Science Daily

https://www.sciencedaily.com

Health & Medicine News -- ScienceDaily

19.09.2018Flu season forecasts could be more accurate with access to health care companies' data

New research shows that data routinely collected by health care companies -- if made available to researchers and public health agencies -- could enable more accurate forecasts of when the next flu season will peak, how long it will last and how many people will get sick.

19.09.2018Anti-inflammatory protein promotes healthy gut bacteria to curb obesity

Scientists have discovered that the anti-inflammatory protein NLRP12 normally helps protect mice against obesity and insulin resistance when they are fed a high-fat diet. The researchers also reported that the NLRP12 gene is underactive in people who are obese, making it a potential therapeutic target for treating obesity and diabetes, both of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other serious conditions.

19.09.2018More doctor visits lead to fewer suicide attempts for fibromyalgia patients

Fibromyalgia patients who regularly visit their physicians are much less likely to attempt suicide than those who do not, according to a new study.

19.09.2018Zombie cells found in brains of mice prior to cognitive loss

Zombie cells are the ones that can't die but are equally unable to perform the functions of a normal cell. These zombie, or senescent, cells are implicated in a number of age-related diseases. Researchers have now expanded that list.

19.09.2018Characterization of pregnancy microbiome reveals variations in bacterial diversity

Researchers performed detailed whole-community sequencing on the microbial communities of three maternal body sites (vagina, gut, and oral cavity) over the course of pregnancy from the first trimester through delivery revealing variations in bacterial diversity.

19.09.2018Microbubble scrubber destroys dangerous biofilms

Stiff microbial films often coat medical devices, household items and infrastructure such as the inside of water supply pipes, and can lead to dangerous infections. Researchers have developed a system that harnesses the power of bubbles to propel tiny particles through the surfaces of these tough films and deliver an antiseptic deathblow to the microbes living inside.

19.09.2018Women who breastfeed for at least five months have more kids

New research shows that women who breastfeed their first child for five months or longer are more likely to have three or more children, and less likely to have only one child.

19.09.2018Fiber optic sensor measures tiny magnetic fields

Researchers have developed a light-based technique for measuring very weak magnetic fields, such as those produced when neurons fire in the brain.

19.09.2018Strategies to protect bone health in hematologic stem cell transplant recipients

A new review looks at the major factors affecting bone health in mematologic stem cell transplant recipients, and provides expert guidance for the monitoring, evaluation and treatment of bone loss in these patients.

19.09.2018New insight into aging

Researchers examined the effects of aging on neuroplasticity in the primary auditory cortex, the part of the brain that processes auditory information. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to modify its connections and function in response to environmental demands, an important process in learning.

19.09.2018Cannabinoid drugs make pain feel 'less unpleasant, more tolerable'

Researchers have determined that cannabinoid drugs do not appear to reduce the intensity of experimental pain, but, instead, may make pain feel less unpleasant and more tolerable.

19.09.2018New micro-platform reveals cancer cells' natural behavior

A new cell culture platform allows researchers to observe never-before-seen behaviors of live cancer cells under the microscope, leading to explanations of long-known cancer characteristics.

19.09.2018Co-evolution between a 'parasite gene' and its host

A research team has delineated a complex symbiosis between a 'parasitic' noncoding RNA gene and its protein coding 'host' gene in human cells. The study reveals how co-evolution of the host gene and parasite gene has shaped a feedback mechanism in which the parasite gene plays a completely new and surprising part as regulator of the host gene protein production. The breakthrough finding opens an entirely new avenue of research in gene expression.

19.09.2018Young children's oral bacteria may predict obesity

Weight gain during early childhood is related to the composition of oral bacteria of two-year-old children, suggesting this understudied aspect of a children's collection of microorganisms could serve as an early indicator for childhood obesity.

19.09.2018Green tea compound helps siRNA slip inside cells

Drinking green tea has been linked to health benefits ranging from cardiovascular disease prevention to weight loss. Although many of these claims still need to be verified in the clinic, an antioxidant in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) appears to have beneficial effects in cells and animals. Now, researchers have found a surprising use for EGCG: sneaking therapeutic RNAs into cells.

19.09.2018Creating 3D printed 'motion sculptures' from 2D videos

The new system uses an algorithm that can take D videos and turn them into 3D printed 'motion sculptures' that show how a human body moves through space. In addition to being an intriguing aesthetic visualization of shape and time, the team envisions that their 'MoSculp' system could enable a much more detailed study of motion for professional athletes, dancers, or anyone who wants to improve their physical skills.

19.09.2018Strength-based exercises could help child obesity fight, study finds

Encouraging young people to do strength-based exercises -- such as squats, push ups and lunges -- could play a key role in tackling child obesity, research suggests.

19.09.2018Sugar content of most supermarket yogurts well above recommended threshold

The sugar content of most types of yogurt is well above the recommended threshold, reveals an analysis of the nutrient content of available UK supermarket products. And organic varieties, often viewed as healthier options, contain some of the highest average sugar content, at 13.1 g/100 g, the findings indicate.

19.09.2018Green space near home during childhood linked to fewer respiratory problems in adulthood

Children who have access to green spaces close to their homes have fewer respiratory problems, such as asthma and wheezing, in adulthood, according to new research. In contrast, children who are exposed to air pollution are more likely to experience respiratory problems as young adults.

19.09.2018AI improves doctors' ability to correctly interpret tests and diagnose lung disease

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be an invaluable aid to help lung doctors interpret respiratory symptoms accurately and make a correct diagnosis, according to new research.

19.09.2018Tweaking cells' gatekeepers could lead to new way to fight cancer

Researchers have devised a way to manipulate numbers of individual nuclear pores -- a breakthrough that may one day stop cancerous cells from proliferating out of control.

19.09.2018For-profit hospitals correlated with higher readmission rates

Patients who receive care in a for-profit hospital are more likely to be readmitted than those who receive care in nonprofit or public hospitals, according to a new study.

18.09.2018New hurdle for developing immunotherapies

A new discovery tosses a new wrench into the process of building better molecules to develop immunotherapies.

18.09.2018Why some human genes are more popular with researchers than others

Historical bias is a key reason why biomedical researchers continue to study the same 10 percent of all human genes while ignoring many genes known to play roles in disease, according to a new study. This bias is bolstered by research funding mechanisms and social forces.

18.09.2018Eating foods with low nutritional quality ratings linked to cancer risk in large European cohort

The consumption of foods with higher scores on the British Food Standards Agency nutrient profiling system (FSAm-NPS), reflecting a lower nutritional quality, is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer.

18.09.2018Use of electrical brain stimulation to foster creativity has sweeping implications

Researchers address neuro-ethical concerns associated with the increasing use of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES).

18.09.2018How cells repurpose their garbage disposal systems to promote inflammation

Researchers have unraveled new insights into the way cells leverage G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their cellular waste disposal systems to control inflammation. The findings suggest some existing cancer drugs that inhibit these cellular activities might be repurposed to treat vascular inflammation, which occurs when artery-blocking plaques form in atherosclerosis.

18.09.2018CRISPR screen reveals new targets in more than half of all squamous cell carcinomas

Researchers sheds light on p63 activity in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, providing an actionable path forward to drug development against this known cause of cancer.

18.09.2018Distance helps re-fuel the heart

Separated entry and exit doors for calcium keep energy production smooth in the powerhouses of heart cells.

18.09.2018A new defender for your sense of smell

New research increases understanding of a mysterious sensory cell located in the olfactory epithelium, the patch of nasal tissue that contains odor-detecting olfactory receptor cells. The findings suggest that the so-called microvillous cells (MVCs) may protect the vulnerable olfactory epithelium by detecting and initiating defenses against viruses, bacteria, and other potentially harmful invaders.

18.09.2018First gut bacteria may have lasting effect on ability to fight chronic diseases

New research showing that the first bacteria introduced into the gut have a lasting impact, may one day allow science to adjust microbiomes -- the one-of-a-kind microbial communities that live in our gastrointestinal tracts -- to help ward off serious chronic diseases.

18.09.2018Nearly half of resident physicians report burnout

Resident physician burnout in the US is widespread, with the highest rates concentrated in certain specialties, according to research from Mayo Clinic, OHSU and collaborators.

18.09.2018Solving the gut inflammation puzzle

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an umbrella term for a number of gut disorders -- including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease -- remains a clinical challenge. Now, researchers have identified a protein that drives intestinal inflammation. This finding highlights new opportunities for creating targeted therapeutics.

18.09.2018Class of neurological disorders share 3D genome folding pattern

Researchers have found a new common thread linking nearly all of the trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases, which include ALS, Huntington's Disease and Fragile X Syndrome, involving the complicated 3D patterns that the DNA is folded into in order to fit in the nucleus of the cell. Nearly all of the short tandem repeats known to grow unstable in disease are located at the boundaries that separate neighboring folded domains.

18.09.2018Chemists create circular fluorescent dyes for biological imaging

Chemists have created a new class of fluorescent dyes that function in water and emit colors based solely on the diameter of circular nanotubes made of carbon and hydrogen.

18.09.2018Transparent loudspeakers and MICs that let your skin play music

An international team of researchers has presented an innovative wearable technology that will turn your skin into a loudspeaker.

18.09.2018Father's obesity in early puberty doubles asthma-risk for future offspring

Boys who have considerable weight gain between childhood and puberty, double the risk of having asthma as an adult, and for future offspring.

18.09.2018Colon cancer is caused by bacteria and cell stress

Scientists have made an unexpected discovery while investigating the triggering factors of colon cancer: Cell stress in combination with an altered microbiota in the colon drives tumor growth. Previously, it was assumed that this combination only contributes to inflammatory intestinal diseases.

18.09.2018New test kit for quick, accurate and low-cost screening of diseases

A multidisciplinary team of researchers has developed a portable, easy-to-use device for quick and accurate screening of diseases. This versatile technology platform called enVision (enzyme-assisted nanocomplexes for visual identification of nucleic acids) can be designed to detect a wide range of diseases - from emerging infectious diseases (e.g. Zika and Ebola) and high-prevalence infections (e.g. hepatitis, dengue, and malaria) to various types of cancers and genetic diseases.

18.09.2018Intestinal bacteria produce electric current from sugar

Intestinal bacteria can create an electric current, according to a new study. The results are valuable for the development of drugs, but also for the production of bioenergy, for example.

18.09.2018Better chemo drug adsorption onto targeted delivery capsules

One of the challenges in cancer research is improving the delivery of chemo drugs to enhance their efficacy while decreasing the risk of side effects. Scientists now perform a theoretical prediction of adsorption of a well-known chemo drug onto active carbon with aluminium inclusions, to show its potential as an oral chemotherapy delivery capsule.

18.09.2018Exposure to organochlorine pesticides in the womb linked to poorer lung function in childhood

Babies exposed to higher levels of organochlorine compounds in the womb go on to have worse lung function in childhood, according to new research. These compounds, which include the pesticide DDT, as well as electrical insulators and other industrial products, are now banned in most parts of the world. However, because they degrade very slowly, they are still present in the environment and in foods.

18.09.2018New insights into DNA phase separation

A recent study has presented the notion of 'DNA Phase Separation', which suggests that the DNA within the nucleus may trigger phase separation, like oil in water.

18.09.2018Enlarged genotype-phenotype correlation for a deletion in neurofibromatosis type 1

New research shows that while a three-base pair, in-frame deletion called p.Met992del in the NF1 gene has a mild phenotype for people with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 1, or NF1, the mutation does cause complications. These include non-optic brain tumors, mostly low-grade and asymptomatic, as well as cognitive impairment and/or learning disabilities.

18.09.2018Hardwired for laziness? Tests show the human brain must work hard to avoid sloth

Society has encouraged people to be more physically active, yet we are actually becoming less active. This new study offers a possible explanation: Our brains may be innately attracted to sedentary behavior. Electroencephalograms showed that test subjects had to summon extra brain resources when trying to avoid physical inactivity.

18.09.2018Women who experienced higher levels of trauma gave birth to significantly smaller male babies

Researchers have found significantly lower birth weights in male infants -- an average decrease of 38 grams, or approximately 1.3 ounces -- born to women who had been exposed to trauma at some point in their lives and who secreted higher levels of cortisol, a hormone related to stress, in late pregnancy.

18.09.2018Zika vaccine shows promise for treating deadly brain cancer

Researchers have successfully deployed a Zika virus vaccine to target and kill human glioblastoma brain cancer stem cells, which had been transplanted into mice. In a new study, the team shows that a live, attenuated version of the Zika virus could form the basis of a new treatment option for this fatal brain cancer.

18.09.2018Drugs that stop mosquitoes catching malaria could help eradicate the disease

Researchers have identified compounds that could prevent malaria parasites from being able to infect mosquitoes, halting the spread of disease.

18.09.2018Small molecule plays big role in weaker bones as we age

With age, expression of a small molecule that can silence others goes way up while a key signaling molecule that helps stem cells make healthy bone goes down, scientists report.

18.09.2018Long-term success of ACL reconstruction is connected to way you move post-surgery

Researchers conducted a study to observe walking biomechanics of 130 subjects who have had ACL reconstruction surgery. They found people who report lingering symptoms post-surgery either underload their injured leg (6-12 months after surgery) or overload the injured leg (after the 24-month mark), as compared to those who have had the surgery but no longer report symptoms.

18.09.2018Sleep deprived people more likely to have car crashes

A new study indicates that people who have slept for fewer than seven of the past 24 hours have higher odds of being involved in and responsible for car crashes. The risk is greatest for drivers who have slept fewer than four hours.

18.09.2018Either too much or too little weight gain during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes in children aged 7 years

New research shows that if a woman gains either too much or too little weight during pregnancy, there are adverse effects in children at 7 years of age.

18.09.2018People with COPD suffer fewer lung-related problems when treated with targeted lung denervation

First results from a clinical trial of a procedure to open obstructed airways in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have shown that it significantly reduces problems associated with the disease and is safe.

18.09.2018Clinical gene discovery program solves 30 medical mysteries

A table in a recently published paper tells the story of 30 families who have, sometimes after years of searching, finally received an answer about the condition that has plagued one or more family members.

18.09.2018CRISPR screen identifies gene that helps cells resist West Nile, Zika viruses

Researchers now report the first use of CRISPR genome-wide screening to identify a gene that helps cells resist flavivirus infection.

18.09.2018Current rates of diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes in American adults

A new study finds that type 2 diabetes remains overwhelmingly the most common type of diabetes diagnosed in American adults who have the disease. The study found that among Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes, 91.2 percent have type 2 diabetes and 5.6 percent have type 1 diabetes.