ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Radioactive nanoparticles target cancer cells

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:22:22 EDT

Researchers have found a way to create radioactive nanoparticles that target lymphoma tumor cells wherever they may be in the body.

Scientists uncover how grapefruits provide a secret weapon in medical drug delivery

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:22:22 EDT

Researchers have uncovered how to create nanoparticles using natural lipids derived from grapefruit, and have discovered how to use them as drug delivery vehicles.

Poliovirus vaccine trial shows early promise for recurrent glioblastoma

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:21:21 EDT

An attack on glioblastoma brain tumor cells that uses a modified poliovirus is showing encouraging results in an early study to establish the proper dose level.

Aggressive behavior linked specifically to secondhand smoke exposure in childhood

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:21:21 EDT

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke in early childhood are more likely to grow up to physically aggressive and antisocial, regardless of whether they were exposed during pregnancy or their parents have a history of being antisocial.

Evaluating a new way to open clogged arteries

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:15 EDT

A new study analyzes the potential usefulness of a new treatment that combines the benefits of angioplasty balloons and drug-releasing stents, but may pose fewer risks.

Common food supplement fights degenerative brain disorders, study suggests

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:15 EDT

Widely available in pharmacies and health stores, phosphatidylserine is a natural food supplement produced from beef, oysters, and soy. Now scientists have discovered that the supplement improves the functioning of genes involved in degenerative brain disorders, including Parkinson's disease and familial dysautonomia.

Finding a family for a pair of orphan receptors in the brain

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:15 EDT

Researchers have identified a protein that stimulates a pair of "orphan receptors" found in the brain, solving a long-standing biological puzzle and possibly leading to future treatments for neurological diseases.

Low population immunity to new bird flu virus H7N9 in humans

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:15 EDT

The level of immunity to the recently circulating H7N9 influenza virus in an urban and rural population in Vietnam is very low, according to the first population level study to examine human immunity to the virus, which was previously only found in birds. The study has implications for planning the public health response to this pandemic threat.

Child maltreatment increases risk of adult obesity

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:57:57 EDT

Children who have suffered maltreatment are 36 percent more likely to be obese in adulthood compared to non-maltreated children, according to a new study. The authors estimate that the prevention or effective treatment of seven cases of child maltreatment could avoid one case of adult obesity.

How gold nanoparticles can help fight ovarian cancer

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:50:50 EDT

Positively charged gold nanoparticles are usually toxic to cells, but cancer cells somehow manage to avoid nanoparticle toxicity. Researchers found out why and determined how to make the nanoparticles effective against ovarian cancer cells.

Early-life traffic-related air pollution exposure linked to hyperactivity

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:12:12 EDT

Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution was significantly associated with higher hyperactivity scores at age 7, according to new research.

Resistance to last-line antibiotic makes bacteria resistant to immune system

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:12:12 EDT

Bacteria resistant to the antibiotic colistin are also commonly resistant to antimicrobial substances made by the human body, according to a new study. Cross-resistance to colistin and host antimicrobials LL-37 and lysozyme, which help defend the body against bacterial attack, could mean that patients with life-threatening multi-drug resistant infections are also saddled with a crippled immune response.

Women who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of both obesity and gestational diabetes in their daughters

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:54:54 EDT

Women who smoke during pregnancy increase the risk of both obesity and gestational diabetes, in their daughters.

Mediterranean diet seems to boost aging brain power

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:54:54 EDT

A Mediterranean diet with added extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts seems to improve the brain power of older people better than advising them to follow a low-fat diet, according to new research.

Bed sharing leads to fivefold increase in risk of crib death for babies whose parents do not smoke

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:54:54 EDT

Parents who share a bed with their breastfed baby could face a fivefold increase in the risk of crib death, even if the parents do not smoke, according to a new study.

Do salamanders' immune systems hold the key to regeneration?

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:37:37 EDT

Salamanders' immune systems are key to their remarkable ability to regrow limbs, and could also underpin their ability to regenerate spinal cords, brain tissue and even parts of their hearts, scientists have found. In new research, scientists have found that when immune cells known as macrophages were systemically removed, salamanders lost their ability to regenerate a limb and instead formed scar tissue.

Elusive search for biomarkers in Huntington's disease

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:36:36 EDT

While Huntington's disease (HD) is currently incurable, the HD research community anticipates that new disease-modifying therapies in development may slow or minimize disease progression. The success of HD research depends upon the identification of reliable and sensitive biomarkers to track disease and evaluate therapies, and these biomarkers may eventually be used as outcome measures in clinical trials. Biomarkers could be especially helpful to monitor changes during the time prior to diagnosis and appearance of overt symptomatology.

New source of kidneys for transplant suggested

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:36:36 EDT

Nearly 20 percent of kidneys that are recovered from deceased donors in the U.S. are refused for transplant due to factors ranging from scarring in small blood vessels of the kidney’s filtering units to the organ going too long without blood or oxygen. But, what if instead of being discarded, these organs could be “recycled” to help solve the critical shortage of donor organs?

Gym class reduces probability of obesity, study finds for first time

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:36:36 EDT

Little is known about the effect of physical education on child weight, but a new study finds that increasing the amount of time that elementary schoolchildren spent in gym class reduces the probability of obesity.

Timing of cancer radiation therapy may minimize hair loss

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:36:36 EDT

Discovering that mouse hair has a circadian clock - a 24-hour cycle of growth followed by restorative repair - researchers suspect that hair loss in humans from toxic cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy might be minimized if these treatments are given late in the day.

Protein study suggests drug side effects are inevitable

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:36:36 EDT

A new study of both computer-created and natural proteins suggests that the number of unique pockets – sites where small molecule pharmaceutical compounds can bind to proteins – is surprisingly small, meaning drug side effects may be impossible to avoid.

Less sleep associated with increased risk of crashes for young drivers

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:32:32 EDT

A new study suggests less sleep per night is associated with a significant increase in the risk for motor vehicle crashes for young drivers.

Compound in Mediterranean diet makes cancer cells 'mortal'

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:43:43 EDT

New research suggests that a compound abundant in the Mediterranean diet takes away cancer cells' "superpower" to escape death.

Premature birth interrupts vital brain development processes leading to reduced cognitive abilities in infants

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have for the first time used a novel form of MRI to identify crucial developmental processes in the brain that are vulnerable to the effects of premature birth. This new study shows that disruption of these specific processes can have an impact on cognitive function.

Leading explanations for whooping cough's resurgence don't stand up to scrutiny

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Whooping cough has exploded in the United States and some other developed countries in recent decades, and many experts suspect ineffective childhood vaccines for the alarming resurgence.

Intestinal bacteria protect against E. coli O157:H7

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

A cocktail of non-pathogenic bacteria naturally occurring in the digestive tract of healthy humans can protect against a potentially lethal E. coli infection in animal models according to new research.

Molecular trigger for Alzheimer's disease identified

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:42:42 EDT

Researchers have pinpointed a catalytic trigger for the onset of Alzheimer's disease -- when the fundamental structure of a protein molecule changes to cause a chain reaction that leads to the death of neurons in the brain.

Combined wood and tobacco smoke exposure increases risk and symptoms of COPD

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:27 EDT

People who are consistently exposed to both wood smoke and tobacco smoke are at a greater risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and for experiencing more frequent and severe symptoms of the disease, as well as more severe airflow obstruction, than those who are exposed to only one type of smoke.

Prenatal exposure to traffic is associated with respiratory infection in young children

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:27 EDT

Living near a major roadway during the prenatal period is associated with an increased risk of respiratory infection developing in children by the age of 3, according to a new study.

Air pollution and noise pollution increase cardiovascular risk

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:27 EDT

Both fine-particle air pollution and noise pollution may increase a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to new research.

Breakup of physician, drug company relationship could improve health care, cut cost

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:37 EDT

A new report suggests that improved health care and significant reductions in drug costs might be attained by breaking up the age-old relationship between physicians and drug company representatives who promote the newest, more costly and often unnecessary prescription drugs.

Far-reaching, microvascular damage found in uninjured side of brain after stroke

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:37 EDT

An animal-model study finds far-reaching microvascular damage in the uninjured side of the brain after a stroke. The findings suggest repair of the protective blood-brain barrier may help prevent this breach in the days following the acute injury.

Telerehabilitation allows accurate assessment of patients with low back pain

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:37 EDT

A new "telerehabilitation" approach lets physical therapists assess patients with low back pain over the Internet, with good accuracy compared with face-to-face examinations, reports a new study.

Advance in nanotech gene sequencing technique

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:37 EDT

The allure of personalized medicine has made new, more efficient ways of sequencing genes a top research priority. One promising technique involves reading DNA bases using changes in electrical current as they are threaded through a nanoscopic hole. Now, physicists has used solid-state nanopores to differentiate single-stranded DNA molecules containing sequences of a single repeating base.

Do Men's and Women's Hearts Burn Fuel Differently?

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:35:35 EDT

Gender specific shifts in cardiac metabolism under stress may shed light on heart disease.

Link between childhood ADHD and obesity revealed in first long-term study

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:39:39 EDT

A new study found men diagnosed as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were twice as likely to be obese in a 33-year follow-up study compared to men who were not diagnosed with the condition.

Immune protein could stop diabetes in its tracks, discovery suggests

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:49:49 EDT

Researchers have identified an immune protein that has the potential to stop or reverse the development of type 1 diabetes in its early stages, before insulin-producing cells have been destroyed. The discovery has wider repercussions, as the protein is responsible for protecting the body against excessive immune responses, and could be used to treat, or even prevent, other immune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Predicting infectious influenza

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:49:49 EDT

A new computer model could help scientists predict when a particular strain of avian influenza might become infectious from bird to human, according to a new report.

Mechanism linking key inflammatory marker to cancer identified

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:53:53 EDT

Researchers have revealed how a key player in cell growth, immunity and the inflammatory response can be transformed into a primary contributor to tumor growth.

Discovery of a novel medicine for the treatment of chronic wounds

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:50:50 EDT

Every 20 seconds, a limb is lost as a consequence of diabetic foot ulcer that does not heal. To date, medical solutions that can change this situation are very limited. A researchers has now presented a novel medicine for chronic wound treatment that may completely change the lives of millions of patients.

Making ice-cream more nutritious with meat left-overs

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Most of the animal proteins found in the meat industry waste have, until now, been underutilized. The challenge is to transform such waste into food of higher functionality and added value.

Echolocation: Blind people have the potential to use their 'inner bat' to locate objects, study finds

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

New research shows that blind and visually impaired people have the potential to use echolocation, similar to that used by bats and dolphins, to determine the location of an object. The study examined how hearing, and particularly the hearing of echoes, could help blind people with spatial awareness and navigation.

Anabolic steroids may affect future mental health

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

There is a link between use of anabolic-androgenic steroids and reduced mental health later in life. This is the main conclusion of a new study on elite male strength athletes. Twenty per cent of the subjects in the study admitted steroid use.

Genetic diversity within tumors predicts outcome in head and neck cancer

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:46:46 EDT

A new measure of the heterogeneity – the variety of genetic mutations – of cells within a tumor appears to predict treatment outcomes of patients with the most common type of head and neck cancer.

One in 10 teens using 'study drugs,' but parents aren't paying attention

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:44:44 EDT

Just one in 100 parents believe their kids have used prescription stimulants to boost grades, according to a new poll.

Bionimbus protected data cloud to enable researchers to analyze cancer data

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:32:32 EDT

The University of Chicago has launched the first secure cloud-based computing system that enables researchers to access and analyze human genomic cancer information without the costly and cumbersome infrastructure normally needed to download and store massive amounts of data.

Molecular marker from pancreatic 'juices' helps identify pancreatic cancer

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:14:14 EDT

Researchers have developed a promising method to distinguish between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis — two disorders that are difficult to tell apart. A molecular marker obtained from pancreatic “juices” can identify almost all cases of pancreatic cancer, their study shows.

Commonly used catheters double risk of blood clots in ICU and cancer patients

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:14:14 EDT

Peripherally inserted central catheters – an often preferred route for delivery of IV medications — increase risk of blood clots in sickest patients.

Heat-related deaths in Manhattan projected to rise: Killing season may push into spring and fall

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:04:04 EDT

Researchers say deaths in Manhattan linked to warming climate may rise some 20 percent by the 2020s, and, in some worst-case scenarios, 90 percent or more by the 2080s. Higher winter temperatures may partially offset heat-related deaths by cutting cold-related mortality -- but even so, annual net temperature-related deaths might go up a third.

Novel approach to regulating blood sugar levels in the body

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

For the first time, scientists showed that targeting glucagon action in the brain may be a new frontier for regulating diabetes.

Ginger compounds may be effective in treating asthma symptoms, study suggests

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

Gourmands and foodies everywhere have long recognized ginger as a great way to add a little peppery zing to both sweet and savory dishes; now, a study shows purified components of the spicy root also may have properties that help asthma patients breathe more easily.

Potential new risk for sleep apnea identified: Asthma

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

Researchers have identified a potential new risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea: asthma.

Sleep Apnea linked to Alzheimer's

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:56:56 EDT

A new study looking at sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and markers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging adds to the growing body of research linking the two.

Attacking MRSA with metals from antibacterial clays

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

Medical researchers have come up with a new approach for developing effective, topical antibacterial agents -- one that draws on a naturally occurring substance recognized since antiquity for its medicinal properties: clay.

Now we know why old scizophrenia medicine works on antibiotics-resistant bacteria

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

An old medicine for schizophrenia is effective at treating something completely different than it was designed for: antibiotic-resistant bacteria. So far it has been a mystery how this old schizophrenia medicine works, but now researchers have figured it out. This can lead to a new medicine against the increasingly threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Youth who have their first drink during puberty have higher levels of later drinking

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

The earlier the age at which youth take their first alcoholic drink, the greater the risk of later alcohol problems.

College women exceed NIAAA drinking guidelines more frequently than college men

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:37:37 EDT

In 1990, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism issued guidelines that define low-risk drinking, which differ for men and women. New research shows that female college student drinkers exceed NIAAA guidelines for weekly drinking more frequently than their male counterparts.

Individuals who drink heavily and smoke may show 'early aging' of the brain

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:34:34 EDT

Alcohol treatment interventions work best when patients understand and are actively involved in the process. A first-of-its-kind study looks at the interactive effects of smoking status and age on neurocognition in one-month-abstinent alcohol dependent (AD) individuals in treatment. Results show that AD individuals who currently smoke have more problems with memory, ability to think quickly and efficiently, and problem-solving skills than those who do not smoke, effects which seem to become greater with increasing age.

Autism: Sensory-motor or environmental enrichment may be promising approach

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:33:33 EDT

In the first successful experiment with humans using a treatment known as sensory-motor or environmental enrichment, researchers documented marked improvement in young autistic boys when compared to boys treated with traditional behavioral therapies, according to new research

For combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, 'fear circuitry' in the brain never rests

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:32:32 EDT

Chronic trauma can inflict lasting damage to brain regions associated with fear and anxiety. Previous imaging studies of people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, have shown that these brain regions can over-or under-react in response to stressful tasks.