ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Brain imaging shows brain differences in risk-taking teens
• Bats bolster brain hypothesis, maybe technology, too
• Guidelines can predict early menopause in child cancer survivors, giving hope for fertility
• New ways to treat solid tumors using protein
• Human milk fat improves growth in premature infants
• Previous pulmonary disease linked to increased lung cancer risk in large study
• Low vitamin D levels linked to increased risks after noncardiac surgery
• Understanding parallels of human and animal parenting can benefit generations to come
• Single enzyme necessary for development of diabetes
• Light shed on factors affecting veteran hiring
• 9/11 dust cloud may have caused widespread pregnancy issues
• Adults with autism at higher risk of sexual victimization, study shows
• Cystic fibrosis mucus defect present at birth, study shows
• Severity of sleep apnea impacts risk of resistant high blood pressure
• Experimental chikungunya vaccine induces robust antibody response
• Strong state alcohol policies reduce likelihood of binge drinking
• Prevalence, risk factors for diabetic macular edema explored in study
• Mass layoffs linked to increased teen suicide attempts
• Low education, smoking, high blood pressure may lead to increased stroke risk
• Drugs that flush out HIV may impair killer T cells, possibly hindering HIV eradication
• Global public health objectives need to address substance abuse in developing countries
• Broader organ sharing won't harm liver transplant recipients; percentage of organs transported by flying versus driving will rise
• RNA combination therapy for lung cancer offers promise for personalized medicine
• Vitamin D deficiency may reduce pregnancy rate in women undergoing IVF
• Reduced testosterone tied to endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure
• Potential drug therapy for kidney stones identified in mouse study
• New gene editing method shows promising results for correcting Muscular Dystrophy
• Memories of errors foster faster learning
• Harnessing the power of bacteria's sophisticated immune system
• Parenting from before conception: Babies' health doesn't 'start from scratch'
• Addressing the state of populations most-at-risk for HIV in Cape Town, South Africa
• Antibodies together with viral 'inducers' found to control HIV in mice
• Novel lung-on-a-chip developed
• Gender disparities uncovered in desire to receive living donor kidney transplants
• Food allergies more widespread among inner-city children
• New frontiers of fecal microbiota transplantation
• Immune cell discovery could help to halt cancer spread
• Protein found to block benefits of vitamin A cancer therapy
• Bypass commands from brain to legs through computer
• Researchers identify a mechanism that stops progression of abnormal cells into cancer
• Computation, collaboration lead to significant advance in malaria
• Workaholism: Addiction of this century?
• New non-invasive technique controls size of molecules penetrating the blood-brain barrier
• High prevalence of opioid use by social security disability recipients

Brain imaging shows brain differences in risk-taking teens Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:23 AM PDT Brain differences associated with risk-taking teens have been investigated by researchers who found that connections between certain brain regions are amplified in teens more prone to risk. "Our brains have an emotional-regulation network that exists to govern emotions and influence decision-making," explained the study's lead author. "Antisocial or risk-seeking behavior may be associated with an imbalance in this network."

Bats bolster brain hypothesis, maybe technology, too Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:23 AM PDT Bats demonstrate remarkable skill in tracking targets such as bugs through the trees in the dark of night. Decades of research on how bats use echolocation to keep a focus on their targets not only lends support to a long debated neuroscience hypothesis about vision but also could lead to smarter sonar and radar technologies.

Guidelines can predict early menopause in child cancer survivors, giving hope for fertility Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:22 AM PDT Girls with cancer who are most likely to become infertile after treatment can be identified using guidelines developed almost 20 years ago, new research shows. The criteria will help to select which girls should be offered the opportunity to freeze some tissue from their ovaries for use in the future.

New ways to treat solid tumors using protein Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:22 AM PDT An antibody against the protein EphA3, found in the micro-environment of solid cancers, has anti-tumor effects, an international team of scientists has shown. As EphA3 is present in normal organs only during embryonic development but is expressed in blood cancers and in solid tumors, this antibody-based approach may be a suitable candidate treatment for solid tumors.

Human milk fat improves growth in premature infants Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:22 AM PDT For premature infants, adequate growth while in the neonatal intensive care unit is an indicator of better long-term health and developmental outcomes. Researchers have now successfully incorporated a cream supplement into premature infants' diets that improved their growth outcomes in the NICU.

Previous pulmonary disease linked to increased lung cancer risk in large study Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:20 AM PDT Links between a number of common respiratory diseases and an increased risk of developing lung cancer have been found in a large pooled analysis of seven studies involving more than 25,000 individuals. "The variations in the associations between lung cancer and different patterns of previous respiratory diseases that we observed in our study may indicate differences in the underlying etiological mechanisms," said the lead author. "Better understanding of these associations may help guide the type and frequency of clinical surveillance needed for patients with each of these diseases."

Low vitamin D levels linked to increased risks after noncardiac surgery Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:20 AM PDT Patients with low blood levels of vitamin D are at increased risk of death and serious complications after noncardiac surgery, suggests a study. The researchers analyzed the relationship between vitamin D level and surgical outcomes in approximately 3,500 patients who underwent operations other than heart surgery between 2005 and 2011. Only patients who had available data on vitamin D levels around the time of surgery -- from three months before to one month afterward -- were included in the study.

Understanding parallels of human and animal parenting can benefit generations to come Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:23 PM PDT Strong evidence now shows that human and animal parenting share many nervous system mechanisms. Better understanding this biology could lead to improved social development, benefiting generations of humans and animals to come.

Single enzyme necessary for development of diabetes Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:23 PM PDT An enzyme called 12-LO promotes the obesity-induced oxidative stress in the pancreatic cells that leads to pre-diabetes, and diabetes. 12-LO's enzymatic action is the last step in the production of certain small molecules that harm the cell, according to researchers. The findings will enable the development of drugs that can interfere with this enzyme, preventing or even reversing diabetes.

Light shed on factors affecting veteran hiring Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:23 PM PDT A researcher has shed light on the factors affecting hiring decisions about veterans. The goal of this research is to uncover the issues that place limits on veterans' ability to secure jobs and to offer concrete solutions that both companies and veterans can take to help veterans enjoy a fulfilling work life.

9/11 dust cloud may have caused widespread pregnancy issues Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:23 PM PDT Pregnant women living near the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks experienced negative birth outcomes, according to a new paper. These mothers were more likely to give birth prematurely and deliver babies with low birth weights. Their babies -- especially baby boys -- were also more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care units after birth.

Adults with autism at higher risk of sexual victimization, study shows Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:22 PM PDT Adults with autism are at a higher risk of sexual victimization than adults without, due to lack of sex education, but with improved interventions that focus on sexual knowledge and skill building, the risk could be reduced, according to a study. 'Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder gain more of their sexual knowledge from external sources such as the internet and the television whereas social sources would include parents, teachers and peers,' says one author.

Cystic fibrosis mucus defect present at birth, study shows Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:22 PM PDT Mucus is key to keeping our lungs clean and clear of bacteria, viruses, and other foreign particles that can cause infection and inflammation. When we inhale microbes and dust, they are trapped in the mucus and then swept up and out of the lungs via a process called mucociliary transport. New research shows that cystic fibrosis causes a specific defect in this process, reducing the ability to clear particles and germs out of the airway.

Severity of sleep apnea impacts risk of resistant high blood pressure Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:22 PM PDT A strong association between severe, untreated obstructive sleep apnea and the risk of elevated blood pressure despite the use of high blood pressure medications has been made by researchers. "High blood pressure that is resistant to treatment with medications is a strong warning sign for the presence of obstructive sleep apnea, a chronic disease that increases the risk for heart disease and stroke," said one expert.

Experimental chikungunya vaccine induces robust antibody response Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:21 PM PDT An experimental vaccine to prevent the mosquito-borne viral illness chikungunya elicited neutralizing antibodies in all 25 adult volunteers who participated in a recent early-stage clinical trial. The most distinctive symptom of chikungunya infection is severe joint pain accompanied by headache and fever. There are currently no vaccines or specific drug treatments for chikungunya.

Strong state alcohol policies reduce likelihood of binge drinking Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:21 PM PDT People living in states with stronger alcohol policy environments have a substantially lower likelihood of any binge drinking, frequent binge drinking, and high-intensity binge drinking, according to a new study. In determining the results, researchers accounted for a variety of factors associated with alcohol consumption, such as age, sex, race, religion, income, geographic region, urban-rural differences and levels of police and alcohol enforcement personnel.

Prevalence, risk factors for diabetic macular edema explored in study Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:21 PM PDT The odds of having diabetic macular edema, a leading cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes mellitus, appears to be higher in non-Hispanic black patients than white patients, as well as in those individuals who have had diabetes longer and have higher levels of hemoglobin A1c.

Mass layoffs linked to increased teen suicide attempts Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:19 PM PDT Mass layoffs trigger increased suicide attempts and other suicide-related behaviors among some teenagers, especially black teens, says new research. When 1 percent of a state's working population lost jobs, suicide-related behaviors increased by 2 to 3 percent among girls and black adolescents in the following year. Among girls, thoughts of suicide and suicide plans rose. Among black teens, thoughts of suicide, suicide plans and suicide attempts all increased.

Low education, smoking, high blood pressure may lead to increased stroke risk Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:19 PM PDT Poorly educated adults who smoke face a higher risk of stroke than smokers with a higher education. The combination of smoking and high blood pressure increased stroke risk the most, confirming earlier findings in numerous studies. "Universal interventions such as legislation or taxation could also have a strong effect on stroke in the most disadvantaged," the lead author said. "We need to challenge disparities in unhealthy behaviors, particularly smoking."

Drugs that flush out HIV may impair killer T cells, possibly hindering HIV eradication Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:19 PM PDT Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have shown promise in 'flushing out' HIV from latently infected cells, potentially exposing the reservoirs available for elimination by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), also called killer T cells. However, findings now suggest that treatment with HDAC inhibitors might suppress CTL activity and therefore compromise the 'kill' part of a two-pronged 'flush-and-kill' HIV eradication strategy.

Global public health objectives need to address substance abuse in developing countries Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:18 PM PDT Substance addiction is a large and growing problem for developing societies. A new study that surveyed reports on modalities for treating addiction and their effectiveness in the developing world calls on policymakers to use this information to support the design of programs that meet known population needs. The study also encourages looking at ways to adapt the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) model to fit different cultural norms.

Broader organ sharing won't harm liver transplant recipients; percentage of organs transported by flying versus driving will rise Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:18 PM PDT Broader sharing of deceased donor livers will not significantly increase cold ischemia time -— the time the liver is in a cooled state outside the donor suggesting that this is not a barrier to broader sharing of organs. However, findings do indicate that broader sharing of organs will significantly increase the percentage of donor organs that are transported by flying rather than driving.

RNA combination therapy for lung cancer offers promise for personalized medicine Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:15 PM PDT Researchers have improved therapeutic response in a clinically relevant model of lung tumor growth. "This study is a terrific example of the potential of new RNA therapies to treat disease that was done in a highly collaborative way between biologists and engineers," says one researcher.

Vitamin D deficiency may reduce pregnancy rate in women undergoing IVF Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:15 PM PDT Women with a vitamin D deficiency were nearly half as likely to conceive through in vitro fertilization (IVF) as women who had sufficient levels of the vitamin, according to a new study. Long known for its role in bone health, vitamin D is a steroid hormone that is emerging as a factor in fertility.

Reduced testosterone tied to endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:15 PM PDT Men, women and children exposed to high levels of phthalates -- endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics and some personal care products -– tended to have reduced levels of testosterone in their blood compared to those with lower chemical exposure, according to a new study.

Potential drug therapy for kidney stones identified in mouse study Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:15 PM PDT Anyone who has suffered from kidney stones is keenly aware of the lack of drugs to treat the condition, which often causes excruciating pain. New research in mice suggests that a class of drugs approved to treat leukemia and epilepsy also may be effective against kidney stones. Most kidney stones form when the urine becomes too concentrated, allowing calcium and magnesium to crystallize and stick together. Intense pain develops when stones get stuck in the urinary tract and block the flow of urine.

New gene editing method shows promising results for correcting Muscular Dystrophy Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:13 PM PDT A new gene editing method to correct a mutation that leads to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has been successful in a mouse model of the condition. Researchers used a technique called CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, which can precisely remove a mutation in DNA, allowing the body's DNA repair mechanisms to replace it with a normal copy of the gene. The benefit of this approach over other gene therapy techniques is that the new method can permanently correct the 'defect' in a gene rather than just transiently adding a 'functional' one.

Memories of errors foster faster learning Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:13 PM PDT Using a deceptively simple set of experiments, researchers have learned why people learn an identical or similar task faster the second, third and subsequent time around. The reason: They are aided not only by memories of how to perform the task, but also by memories of the errors made the first time.

Harnessing the power of bacteria's sophisticated immune system Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:13 PM PDT Bacteria's ability to destroy viruses has long puzzled scientists, but researchers say they now have a clear picture of the bacterial immune system and say its unique shape is likely why bacteria can so quickly recognize and destroy their assailants. The findings provide clues about the spread of antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria adapt to the point where antibiotics no longer work in people who need them to treat infections.

Parenting from before conception: Babies' health doesn't 'start from scratch' Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:13 PM PDT There's now overwhelming evidence that a child's future health is influenced by more than just their parents' genetic material, and that children born of unhealthy parents will already be pre-programmed for greater risk of poor health, according to researchers. "The reality is, the child doesn't quite start from scratch -- they already carry over a legacy of factors from their parents' experiences that can shape development in the fetus and after birth. Depending on the situation, we can give our children a burden before they've even started life," experts say.

Addressing the state of populations most-at-risk for HIV in Cape Town, South Africa Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:12 PM PDT As part of an ongoing effort to reduce HIV transmission in South Africa, experts are co-hosting a policy forum to address the state of key populations at risk of HIV in the Western Cape and discuss findings from two recent prevention studies funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Antibodies together with viral 'inducers' found to control HIV in mice Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:12 PM PDT Although HIV can now be effectively suppressed using anti-retroviral drugs, it still comes surging back the moment the flow of drugs is stopped. Latent reservoirs of HIV-infected cells, invisible to the body's immune system and unreachable by pharmaceuticals, ensure that the infection will rebound after therapy is terminated.

Novel lung-on-a-chip developed Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:12 PM PDT A new lung-on-chip microdevice for laboratory studies of respiratory challenges and therapeutics has been developed by scientists. The microdevice includes multiple vertically stacked cellular layers that mimic the structure of the airway tissue. The cellular model of the airway mucosa could provide insight into biological and pathophysiological effects that conventional cell cultures or animal models do not capture, and help lead to the development of new therapeutics.

Gender disparities uncovered in desire to receive living donor kidney transplants Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:12 PM PDT In 2 predominantly black dialysis clinics, women were less likely to want to undergo living donor kidney transplantation compared with men, despite being more likely than men to receive unsolicited offers for kidney transplants from family and friends. Women were also less likely to have been evaluated for a kidney transplant.

Food allergies more widespread among inner-city children Posted: 14 Aug 2014 04:12 PM PDT Already known for their higher-than-usual risk of asthma and environmental allergies, young inner-city children appear to suffer disproportionately from food allergies as well, according to results of a study. "Our findings are a wake-up call, signaling an urgent need to unravel the causes, contributors and mechanisms that drive the high prevalence of food allergies among an already vulnerable group known for its high risk of asthma and environmental allergies," says the senior investigator.

New frontiers of fecal microbiota transplantation Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT Fecal microbiota transplantation is one of the most innovative new treatments of the 21st century. New research highlights significant advances in this field, and confirms the promise of FMT to advance our understanding of GI disease and aid in the development of new microbiome-based therapeutics to treat a broad range of GI disorders.

Immune cell discovery could help to halt cancer spread Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT The critical importance of highly specialized immune cells, called natural killer cells, in killing melanoma cells that have spread to the lungs has been highlighted by new research. These natural killer cells could be harnessed to hunt down and kill cancers that have spread in the body, scientists report. The team also found natural killer cells were critical to the body's rejection of donor bone marrow transplants and in the runaway immune response during toxic shock syndrome.

Protein found to block benefits of vitamin A cancer therapy Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT Retinoic acid is a form of vitamin A that is used to treat and help prevent the recurrence of a variety of cancers, but for some patients the drug is not effective. The reason for this resistance was unclear until now, as researchers have demonstrated that a protein known as AEG-1 blocks the effects of retinoic acid in leukemia and liver cancer.

Bypass commands from brain to legs through computer Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT Gait disturbance in individuals with spinal cord injury is attributed to the interruption of neural pathways from brain to the spinal locomotor center, whereas neural circuits locate below and above the lesion maintain most of their functions. An artificial connection that bridges the lost pathway and connects brain to spinal circuits has potential to ameliorate the functional loss. A research team has successfully made an artificial connection from the brain to the locomotion center in the spinal cord by bypassing with a computer and exercised control over walking.

Researchers identify a mechanism that stops progression of abnormal cells into cancer Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:44 AM PDT A tumor suppressor pathway, called the Hippo pathway, is responsible for sensing abnormal chromosome numbers in cells and triggering cell cycle arrest, thus preventing progression into cancer, researchers have discovered.

Computation, collaboration lead to significant advance in malaria Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:43 AM PDT A new computational method has been developed to study the function of disease-causing genes, starting with an important new discovery about a gene associated with malaria -- one of the biggest global health burdens. The researchers came up with a computational method that allows biological information to literally flow from gene to gene across a massive network across many genomes, known as the "supergenomic" network.

Workaholism: Addiction of this century? Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:38 AM PDT 8.3 per cent of the Norwegian work force is addicted to work to the point where it becomes a health issue, a new study has found. In spite of the many positive aspects of work, some people are unable to detach from it – working excessively and compulsively. These are called workaholics.

New non-invasive technique controls size of molecules penetrating the blood-brain barrier Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:36 AM PDT The size of molecules penetrating the blood-brain barrier can be controlled using acoustic pressure -— the pressure of an ultrasound beam -— to let specific molecules through, a new technique has demonstrated for the first time. This innovative method may help improve drug delivery to the brain. Most small -- and all large -- molecule drugs do not currently penetrate the blood-brain barrier that sits between the vascular bed and the brain tissue. "As a result," one researcher explains, "all central nervous system diseases remain undertreated at best."

High prevalence of opioid use by social security disability recipients Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:36 AM PDT More than 40 percent of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients take opioid pain relievers, while the prevalence of chronic opioid use is over 20 percent and rising, reports a study. The high proportion of SSDI recipients who are chronic opioid users -- in many, at high and very high daily doses -- "is worrisome in light of established and growing evidence that intense opioid use to treat non-malignant [non-cancer] pain may not be effective and may confer important risk," write researchers.

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