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Monday, September 8, 2014

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health News


Ultraviolet light-induced mutation drives many skin cancers, researchers find

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:17 PM PDT

A genetic mutation caused by ultraviolet light is likely the driving force behind millions of human skin cancers, according to researchers. The mutation occurs in a gene called KNSTRN, which is involved in helping cells divide their DNA equally during cell division.

Targeting protein-making machinery to stop harmful bacteria

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:12 PM PDT

In an effort to kill harmful bacteria -- including so-called super-bugs -- many scientists have been focusing on the ribosomes, which manufacture a cell's proteins. But a biologist now is trying to stop those ribosomes from forming in the first place, and has, for the first time, isolated the middle steps in the process that forms the ribosomes.

Why age reduces stem cells' ability to repair muscle

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:12 PM PDT

As we age, stem cells throughout our bodies gradually lose their capacity to repair damage, even from normal wear and tear. Researchers from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and University of Ottawa have discovered the reason why this decline occurs in our skeletal muscle. Their findings were published online today in the influential journal Nature Medicine.

Each day in hospital raises risk of multidrug-resistant infection

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:11 PM PDT

If a patient contracts an infection while in the hospital, each day of hospitalization increases by 1 percent the likelihood that the infection will be multidrug-resistant, according to research.

New antifungal as effective as existing drugs with fewer adverse events

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:11 PM PDT

A newly developed antifungal, isavuconazole, is as effective as an existing drug, voriconazole, against invasive mold disease in cancer patients with less adverse effects, according to phase 3 clinical data.

Inexpensive lab test identifies resistant infections in hours

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:11 PM PDT

The protocol for a relatively new test for a dangerous form of antibiotic resistance has been changed by scientists, increasing its specificity to 100 percent. This research confirms the reliability of a test that can provide results in hours and is simple and inexpensive enough to be conducted in practically any clinical laboratory.

Researchers discover key to making new muscles

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:06 PM PDT

Cyclic bursts of a STAT3 inhibitor can replenish muscle stem cells and promote their differentiation into muscle fibers, scientists report. The findings are an important step toward developing and maintaining new muscle to treat muscle diseases.

Platelet-like particles augment natural blood clotting for treating trauma

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:06 PM PDT

A new class of synthetic platelet-like particles could augment natural blood clotting for the emergency treatment of traumatic injuries -- and potentially offer doctors a new option for curbing surgical bleeding and addressing certain blood clotting disorders without the need for transfusions of natural platelets.

Dynamic duo takes out cellular trash: Research finds how dead cells are removed from body

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:06 PM PDT

Scientists have identified how immune cells use two critical receptors to clear dead cells from the body, pointing the way to new autoimmune and cancer therapies. "This basic research focus allowed us to discover a completely new aspect of immune regulation that no one -— including any immunologist—had known about before," said one researcher.

Patients call for health professionals to discuss care needs in life-threatening illnesses

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

Patients with COPD would like healthcare professionals to discuss palliative care needs in more detail, according to a new study. Palliative care refers to care that is focused on making a person comfortable and relieving symptoms, rather than treating a condition. It is often connected with end-of-life care; although it can refer to any stage of care for any life-threatening condition.

Flour identified as main cause of occupational asthma in France

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

Flour has been identified as the main cause of occupational asthma in France, closely followed by cleaning products. The research, which is the largest of its kind to be undertaken in France, aimed to understand who was most affected by the condition and what the main causes were.

Electronic nose can detect sub-groups of asthma in children

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

An electronic nose can be used to successfully detect different sub-groups of asthmatic children, according to a new study. The new study analysed the profile of exhaled breath in samples from 106 children with asthma or wheeze. This involved looking at particles in the breath known as exhaled volatile compounds, which are then analysed by so-called electronic noses.

Timing of food intake could impact effectiveness of tuberculosis treatment

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

The timing of food intake in the early phase of tuberculosis treatment could have a negative impact on the effectiveness of TB treatment. Research suggests that eating food just before taking a TB drug could reduce the effectiveness of the medicine.

Mandatory policy boosts flu vaccination rates among health care workers

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

Hospitals can greatly improve their flu vaccination rate among health care workers by using a mandatory employee vaccination policy, according to a study. Researchers say the health system studied achieved employee vaccination rates of 99 percent in the first two years of its mandatory policy, in which annual vaccination compliance is a condition of employment.

New single-dose influenza drug appears safe, effective

Posted: 06 Sep 2014 02:32 PM PDT

An analysis of phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials shows that a single injected dose of the neuraminidase inhibitor peramivir is safe and effective at alleviating influenza symptoms, including fever and viral shedding, when administered within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

Antibiotic stewardship programs reduce costs, improve outcomes

Posted: 06 Sep 2014 06:30 AM PDT

Antibiotic stewardship programs, which promote the appropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals and other healthcare centers, not only lead to reduction in antibiotic use with reduced adverse events, but also lead to significant savings. In the case of one New York hospital, more than $600,000 was saved annually.

Is football stress hazardous to fans' health?

Posted: 06 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT

The excitement of football, and even the activities and feelings of anticipation leading up to games, can be unhealthy in ways many do not realize, according to an expert.

Examining the understudied pull of personality on adolescent sexual development and experience

Posted: 05 Sep 2014 08:39 AM PDT

Can aspects of personality help explain a predilection towards risky sexual behaviors in developing adolescents? Researchers approached this question by surveying middle adolescents of various personality types. The three most common personality types found across cultures and age groups are undercontrollers (extroverted, disagreeable, unconscientiousness, open to new experiences), overcontrollers (agreeable, conscientious, introverted, emotionally unstable), and resilients (agreeable, conscientious, open to experiences, extraverted, emotionally stable).

Better healing for your Achilles' heel -- literally

Posted: 04 Sep 2014 03:35 PM PDT

In most surgeries, damaged tissue is cleaned out before surgeons make the necessary repairs. However, a new minimally-invasive surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon actually uses the damaged tissue to help repair the tear.

Biomedical technique applied to reveal changes within body of ocean

Posted: 04 Sep 2014 11:19 AM PDT

For decades, medical researchers have sought new methods to diagnose how different types of cells and systems in the body are functioning. Now scientists have adapted an emerging biomedical technique to study the vast body of the ocean.

Complexities of reducing HIV rates in Russia

Posted: 04 Sep 2014 10:16 AM PDT

Decreasing HIV transmission among Russian HIV-infected drinkers will require creative and innovative approaches, results of a new study conducted in St. Petersburg, Russia, show. While new HIV infections globally have declined, HIV rates remain high in Russia. This is due in large part to injection drug use and spread via heterosexual sex transmission.

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

ScienceDaily: Most Popular News


California blue whales rebound from whaling; first of their kin to do so

Posted: 05 Sep 2014 06:02 AM PDT

The number of California blue whales has rebounded to near historical levels and, while the number of blue whales struck by ships is likely above allowable U.S. limits, such strikes do not immediately threaten that recovery.

Archerfish target shoot with 'skillfully thrown' water

Posted: 04 Sep 2014 10:15 AM PDT

Archerfish hunt by shooting jets of water at unsuspecting prey on leaves or twigs above, knocking them into the water below before gobbling them up. Now, a study finds that those fish are much more adaptable and skillful target-shooters than anyone had given them credit for. The fish really do use water as a tool making them the first known tool-using animal to adaptively change the hydrodynamic properties of a free jet of water.

How the brain finds what it's looking for

Posted: 04 Sep 2014 10:11 AM PDT

A brain region that appears central to perceiving the combination of color and motion has been identified by researchers. These neurons shift in sensitivity toward different colors and directions depending on what is being attended. The study sheds light on a key neurological process.

'Brightpoints': New clues to determining the solar cycle

Posted: 03 Sep 2014 07:47 AM PDT

Approximately every 11 years, the sun undergoes a complete personality change from quiet and calm to violently active. However, the timing of the solar cycle is far from precise. Now, researchers have discovered a new marker to track the course of the solar cycle -- brightpoints, little bright spots in the solar atmosphere that allow us to observe the constant roiling of material inside the sun.

ScienceDaily: Top Science News

ScienceDaily: Top Science News


Seeing below the surface: Ultra-thin, high-speed detector captures unprecedented range of light waves

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:17 PM PDT

Research could lead to light detectors that can see below the surface of bodies, walls, and other objects, with applications in emerging terahertz fields such as mobile communications, medical imaging, chemical sensing, night vision, and security.

Ultraviolet light-induced mutation drives many skin cancers, researchers find

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:17 PM PDT

A genetic mutation caused by ultraviolet light is likely the driving force behind millions of human skin cancers, according to researchers. The mutation occurs in a gene called KNSTRN, which is involved in helping cells divide their DNA equally during cell division.

Platelet-like particles augment natural blood clotting for treating trauma

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:06 PM PDT

A new class of synthetic platelet-like particles could augment natural blood clotting for the emergency treatment of traumatic injuries -- and potentially offer doctors a new option for curbing surgical bleeding and addressing certain blood clotting disorders without the need for transfusions of natural platelets.

Dynamic duo takes out cellular trash: Research finds how dead cells are removed from body

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:06 PM PDT

Scientists have identified how immune cells use two critical receptors to clear dead cells from the body, pointing the way to new autoimmune and cancer therapies. "This basic research focus allowed us to discover a completely new aspect of immune regulation that no one -— including any immunologist—had known about before," said one researcher.

Body clock link could aid obesity treatments

Posted: 03 Sep 2014 05:38 PM PDT

The body clock plays an important role in body fat, researchers have found. Their findings are helping develop new ways of treating obesity and the fatal diseases linked to being overweight. It's hoped the study will demonstrate that strengthening our internal body clock by changing behavior can be used to treat a condition in a similar way to drugs and surgery.

ScienceDaily: Living Well News

ScienceDaily: Living Well News


Is football stress hazardous to fans' health?

Posted: 06 Sep 2014 06:29 AM PDT

The excitement of football, and even the activities and feelings of anticipation leading up to games, can be unhealthy in ways many do not realize, according to an expert.

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News

ScienceDaily: Strange Science News


Seeing below the surface: Ultra-thin, high-speed detector captures unprecedented range of light waves

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:17 PM PDT

Research could lead to light detectors that can see below the surface of bodies, walls, and other objects, with applications in emerging terahertz fields such as mobile communications, medical imaging, chemical sensing, night vision, and security.

Dynamic duo takes out cellular trash: Research finds how dead cells are removed from body

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 03:06 PM PDT

Scientists have identified how immune cells use two critical receptors to clear dead cells from the body, pointing the way to new autoimmune and cancer therapies. "This basic research focus allowed us to discover a completely new aspect of immune regulation that no one -— including any immunologist—had known about before," said one researcher.

Flour identified as main cause of occupational asthma in France

Posted: 07 Sep 2014 05:49 AM PDT

Flour has been identified as the main cause of occupational asthma in France, closely followed by cleaning products. The research, which is the largest of its kind to be undertaken in France, aimed to understand who was most affected by the condition and what the main causes were.

Banked blood grows stiffer with age, study finds

Posted: 05 Sep 2014 08:39 AM PDT

It may look like fresh blood and flow like fresh blood, but the longer blood is stored, the less it can carry oxygen into the tiny microcapillaries of the body, says a new study. Using advanced optical techniques, the researchers measured the stiffness of the membrane surrounding red blood cells over time. They found that, even though the cells retain their shape and hemoglobin content, the membranes get stiffer, which steadily decreases the cells' functionality.

Polyester clothes stink after exercise; cotton, not so much

Posted: 03 Sep 2014 01:36 PM PDT

Polyester clothes smell worse than cotton, following intensive exercise by their wearers, because bacteria that cause odor grow better on polyester, according to research. Freshly secreted sweat has little odor, because the long-chain fatty acids the axillaries secrete are too big to be volatile, says the first author. Bacteria break these, however, as well as hormones and sulfur compounds, down to waftable sized, odoriferous molecules.

Drinking too much water can be fatal to athletes

Posted: 02 Sep 2014 11:32 AM PDT

The recent deaths of two high school football players illustrate the dangers of drinking too much water. Exercise-associated hyponatremia can cause muscle cramps, vomiting, seizures and unconsciousness.