ScienceDaily: Top Health News

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• Bacterial gut biome may guide colon cancer progression
• Flipping the switch on scleroderma
• Antioxidants can protect against omega 6 damage -- or promote it
• Grandparents may worsen some moms' baby blues
• Light-activated neurons from stem cells restore function to paralyzed muscles
• Combining cell replication blocker with common cancer drug kills resistant tumor cells
• Genetic testing beneficial in melanoma treatment
• Common breast cancer subtype may benefit from personalized treatment approach
• Recurrent head and neck tumors have gene mutations that could be vulnerable to cancer drug
• Does too much time at the computer lead to lower bone mineral density in adolescents?
• Knowledge, use of IUDs increases when women are offered counseling, 'same-day' service
• Mechanism that makes tumor cells sugar addicted discovered
• Disease-free survival estimates for ovarian cancer improve over time
• Empowering parents to inspire first-generation college-goers
• Impact of long-term vitamin D insufficiency on fracture risk
• Young motorists lack self control
• Toward a clearer diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome
• Light-guiding gels provide new avenues for drug detection, delivery
• Off the shelf, on the skin: Stick-on electronic patches for health monitoring
• Higher total folate intake may be associated with lower risk of exfoliation glaucoma
• Dwindling visibility of tobacco in prime time US TV linked to fall in smoking rates
• Insomnia may significantly increase stroke risk
• What bank voles can teach us about prion disease transmission and neurodegeneration
• Intense exercise treatment no better than simple advice, self-directed exercise at reducing pain from chronic whiplash
• Advantages, potential of computer-guided spinal surgery
• Aging workforce requires new strategies for employee retention
• Smoking may dull obese women’s ability to taste fat, sugar
• Patient stem cells help identify common problem in ALS
• 'Unbreakable' security codes inspired by nature
• Diffeomorphometry, geodesic positioning systems for human anatomy
• Enhancing immune response through next generation polymeric vaccine adjuvants
• One in 4 people with high blood pressure not taking their meds properly

Bacterial gut biome may guide colon cancer progression Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:04 AM PDT Gut bacteria can change the microenvironment in a way that promotes the growth and spread of tumors, research demonstrates. The results suggest that bacterial virulence proteins may suppress DNA repair proteins within the epithelial cells that line the colon. "There is a drastic, unmet need to look at new ways to define exactly how colon cancer forms in the gut and what triggers its progression into a lethal form," said the lead researcher. "We suggest that some bacterial proteins can promote genetic changes that create conditions in the gut that would favor the progression of colon cancer."

Flipping the switch on scleroderma Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:03 AM PDT Scleroderma is a rare and often fatal disease, causing the thickening of tissue, that currently lacks a cure and any effective treatments. A group of researchers is looking to change that. The group has identified the core signaling pathway that activates the disease and the chemical compounds that can turn it off.

Antioxidants can protect against omega 6 damage -- or promote it Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:03 AM PDT Given omega 6 fatty acid's reputation for promoting cancer -- at least in animal studies -- researchers are examining the role that antioxidants play in blocking the harmful effects of this culprit, found in many cooking oils. After all, antioxidants are supposed to prevent DNA damage. But employing antioxidants could backfire, say researchers.

Grandparents may worsen some moms' baby blues Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:03 AM PDT Does living with grandparents ease or worsen a mother's baby blues? The answer may depend on the mother's marital status, a new study suggests. Married and single mothers suffer higher rates of depression when they live in multi-generational households in their baby's first year of life. But for moms who live with, but aren't married to, their partners, it's just the opposite.

Light-activated neurons from stem cells restore function to paralyzed muscles Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:03 AM PDT A new way to artificially control muscles using light, with the potential to restore function to muscles paralyzed by conditions such as motor neuron disease and spinal cord injury, has been developed by scientists. The technique involves transplanting specially-designed motor neurons created from stem cells into injured nerve branches. These motor neurons are designed to react to pulses of blue light, allowing scientists to fine-tune muscle control by adjusting the intensity, duration and frequency of the light pulses.

Combining cell replication blocker with common cancer drug kills resistant tumor cells Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:02 AM PDT Researchers have found that an agent that inhibits mitochondrial division can overcome tumor cell resistance to a commonly used cancer drug, and that the combination of the two induces rapid and synergistic cell death. Separately, neither had an effect.

Genetic testing beneficial in melanoma treatment Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:02 AM PDT Genetic screening of cancer can help doctors customize treatments so that patients with melanoma have the best chance of beating it, according to the results of a clinical trial.

Common breast cancer subtype may benefit from personalized treatment approach Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:02 AM PDT The second-most common type of breast cancer is a very different disease than the most common and appears to be a good candidate for a personalized approach to treatment, according to new research. Invasive lobular carcinoma, characterized by a unique growth pattern in breast tissue that fails to form a lump, has distinct genetic markers which indicate drug therapies may provide benefits beyond those typically prescribed for the more common invasive ductal carcinoma.

Recurrent head and neck tumors have gene mutations that could be vulnerable to cancer drug Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:02 AM PDT An examination of the genetic landscape of head and neck cancers indicates that while metastatic and primary tumor cells share similar mutations, recurrent disease is associated with gene alterations that could be exquisitely sensitive to an existing cancer drug.

Does too much time at the computer lead to lower bone mineral density in adolescents? Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:02 AM PDT In boys, higher screen time was adversely associated to bone mineral density at all sites even when adjusted for specific lifestyle factors. These were contrasting results to those found in girls -- and this could not be explained by adjustments for the different parameters measured.

Knowledge, use of IUDs increases when women are offered counseling, 'same-day' service Posted: 04 Apr 2014 06:29 AM PDT Health care clinics should routinely offer same-day placement of intrauterine devices (IUDs) to women seeking emergency contraception, according to researchers. The study findings demonstrate that providing patient education along with same-day placement service increases both knowledge and use of IUDs three months and a year after women seek emergency contraception.

Mechanism that makes tumor cells sugar addicted discovered Posted: 04 Apr 2014 06:29 AM PDT Cancer cells feel a special appetite for a type of sugar called glucose, research demonstrated nearly a hundred years ago. The tumor uses glucose like a sports car uses gasoline -- it depends on it to burn faster, to grow and to multiply rapidly. In cancer cells, glucose superaccelerates cell division in what is known as the Warburg effect. New research shows that in one in four human tumors, there is an excess of glucose receptors in the external face of the cell membrane and this protein acts as a magnet attracting all the glucose from the bloodstream.

Disease-free survival estimates for ovarian cancer improve over time Posted: 04 Apr 2014 06:29 AM PDT The probability of staying disease-free improves dramatically for ovarian cancer patients who already have been disease-free for a period of time, and time elapsed since remission should be taken into account when making follow-up care decisions, according to a study. This measure is known as conditional disease-free survival.

Empowering parents to inspire first-generation college-goers Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:57 AM PDT Parents who have not attended college are at a disadvantage when it comes to talking about higher education with their kids -- yet these are the students who most need a parent's guidance. A new approach developed by researchers may help solve the problem. "There is a common perception that low-income parents don't care about college, but it's not true," said the lead researcher on the project. "The parents we worked with really wanted to be engaged in their kids' educational pursuits -- in fact they came to us and asked us for help."

Impact of long-term vitamin D insufficiency on fracture risk Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:57 AM PDT The results of a study suggest that long-term low levels of vitamin D intake are associated with higher 10-year fracture risk in elderly women. Vitamin D insufficiency in seniors has been shown to contribute to increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Previous studies have used single vitamin D measurements to investigate effects on bone. However, in elderly women, relatively little is known about the effects of long-term vitamin D insufficiency on bone health.

Young motorists lack self control Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:55 AM PDT So now we have it in black and white – the emotional center in young men's brains overrides the area controlling their ability to make rational decisions. This leads to accidents among risk-seeking motorists. Last autumn thirty-four young people allowed their brains to be scanned while playing car race video games. The aim was to win. But the speeds were fixed and subjects only had the use of a start and stop button. A scanner recorded the activity in their young brains throughout.

Toward a clearer diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:55 AM PDT Functional PET imaging to show that levels of neuroinflammation, or inflammation of the nervous system, are higher in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome than in healthy people, research has shown. Chronic fatigue syndrome, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, is a debilitating condition characterized by chronic, profound, and disabling fatigue. Unfortunately, the causes are not well understood.

Light-guiding gels provide new avenues for drug detection, delivery Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:54 AM PDT With the ability to deliver light inside the body in a predictable manner and to host a variety of genetically engineered cells, hydrogels may help address current challenges with applying optogenetic approaches in clinical care. Optogenetics is a relatively new technique that harnesses light to activate or inhibit light-responsive proteins that control specific cell functions.

Off the shelf, on the skin: Stick-on electronic patches for health monitoring Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:26 PM PDT Wearing a fitness tracker on your wrist or clipped to your belt is so 2013. Engineers have demonstrated thin, soft stick-on patches that stretch and move with the skin and incorporate off-the-shelf electronics for sophisticated wireless health monitoring. The patches stick to the skin like a temporary tattoo and incorporate a unique microfluidic construction with wires folded like origami to allow the patch to bend and flex.

Higher total folate intake may be associated with lower risk of exfoliation glaucoma Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT Researchers observed that higher total folate intake was associated with a lower risk for exfoliation glaucoma/suspected exfoliation glaucoma (SEG), supporting a possible causal role of homocysteine in EG/SEG. Elevated homocysteine, which may enhance exfoliation material formation, is one possible risk factor that has received significant research attention. Research studies demonstrate that high intake of vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate is associated with lower homocysteine levels.

Dwindling visibility of tobacco in prime time US TV linked to fall in smoking rates Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT The dwindling visibility of tobacco products in prime time US TV drama programs may be linked to a fall in smoking prevalence of up to two packs of cigarettes per adult a year, suggests research. The impact may be as much as half of that exerted by pricing, say the authors.

Insomnia may significantly increase stroke risk Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT Insomnia may significantly increase your risk of stroke and subsequent stroke hospitalizations. The risk was highest -- up to eight times -- among insomniacs 18-34 years old in a recent study. The risk also seems to be far greater when insomnia occurs as a young adult compared to those who are older, said researchers.

What bank voles can teach us about prion disease transmission and neurodegeneration Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT Transmission of prions between species is inefficient, and only a small proportion of exposed recipients become sick within their lifetimes. A new study takes a close look at one exception to this rule: bank voles appear to lack a species barrier for prion transmission, and their universal susceptibility turns out to be both informative and useful for the development of strategies to prevent prion transmission.

Intense exercise treatment no better than simple advice, self-directed exercise at reducing pain from chronic whiplash Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:24 PM PDT Expensive, intense physiotherapy sessions do not show any additional benefit over a single physiotherapy session of education and advice with phone follow-up, results of a new trial of treatments for chronic whiplash pain suggest. The findings are in line with previous studies on the subject, which have reported minimal additional benefit of longer physiotherapy programs over briefer physiotherapy programs for acute whiplash-associated disorders.

Advantages, potential of computer-guided spinal surgery Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:23 PM PDT In a series of research studies, spinal surgeons show that a new method of computer-guided spine surgery is beneficial for spinal reconstruction and for treating complex tumors and degenerative spine problems, resulting in fewer complications and better outcomes for patients.

Aging workforce requires new strategies for employee retention Posted: 03 Apr 2014 12:46 PM PDT As more baby boomers working in state governments reach retirement age, state governments face the likelihood of higher workforce turnover. Such large numbers of retirees could threaten the continuity, membership and institutional histories of the state government workforce. Researchers concluded that states may need to restructure deferred retirement incentives to encourage more employees to remain on the job longer and minimize the disruption to government operations.

Smoking may dull obese women’s ability to taste fat, sugar Posted: 03 Apr 2014 12:45 PM PDT Cigarette smoking among obese women appears to interfere with their ability to taste fats and sweets, a new study shows. Despite craving high-fat, sugary foods, these women were less likely than others to perceive these tastes, which may drive them to consume more calories. "Obese people often crave high-fat foods," she said. "Our findings suggest that having this intense craving but not perceiving fat and sweetness in food may lead these women to eat more. Since smoking and obesity are risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, the additional burden of craving more fats and sugars, while not fully tasting them, could be detrimental to health."

Patient stem cells help identify common problem in ALS Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:22 AM PDT A recently approved medication for epilepsy may possibly be a meaningful treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis -- Lou Gehrig's disease, a uniformly fatal neurodegenerative disorder, new stem cell research has shown. The researchers are now designing an initial clinical trial testing the safety of the treatment in ALS patients.

'Unbreakable' security codes inspired by nature Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:21 AM PDT A revolutionary new method of encrypting confidential information has been patented by scientists inspired by their discoveries from human biology, which model how the heart and lungs coordinate their rhythms by passing information between each other.

Diffeomorphometry, geodesic positioning systems for human anatomy Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT New algorithmic technologies for the parametric representation of human shape and form have been recently demonstrated by researchers. Coupled with advanced imaging technologies, this presents opportunities for tracking soft-tissue deformations associated with cardiovascular studies, radiation treatment planning in oncology, and neurodegenerative brain illnesses.

Enhancing immune response through next generation polymeric vaccine adjuvants Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:55 AM PDT Adjuvants, such as aluminum salts, have been integrated into vaccines for more than 70 years to augment the body's immune response to pathogens. Adjuvants are especially necessary to boost the immune response for subunit vaccines. However, conventional adjuvants are limited by their toxicity and limited cellular immune responses. Polymeric adjuvants in the form of nanoparticles, matrices or micelles have the ability to prompt strong adaptive immune responses without sacrificing biocompatibility.

One in 4 people with high blood pressure not taking their meds properly Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:25 PM PDT Around one in four people prescribed drugs to lower longstanding blood pressure either just doesn't take them at all or only part of the time, suggests a study of a simple technique designed to find out why drug treatment might not be working in these patients. Those referred for further treatment, because of "resistant hypertension" were most likely not to be taking their tablets properly, the findings show.

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