ScienceDaily: Top Health News

New clinical research offers possibility of future rehabilitation for patients in minimally conscious or vegetative state

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 06:16 PM PDT

Non-invasive brain stimulation is to be trialled for the first time alongside advanced brain imaging techniques in patients who are minimally conscious or in a vegetative state.

Region, age, and sex decide who gets arthritis-linked 'fabella' knee bone

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 06:15 PM PDT

The once-rare 'fabella' bone has made a dramatic resurgence in human knees, but who's likely to have a fabella or two -- and why?

Variation in transplant centers' use of less-than-ideal organs

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 02:05 PM PDT

In 2010-2016, many US transplant centers commonly accepted deceased donor kidneys with less desirable characteristics. The use of these organs varied widely across transplant centers, however, and differences were not fully explained by the size of waitlists or the availability of donor organs.

Health care intervention: Treating high-need, high-cost patients

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 02:01 PM PDT

Patients with complex needs -- serious mental and physical health problems and substance use disorders -- flock to emergency rooms costing the health care system billions every year. A new study suggests a nontraditional approach to these patients can significantly improve their daily functioning and health outcomes.

When added to gene therapy, plant-based compound may enable faster, more effective treatments

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 01:22 PM PDT

Today's standard process for administering gene therapy is expensive and time-consuming -- a result of the many steps required to deliver the healthy genes into the patients' blood stem cells to correct a genetic problem. Scientists believe they have found a way to sidestep some of the current difficulties, resulting in a more efficient gene delivery method that would save money and improve treatment outcomes.

A simpler way to make some medicines

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 11:36 AM PDT

Organic chemists have figured out how to synthesize the most common molecule arrangement in medicine, a scientific discovery that could change the way a number of drugs -- including one most commonly used to treat ovarian cancer -- are produced. Their discovery, published today in the journal Chem, gives drug makers a crucial building block for creating medicines that, so far, are made with complex processes that result in a lot of waste.

Research gauges neurodegeneration tied to FXTAS by measuring motor behavior

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 11:28 AM PDT

Researchers used a grip-force test to analyze sensorimotor function in people with the FMR1 premutation, with the aim of determining FXTAS risk and severity.

Male and female mice have different brain cells

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 11:28 AM PDT

Scientists discover that a brain region known to control sex and violence contains rare cell types that differ in male versus female mice.

Fundamental insight into how memory changes with age

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 11:11 AM PDT

New research could help explain why memory in old age is much less flexible than in young adulthood. Through experiments in mice the researchers discovered that there were dramatic differences in how memories were stored in old age, compared to young adulthood.

Targeted therapy to help children with deadly nerve cancer

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 11:11 AM PDT

Researchers have identified a targeted therapy for adolescent patients with neuroblastoma, a deadly pediatric nerve cancer, who would otherwise have no treatment options, according to a new study.

Stem cell study offers new way to study early development and pregnancy

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 11:10 AM PDT

For the first time, researchers have created mouse blastocyst-like structures, or 'blastoids,' from a single cultured cell. The work could help advance research into development as well as inform issues around pregnancy, infertility, or health problems later in the offspring's life.

BARseq builds a better brain map

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 11:10 AM PDT

A brain mapping technique called BARseq is capable of mapping thousands of neurons in a single mouse, at single neuron resolution, while also detailing which neuron expresses what genes. It could be a game-changer for how neuroscientists look at brains.

Parasite paralysis: A new way to fight schistosomiasis?

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 11:02 AM PDT

Scientists have isolated a natural chemical that acts as a potent kryptonite against parasitic worms that burrow through human skin and cause devastating health problems. Researchers now describe the successful characterization of this chemical, which could help in finding new ways to fight the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis.

Cystic fibrosis carriers at increased risk of digestive symptoms

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 10:57 AM PDT

Researchers have found that carriers of the most common genetic variant that causes cystic fibrosis experience some symptoms similar to those of people with cystic fibrosis. These findings were enabled by large-scale genomic data made available just a few years ago.

Assigning workers to new networks boosts sustainability

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 10:14 AM PDT

Innovation comes from people in different units who have new knowledge, and a new study about conservation organizations suggests encouraging employees to think and act outside network boxes from time to time.

Scientists unwind mystery behind DNA replication

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 10:14 AM PDT

The molecules of life are twisted. But how those familiar strands in DNA's double helix manage to replicate without being tangled up has been hard to decipher. A new perspective from physicists is helping unravel the mystery.

New insights into the structure and function of Cdc34, a target for cancer therapeutics

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 09:59 AM PDT

Researchers report they have obtained 3D structural snapshots of Cdc34 in action. Cdc34 is an enzyme important for cell cycle regulation and a target for therapeutic intervention in cancer. These structures, along with studies in human cells, have revealed key features of this enzyme important for its regulation of cell growth and activity. These unique features could present opportunities for rational design of novel cancer therapeutics.

Near misses on slot machines may not encourage continued gambling

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 09:52 AM PDT

For nearly 70 years, researchers believed that near-miss events like these would encourage you to continue gambling. But new research suggests that the near-miss effect may not exist at all.

Evidence of behavioral, biological similarities between compulsive overeating and addiction

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 09:52 AM PDT

Does yo-yo dieting drive compulsive eating? There may be a connection. According to researchers the chronic cyclic pattern of overeating followed by undereating, reduces the brain's ability to feel reward and may drive compulsive eating. This finding suggests that future research into treatment of compulsive eating behavior should focus on rebalancing the mesolimbic dopamine system -- the part of the brain responsible for feeling reward or pleasure.

Embryo's early development revealed in a dish

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 09:51 AM PDT

Bioscientists develop a method to observe patterns of early embryonic development, during which ectodermal cells diverge toward their fates as skin, organs and the nervous system.

Bad break-ups may not trigger weight gain from emotional eating

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 09:19 AM PDT

That pint of ice cream after a nasty breakup may not do as much damage as you think. Despite the emotional turmoil, people on average do not report gaining weight after a relationship dissolution, according to new research.

Adults with undiagnosed Celiac disease have lower bone density

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 09:19 AM PDT

New research has found lower bone density in adults who are likely to have undiagnosed celiac disease, an autoimmune disease triggered by consuming gluten, despite this group consuming more calcium and phosphorous than the control group.

Image analysis to automatically quantify gender bias in movies

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 08:17 AM PDT

Many commercial films worldwide continue to express womanhood in a stereotypical manner, a recent study using image analysis showed. A research team developed a novel image analysis method for automatically quantifying the degree of gender bias in in films.

A new approach to tackle superbugs

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 08:17 AM PDT

Scientists have uncovered a novel antibiotic-free approach that could help prevent and treat one of the most widespread bacterial pathogens, using nanocapsules made of natural ingredients.

Mothers' behavior influences bonding hormone oxytocin in babies

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 08:17 AM PDT

A new epigenetic study now suggests that mothers' behavior can also have a substantial impact on their children's developing oxytocin systems.

Cultivating joy through mindfulness: An antidote to opioid misuse, the disease of despair

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 08:17 AM PDT

New research shows that a specific mind-body therapy, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), increases the brain's response to natural, healthy rewards while also decreasing the brain's response to opioid-related cues.

DEET gives humans an 'invisibilty cloak' to fend off mosquito bites

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 08:16 AM PDT

Since its invention during the Second World War for soldiers stationed in countries where malaria transmission rates were high, researchers have worked to pinpoint precisely how DEET actually affects mosquitoes.

Faulty signalling pathway linked to congenital heart condition

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 07:13 AM PDT

Faulty signalling pathway causes the heart to develop unnaturally while in the embryo stage, according to Duke-NUS Medical School researchers.

Financial hardship in cancer: The role of health insurance literacy

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 07:12 AM PDT

A new study links health insurance literacy with medical financial hardship as well as non-medical financial sacrifices among adult cancer survivors in the United States.

Daily exposure to blue light may accelerate aging, even if it doesn't reach your eyes

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 07:12 AM PDT

Prolonged exposure to blue light, such as that which emanates from your phone, computer and household fixtures, could be affecting your longevity, even if it's not shining in your eyes. New research suggests that the blue wavelengths produced by light-emitting diodes damage cells in the brain as well as retinas, according to a new study in a model organism.

Treatment of metabolic dysfunction could be a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 07:12 AM PDT

A team of researchers has found evidence that metabolic dysfunction is a primary cause of Alzheimer's disease.

Drug treats inflammation associated with genetic heart disease

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 05:36 AM PDT

When young athletes experiences sudden cardiac death as they run down the playing field, it's usually due to arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), an inherited heart disease. Now, researchers have shed new light on the role of the immune system in the progression of ACM and, in the process, discovered a new drug that might help prevent ACM disease symptoms and progression to heart failure in some patients.

Why some US football players have higher cardiovascular risk

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 04:56 AM PDT

Research has shown that while elite athletes overall are at decreased risk of death from cardiovascular problems, a certain group of athletes -- football linemen in the United States -- actually have higher risk than the general population than other elite athletes.

New effective vaccines for Lyme disease are coming

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 04:55 AM PDT

There is no effective vaccine currently available to prevent Lyme disease in humans. Experts from academia, government, and industry recently convened to tackle this public health challenge. Now, a new article reiterates the need to stop the infection, and defines a strategy for developing effective vaccines.

How do ketogenic diets affect skin inflammation?

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 04:55 AM PDT

Not all fats are equal in how they affect our skin, according to a new study. The investigators found that different ketogenic diets impacted skin inflammation differently in psoriasiform-like skin inflammation in mice. Ketogenic diets heavy in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) such as coconut, especially in combination with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and plant sources like nuts and seeds, exacerbated psoriasis.

Frequent drinking is greater risk factor for heart rhythm disorder than binge drinking

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 04:55 AM PDT

Drinking small amounts of alcohol frequently is linked with a higher likelihood of atrial fibrillation than binge drinking, according to new research.

Mathematical modeling vital to tackling disease outbreaks

Posted: 17 Oct 2019 04:55 AM PDT

Predicting and controlling disease outbreaks would be easier and more reliable with the wider application of mathematical modelling, according to a new study.

Digital breast tomosynthesis increases cancer detection over full-field mammography

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 12:37 PM PDT

A new article compares cancer detection rates (CDR) for screening digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) versus full-field digital mammography (FFDM). Researchers found that DBT results in 'significantly increased CDR' -- irrespective of tumor type, size, or grade of cancer.

Consumers trust influencers less when there is a variety of choices for a product

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 12:36 PM PDT

Consumers have been relying on opinion leader recommendations to make choices about product quality and purchases for a long time. It is even more prominent now with the prevalence of influencers on social media platforms. The problem is, when there is a wide variety of the same product, consumers question if a positive recommendation is based on quality or personal preferences.

A secret in saliva: Food and germs helped humans evolve into unique member of great apes

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 12:36 PM PDT

Researchers discovered that the human diet -- a result of increased meat consumption, cooking and agriculture -- has led to stark differences in the saliva of humans compared to that of other primates.

Respiratory diseases linked with high blood pressure in lungs

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 12:36 PM PDT

Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the lungs of both animals and people. When tiny vessels in the lungs become narrowed or blocked, it becomes harder for blood to flow through and can cause the heart to weaken or fail.

Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 10:12 AM PDT

For the rising number of cancer survivors worldwide, there's growing evidence that exercise is an important part of recovery. But how much, and what type of exercise, is needed?

Failure of mitochondrial quality control causes heart disease

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 10:12 AM PDT

Mutations in the gene that encodes a protein called ANT cause a variety of conditions, such as heart disease, but the underlying mechanism of how these mutations trigger disease has been unclear. Researchers discovered that ANT is critical for a quality control process called mitophagy -- which helps to ensure the integrity of the mitochondria network -- and found that mutations that lead to a defective quality control system cause heart disease.

Tackling inequality could save millions of children

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 10:12 AM PDT

An unprecedented study mapping child deaths over almost two decades finds that nearly half of the 5.4 million under-5 deaths in 2017 can be attributed to differences in child death rates within and across countries.

Smoke signals: Study shows path linking nicotine addiction to increased risk for diabetes

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 10:12 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a circuit in rats that links cigarette smoking and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

Beyond Mutation: Cause of drug resistance in a type of intestinal tumors

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 10:12 AM PDT

Researchers clarify mechanisms that allow hard-to-treat cancers to develop, and have identified strategies that could lead to new therapies.

Acaí berry extracts fight malaria in mice

Posted: 16 Oct 2019 09:46 AM PDT

Despite humanity's best efforts to eradicate malaria, the disease struck more than 200 million people in 2017, according to the World Health Organization. Worse yet, the parasite that causes malaria is developing resistance to many antimalarial drugs, including the mainstay, chloroquine. Researchers are actively searching for new treatments, and now, a group have found that acaí berry extracts can reduce parasites in the blood and prolong the survival of infected mice.