a major public health burden in many low- and middle-income countries, with substantial variation in the presentation, causes, management, and outcomes of heart failure across different LMICs, according to new research. The study also finds that a large proportion of patients are not receiving pharmacological treatments for heart failure.

Hand sanitizers in classrooms do not reduce school absences in children Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:35 PM PDT Installing alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispensers in the classrooms does not lead to reductions in the rate of school absences in children, according to new research from New Zealand.

Imaging system guides brain tumor removal to improve patient outcomes Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:34 PM PDT NIBIB-funded researchers have developed an imaging system that rapidly and accurately detects a molecular marker found in brain gliomas. It promises to improve the precision of these difficult surgeries by enabling the complete removal of the tumor, while reducing residual damage to brain tissue and neural function.

Approach used to conduct meta-analyses may affect outcomes Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:33 PM PDT Depending on the analysis strategy used, estimating treatment outcomes in meta-­analyses may differ and may result in major alterations in the conclusions derived from the analysis, according to a study. Meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are generally considered to provide among the best evidence of efficacy of medical interventions. They should be conducted as part of a systematic review, a scientifically rigorous approach that identifies, selects, and appraises all relevant studies.

Delay in correcting a-fib irregular cardiac rhythm linked with increased complications Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:33 PM PDT A delay of 12 hours or longer to correct an abnormal cardiac rhythm from atrial fibrillation was associated with a greater risk of thromboembolic complications such as stroke, according to a study.

Experiencing a-fib while hospitalized for surgery linked with increased risk of stroke Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:33 PM PDT Experiencing atrial fibrillation while hospitalized was associated with an increased long-term risk of ischemic stroke, especially following noncardiac surgery, according to a study that included 1.7 million patients undergoing inpatient surgery. Atrial fibrillation (AF) and flutter affect more than 33 million people worldwide.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy screening reduces colorectal cancer incidence, rate of death Posted: 12 Aug 2014 01:33 PM PDT Screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy resulted in a reduced incidence and rate of death of colorectal cancer, compared to no screening, according to a study of about 100,000 participants. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly occurring cancer worldwide.

Prostate cancer diagnosis improves with MRI technology Posted: 12 Aug 2014 10:35 AM PDT MRI technology has been melded with a traditional ultrasound prostate exam to create a three-dimensional map of the prostate that allows physicians to view growths that were previously undetectable. "With an ultrasound exam, we are typically unable to see the most suspicious areas of the prostate so we end up sampling different parts of the prostate that statistically speaking are more likely to have cancer," said one expert. "The MRI is a game-changer. It allows us to target the biopsy needles exactly where we think the cancer is located. It's more precise."

Calcium isotope analysis used to predict myeloma progression Posted: 12 Aug 2014 09:24 AM PDT A staple of Earth science research can be used in biomedical settings to predict the course of disease, researchers have demonstrated. The researchers tested a new approach to detecting bone loss in cancer patients by using calcium isotope analysis to predict whether myeloma patients are at risk for developing bone lesions, a hallmark of the disease.

Potential MERS transmission mechanism found between bats, humans Posted: 12 Aug 2014 09:24 AM PDT The mechanism used by the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus to transmit from bats to humans has been identified by researchers. Bats are a native reservoir for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and the finding could be critical for understanding the animal origins of the virus, as well as preventing and controlling the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and related viruses in humans.

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