ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

Structure from disorder: Scientists find new source of versatility so 'floppy' proteins can get things done

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:24:24 EDT

Many proteins work like Swiss Army knives, fitting multiple functions into their elaborately folded structures. A bit mysteriously, some proteins manage to multitask even with structures that are unfolded and floppy -- "intrinsically disordered." Scientists have now discovered an important trick that a well-known intrinsically disordered protein uses to expand and control its functionality.

Antioxidant shows promise in Parkinson's disease

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:21:21 EDT

Diapocynin, a synthetic molecule derived from a naturally occurring compound (apocynin), has been found to protect neurobehavioral function in mice with Parkinson's Disease symptoms by preventing deficits in motor coordination.

What do memories look like?

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:21:21 EDT

Scientists develop a way to see the structures that store memories in a living brain.

Validating Maps of the Brain's Resting State

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:19:19 EDT

Researchers have provided important validation of maps of the brain at rest that may offer insights into changes in the brain that occur in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

New Alzheimer's research suggests possible cause: Interaction of proteins in brain

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:28:28 EDT

For years, Alzheimer's researchers have focused on two proteins that accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer's and may contribute to the disease: Plaques made up of the protein amyloid-beta, and tangles of another protein, called tau.

Stress hormone could trigger mechanism for the onset of Alzheimer's

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:26:26 EDT

A chemical hormone released in the body as a reaction to stress could be a key trigger of the mechanism for the late onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers discover immunity mechanism: Platelets patrolling the bloodstream

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Scientists have discovered a mechanism that is used to protect the body from harmful bacteria. Platelets, a component of blood typically associated with clotting, were discovered to actively search for specific bacteria, and upon detection, seal it off from the rest of the body. The findings provide the science community with a greater understanding of immunity.

Distracted walking: Injuries soar for pedestrians on phones

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:10:10 EDT

More than 1,500 pedestrians were estimated to be treated in emergency rooms in 2010 for injuries related to using a cell phone while walking, according to a new nationwide study.

Research of essential molecule reveals important targets in diabetes and obesity

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:10:10 EDT

Medical researchers have made breakthrough advancements on a molecule that may provide more answers in understanding the precise molecular mechanisms by which insulin regulates glucose uptake in fat and muscle cells.

Chemical probe confirms that body makes its own rotten egg gas, H2S, to benefit health

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:18:18 EDT

A new study confirms directly what scientists previously knew only indirectly -- that poisonous "rotten egg" gas hydrogen sulfide is generated by the body's blood vessel cells. Researchers made the confirmation by developing a chemical probe that lights up in reaction to rotten egg gas. The scientists observed the process in real-time through a microscope.

Fiber-optic pen helps see inside brains of children with learning disabilities

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:18:18 EDT

For less than $100, researchers have designed a computer-interfaced drawing pad that helps scientists see inside the brains of children with learning disabilities while they read and write.

Getting enough sleep could help prevent type 2 diabetes

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Getting more sleep increases insulin sensitivity and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Early-life air pollution linked with childhood asthma in minorities

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:18:18 EDT

Scientists have found that exposure in infancy to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a component of motor vehicle air pollution, is strongly linked with later development of childhood asthma among African Americans and Latinos.

Herbal extract boosts fruit fly lifespan by nearly 25 percent

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:51:51 EDT

The herbal extract of a yellow-flowered mountain plant long used for stress relief was found to increase the lifespan of fruit fly populations by an average of 24 percent, according to researchers.

Timing of calcium and vitamin D supplementation may affect how bone adapts to exercise

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:50:50 EDT

Taking calcium and vitamin D before exercise may influence how bones adapt to exercise, according to a new study.

Beliefs about causes of obesity may impact weight, eating behavior

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:38:38 EDT

Whether a person believes obesity is caused by overeating or by a lack of exercise predicts his or her actual body mass, according to new research.

New resistance mechanism to chemotherapy in breast and ovarian cancer

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:38:38 EDT

A new study explains why tumors with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations stop responding to PARP inhibitor drugs.

Nanog protein promotes growth of head and neck cancer

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:38:38 EDT

Researchers have identified a biochemical pathway in cancer stem cells that is essential for promoting head and neck cancer. The study shows that a protein called Nanog, which is normally active in embryonic stem cells, promotes the growth of cancer stem cells in head and neck cancer. The findings provide information essential for designing novel targeted drugs that might improve the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Storytelling program helps change medical students' perspectives on dementia

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:38:38 EDT

Treating patients with dementia can be viewed as a difficult task for doctors, but researchers say that storytelling may be one way to improve medical students' perceptions of people affected by the condition. Participation in a creative storytelling program called TimeSlips creates a substantial improvement in student attitudes.

New approach to battling tuberculosis

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:36:36 EDT

Scientists have discovered a drug that cripples tuberculosis bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) in a novel way, by dissolving the protecting fatty coating of the bacteria. The drug killed the bacterium in culture without the emergence of drug resistance.

Parenting and home environment influence children's exercise and eating habits

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:36:36 EDT

Kids whose moms encourage them to exercise and eat well, and model those healthy behaviors themselves, are more likely to be active and healthy eaters, according to researchers. Their findings remind parents that they are role models for their children, and underscore the importance of parental policies promoting physical activity and healthy eating.

Iodine in bread not enough for pregnant women

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:36:36 EDT

Iodized salt used in bread is not enough to provide healthy levels of iodine for pregnant women and their unborn children, new research shows.

New virus isolated from patients with severe brain infections

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:17:17 EDT

A new study describes a new virus isolated from patients with severe brain infections. Further research is needed to determine whether the virus is responsible for the symptoms of disease.

Exposure to high pollution levels during pregnancy may increase risk of having child with autism

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:17:17 EDT

Women in the US exposed to high levels of air pollution while pregnant were up to twice as likely to have a child with autism as women who lived in areas with low pollution.

Whooping cough has lifelong health impact, study finds

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:16:16 EDT

People born during whooping cough outbreaks are more likely to die prematurely even if they survive into adulthood, new research has found. Women had a 20% higher risk of an early death, and men a staggering 40%. Women also suffered more complications during and after pregnancy, with an increased risk of miscarriage as well as infant death within the first month of life.

Chemical nanoengineering: Designing drugs controlled by light

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:15:15 EDT

A new breakthrough will help with the development of light-regulated therapeutic molecules.

Potential genetic drivers behind male heart disease risk

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:15:15 EDT

University of Leicester scientists have discovered a potential genetic contributor to the increased risk of heart disease among men.

Aspirin may fight cancer by slowing DNA damage

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:11:11 EDT

Aspirin is known to lower risk for some cancers, and a new study points to a possible explanation, with the discovery that aspirin slows the accumulation of DNA mutations in abnormal cells in at least one pre-cancerous condition.

IQ link to baby's weight gain in first month

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:11:11 EDT

New research shows that weight gain and increased head size in the first month of a baby's life is linked to a higher IQ at early school age.

Observation is safe, cost-saving in low-risk prostate cancer, study suggests

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:27:27 EDT

Researchers find many men with low-risk, localized prostate cancers can safely choose observation instead of undergoing immediate treatment and a have better quality of life while reducing health care costs.

Promising biomarker for predicting HPV-related oropharynx cancer

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:31:31 EDT

Researchers have found that antibodies against the human papillomavirus may help identify individuals who are at greatly increased risk of HPV-related cancer of the oropharynx, which is a portion of the throat that contains the tonsils.

'Undruggable' cancer may be druggable after all: New target identified

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:31:31 EDT

Researchers have identified in the most aggressive forms of cancer a gene known to regulate embryonic stem cell self-renewal, beginning a creative search for a drug that can block its activity.

Quality of waking hours determines ease of falling sleep

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:31:31 EDT

The quality of wakefulness affects how quickly a mammal falls asleep, researchers report in a study that identifies two proteins never before linked to alertness and sleep-wake balance.

New compound excels at killing persistent and drug-resistant tuberculosis

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:31:31 EDT

Scientists have identified a highly promising new anti-tuberculosis compound that attacks the tuberculosis bacterium in two different ways.

Researchers demonstrate use of stem cells to analyze causes, treatment of diabetes

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:31:31 EDT

Scientists have generated patient-specific beta cells, or insulin-producing cells, that accurately reflect the features of maturity-onset diabetes of the young.

Diet may affect Alzheimer's disease risk

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:28:28 EDT

The lipidation states (or modifications) in certain proteins in the brain that are related to the development of Alzheimer disease appear to differ depending on genotype and cognitive diseases, and levels of these protein and peptides appear to be influenced by diet, according to a new report.

Directed in vitro technique may increase insulin resistance among offspring

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:28:28 EDT

A special type of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, may increase the risk for insulin resistance among children conceived in this way, according to a new study from Greece.

Obesity leads to brain inflammation, and low testosterone makes it worse

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:28:28 EDT

Low testosterone worsens the harmful effects of obesity in the nervous system, a new study in mice finds.

Missing enzyme linked to drug addiction

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:28:28 EDT

A missing brain enzyme increases concentrations of a protein related to pain-killer addiction, according to an animal study.

New way to improve antibiotic production

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:09:09 EDT

New research findings could reduce production times and therefore costs for antibiotic producers.

Voices may not trigger brain's reward centers in children with autism

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:08:08 EDT

In autism, brain regions tailored to respond to voices are poorly connected to reward-processing circuits, according to a new study.

New drug reverses loss of brain connections in Alzheimer's

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:08:08 EDT

The first experimental drug to boost brain synapses lost in Alzheimer's disease has been developed by researchers. The drug, called NitroMemantine, combines two FDA-approved medicines to stop the destructive cascade of changes in the brain that destroys the connections between neurons, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline.

One step closer to a vaccine for a common respiratory disease

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:07:07 EDT

Young children and the elderly are especially susceptible to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The three-dimensional structure of respiratory syncytial virus has been solved by an international team from Finland and Switzerland.

Improving overall employee wellness could yield multiple benefits

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:07:07 EDT

Controlling health care costs is crucial for manufacturers to remain competitive. That's why researchers are working with manufacturers to determine if employee wellness programs will cut costs and improve productivity.

Obesity associated with hearing loss in adolescents

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:07:07 EDT

Obese adolescents are more likely than their normal-weight counterparts to have hearing loss, according to results of a new study. Findings showed that obese adolescents had increased hearing loss across all frequencies and were almost twice as likely to have unilateral (one-sided) low-frequency hearing loss.

New medication treats drug-resistant prostate cancer in the laboratory

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:07:07 EDT

A new drug called pyrvinium pamoate inhibits aggressive forms of prostate cancer that are resistant to standard drugs, according to a study conducted in an animal model.

'Chemical architects' build materials with potential applications in drug delivery and gas storage

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Home remodelers understand the concept of improving original foundations with more modern elements. Using this same approach -- but with chemistry -- researchers have now designed a family of materials that could make drug delivery, gas storage, and gas transport more efficient and at a lower cost.

Preventing eggs' death from chemotherapy: Scientists discover cause of immature eggs' death from cancer drug and how to prevent it

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Young women who have cancer treatment often lose their fertility because chemotherapy and radiation can damage or kill their immature ovarian eggs, called oocytes. Now, scientists have found the molecular pathway that can prevent the death of immature ovarian eggs due to chemotherapy, potentially preserving fertility and endocrine function. Scientists achieved this in mice by adding a currently approved chemotherapy drug, imatinib mesylate, to another chemotherapy drug cisplatin.

Testosterone therapy may help improve pain in men with low testosterone

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Testosterone therapy is associated with decreased pain perception in men with low testosterone levels related to opioid (narcotic) pain relievers (analgesics), a new study finds.

Investigational drug improves sleep disorder among the blind

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

An investigational new drug significantly improved a common and debilitating circadian rhythm sleep disorder that frequently affects people who are completely blind, a multicenter study finds.

Testosterone improves verbal learning and memory in postmenopausal women

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Postmenopausal women had better improvement in verbal learning and memory after receiving treatment with testosterone gel, compared with women who received sham treatment with a placebo, a new study found.

Rotavirus vaccine given to newborns in africa is effective

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Scientists have shown that a vaccine given to newborns is at least 60 percent effective against rotavirus in Ghana. Rotavirus causes fever, vomiting and diarrhea, which in infants can cause severe dehydration. In developed nations, the condition often results in an emergency room visit or an occasional hospitalization, but is rarely fatal. In developing countries, however, rotavirus-related illness causes approximately 500,000 deaths per year.

Naturally occurring hormone induces egg maturation

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

The naturally occurring hormone kisspeptin effectively induces egg maturation during infertility treatment, according to a clinical in vitro fertilization (IVF) study.

High-fat diet during pregnancy contributes to offspring's increased weight

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Exposure to a high-fat diet in the womb and after birth can permanently change the cells in the brain that control food intake, predisposing monkeys to overeating and an increased preference for fatty and sugary foods, a new study finds.

Rett Syndrome protein surrenders some of its secrets

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:25:25 EDT

Discovery of a mutant gene responsible for a disease is a milestone, but for most conditions, it may be only a first step towards a treatment or cure. Understanding Rett Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, is further complicated by the fact that the implicated gene controls a suite of other genes. Two papers, published in today's Nature Neuroscience and Nature, reveal key steps in how mutations in the gene for methyl CpG-binding protein cause the condition.

Protein essential for normal heart function identified

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:25:25 EDT

Scientists show that a protein called MCL-1, which promotes cell survival, is essential for normal heart function.

Medical assessment in the blink of an eye

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:25:25 EDT

Have you ever thought that you knew something about the world in the blink of an eye? It turns out that radiologists can do this with mammograms, the x-ray images used for breast cancer screening. Cytologists, who screen micrographic images of cervical cells to detect cervical cancer, have a similar ability. A new study takes a closer look at the skill these specialists have.

Is there an invisible tug-of-war behind bad hearts and power outages?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:24:24 EDT

Researchers report the first purely physical experimental evidence that an invisible and chaotic tug-of-war known as a chimera state can occur naturally within any process that relies on spontaneous synchronization, including clock pendulums, power grids and heart valves.

People attribute minds to robots, corpses that are targets of harm

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:24:24 EDT

As Descartes famously noted, there's no way to really know that another person has a mind -- every mind we observe is, in a sense, a mind we create. Now, new research suggests that victimization may be one condition that leads us to perceive minds in others, even in entities we don't normally think of as having minds, such as a corpse or a robot.

Artificial sweetener a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:24:24 EDT

Mannitol is widely used as an artificial sweetener in gum and candy, and, with FDA sanction, is also used as a diuretic. Now medical researchers have found that mannitol could also be a novel therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.