Month: October 2017

Medicine, Health Care Social Media Data Use Needs… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Edinburgh Information shared on social media is being regularly used in research projects without users’ consent, a study suggests. Experts have called for tighter control of the practice, with fresh guidelines needed to ensure personal data is being used appropriately. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh say ethics frameworks around consent, privacy and ownership for such studies are not keeping

Medicine, Health Care Social Media Data Use Needs… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Edinburgh Information shared on social media is being regularly used in research projects without users’ consent, a study suggests. Experts have called for tighter control of the practice, with fresh guidelines needed to ensure personal data is being used appropriately. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh say ethics frameworks around consent, privacy and ownership for such studies are not keeping

Medicine, Health Care Aging Has Distinct And Opposite… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Liverpool New research from the University of Liverpool, published in the journal Scientific Reports, has identified that in tendon ageing has distinct and opposite effects on the genes expressed in males and females. Tendons are bundles or bands of strong fibres that attach muscles to bones. Tendons transfer force from the muscle to the bone to produce the movement of

Medicine, Health Care Aging Has Distinct And Opposite… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Liverpool New research from the University of Liverpool, published in the journal Scientific Reports, has identified that in tendon ageing has distinct and opposite effects on the genes expressed in males and females. Tendons are bundles or bands of strong fibres that attach muscles to bones. Tendons transfer force from the muscle to the bone to produce the movement of

Medicine, Health Care Genome Scientists Use UK Salmonella… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Liverpool Scientists at the University of Liverpool and Public Health England have used Salmonella genome data from a UK public health surveillance study to gain new insights into the Salmonella epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonellosis (iNTS) currently kills an estimated 400,000 people a year in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by a type of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST313) that

Medicine, Health Care Genome Scientists Use UK Salmonella… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Liverpool Scientists at the University of Liverpool and Public Health England have used Salmonella genome data from a UK public health surveillance study to gain new insights into the Salmonella epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonellosis (iNTS) currently kills an estimated 400,000 people a year in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by a type of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST313) that

Medicine, Health Care Flour Power to Boost Food… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Queensland The discovery of genes that determine the yield of flour from wheat could increase milling yield, boosting food security and producing a healthier flour. Wheat that yields more flour will boost food security. Credit: University of Queensland University of Queensland researchers believe the discovery could increase the amount of flour produced from wheat by as much as 10 per

Medicine, Health Care Flour Power to Boost Food… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Queensland The discovery of genes that determine the yield of flour from wheat could increase milling yield, boosting food security and producing a healthier flour. Wheat that yields more flour will boost food security. Credit: University of Queensland University of Queensland researchers believe the discovery could increase the amount of flour produced from wheat by as much as 10 per

Medicine, Health Care ‘Precision Medicine’ for Cancer Patients… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Southern California   A new study finds that precision medicine for oncology — genetic testing to determine the best drug treatment for each cancer patient — is not always so precise when applied to people of non-European descent. In precision medicine for oncology, scientists identify mutations that transform healthy cells into tumor cells. In an ideal world, they would then be

Medicine, Health Care ‘Precision Medicine’ for Cancer Patients… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Southern California   A new study finds that precision medicine for oncology — genetic testing to determine the best drug treatment for each cancer patient — is not always so precise when applied to people of non-European descent. In precision medicine for oncology, scientists identify mutations that transform healthy cells into tumor cells. In an ideal world, they would then be

Medicine, Health Care Fish Oil Or Fish Consumption?… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of South Florida (USF Health)   Pregnant women who consume fish rather than fish oil supplements are just as likely to protect their offspring from developing asthma. Researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla just published a scientific review of two studies that conclude children whose mothers consume high-dose omega-3 fatty acids daily during the 3rd trimester are less

Medicine, Health Care Fish Oil Or Fish Consumption?… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of South Florida (USF Health)   Pregnant women who consume fish rather than fish oil supplements are just as likely to protect their offspring from developing asthma. Researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla just published a scientific review of two studies that conclude children whose mothers consume high-dose omega-3 fatty acids daily during the 3rd trimester are less

Medicine, Health Care UT Professor Studies Effects of… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Tennessee at Knoxville   UT social work professor Sunha Choi recently published an article in Population Health Management on the effects of Medicaid expansion on low-income individuals’ access to health care. Choi and her team analyzed a nationally representative sample of 544,307 adults ages 26 to 64 from all 50 states and Washington, DC. They examined how Medicaid expansion affected insurance

Medicine, Health Care UT Professor Studies Effects of… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Tennessee at Knoxville   UT social work professor Sunha Choi recently published an article in Population Health Management on the effects of Medicaid expansion on low-income individuals’ access to health care. Choi and her team analyzed a nationally representative sample of 544,307 adults ages 26 to 64 from all 50 states and Washington, DC. They examined how Medicaid expansion affected insurance

Medicine, Health Care Financial Ties of Medical Journal… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Toronto   Approximately half of the editors of 52 prestigious medical journals received payments from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry in 2014. And only a fraction of these journals publish conflict-of-interest policies for editors that address these payments, according to research by University of Toronto professors published in the journal BMJ Oct. 26, 2017. In recent years, financial ties between

Medicine, Health Care Financial Ties of Medical Journal… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Toronto   Approximately half of the editors of 52 prestigious medical journals received payments from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry in 2014. And only a fraction of these journals publish conflict-of-interest policies for editors that address these payments, according to research by University of Toronto professors published in the journal BMJ Oct. 26, 2017. In recent years, financial ties between

Medicine, Health Care Breastfeeding for Two Months Halves… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Virginia Health System Breastfeeding for at least two months cuts a baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome almost in half, a sweeping new international study has found. Rachel Moon, MD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the UVA Children´s Hospital, says the researchers strongly support national and international efforts to increase breastfeeding. Credit: UVA … The

Medicine, Health Care Breastfeeding for Two Months Halves… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Virginia Health System Breastfeeding for at least two months cuts a baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome almost in half, a sweeping new international study has found. Rachel Moon, MD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the UVA Children´s Hospital, says the researchers strongly support national and international efforts to increase breastfeeding. Credit: UVA … The

Medicine, Health Care Focused Ultrasound Shows Promise for… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Virginia Health System An initial test to determine if a scalpel-free form of brain surgery can reduce tremor caused by Parkinson’s disease has produced encouraging results. Further research is warranted, the researchers conclude in a paper published today by the scientific journal JAMA Neurology. The small pilot study was led by Jeff Elias, MD, of the University of Virginia School

Medicine, Health Care Focused Ultrasound Shows Promise for… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by University of Virginia Health System An initial test to determine if a scalpel-free form of brain surgery can reduce tremor caused by Parkinson’s disease has produced encouraging results. Further research is warranted, the researchers conclude in a paper published today by the scientific journal JAMA Neurology. The small pilot study was led by Jeff Elias, MD, of the University of Virginia School

Medicine, Health Care 3-D ‘Scaffold’ Map to Help… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute   Researchers have produced the first three-dimensional (3D) map of a molecular ‘scaffold’ called SgK223, known to play a critical role in the development and spread of aggressive breast, colon and pancreatic cancers. Scientists have solved the 3D structure of molecular scaffold SgK223, which is known to play a critical role in the development and spread of some

Medicine, Health Care 3-D ‘Scaffold’ Map to Help… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute   Researchers have produced the first three-dimensional (3D) map of a molecular ‘scaffold’ called SgK223, known to play a critical role in the development and spread of aggressive breast, colon and pancreatic cancers. Scientists have solved the 3D structure of molecular scaffold SgK223, which is known to play a critical role in the development and spread of some

Medicine, Health Care Wristband Devices Detect Dangerous Seizures… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by Wiley New research published in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), indicates that wristband devices may improve the detection and characterization of seizures in patients with epilepsy. New devices are needed for monitoring epileptic seizures, especially those that can lead to sudden death. While rare, “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy” (SUDEP) is the most common cause of death

Medicine, Health Care Wristband Devices Detect Dangerous Seizures… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by Wiley New research published in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), indicates that wristband devices may improve the detection and characterization of seizures in patients with epilepsy. New devices are needed for monitoring epileptic seizures, especially those that can lead to sudden death. While rare, “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy” (SUDEP) is the most common cause of death

Psychology Both the Aggressor And the… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by Florida Atlantic University   Adolescents harming themselves with cuts, scratches or burns has gained a lot of attention over the years not just because of the physical damage and internal turmoil, but also because it has been linked to suicide. More recently, a new form of self-harm in youth has emerged and is cause for concern, warns a researcher and bullying expert from Florida Atlantic

Psychology Both the Aggressor And the… Published: October 31, 2017.Released by Florida Atlantic University   Adolescents harming themselves with cuts, scratches or burns has gained a lot of attention over the years not just because of the physical damage and internal turmoil, but also because it has been linked to suicide. More recently, a new form of self-harm in youth has emerged and is cause for concern, warns a researcher and bullying expert from Florida Atlantic

Medicine, Health Care Less Than Half of Patients… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by American Heart Association DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2017 — Less than half of patients received their insurer’s approval for prescriptions of PCSK9 inhibitors, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation. PCSK9 inhibitors, like Repatha (evolocumab) and Praluent (alirocumab), work by increasing the removal of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol from the blood. They have been shown to reduce

Medicine, Health Care Group Exercise Improves Quality of… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by American Osteopathic Association CHICAGO — Oct. 30, 2017 — Researchers found working out in a group lowers stress by 26 percent and significantly improves quality of life, while those who exercise individually put in more effort but experienced no significant changes in their stress level and a limited improvement to quality of life, according to a study published in The Journal of

Medicine, Health Care E-cigarette Use by High School… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by Canadian Medical Association Journal   Use of e-cigarettes by high school students was strongly associated with later cigarette smoking, according to a large study conducted in 2 Canadian provinces and published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). “While our study provides strong evidence that e-cigarettes are associated with smoking initiation among youth, the association is unclear,” says Dr. David Hammond, School of Public

Medicine, Health Care Bears Not Bothered by Diet… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by Canadian Science Publishing Campgrounds and cottages are getaways for humans. They are also locations where grizzly bears are acquiring appetites for human foods that are high in saturated fats. Diets high in saturated fats are associated with many diseases in humans. Does the health of a bear suffer too? A new study published today in the Canadian Journal of Zoology found that

Medicine, Health Care Sight Unseen … Published: October 30, 2017.Released by Harvard Medical School   A study led by scientists from Harvard Medical School reveals “hidden” variability in how tumor cells are affected by anticancer drugs, offering new insights on why patients with the same form of cancer can have different responses to a drug. The results, published in Nature Communications on Oct 30, highlight strategies to better evaluate drug effectiveness and inform the development of

Medicine, Health Care Review Finds Poor Compliance with… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by St. Michael’s Hospital   TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2017–Despite lower rates of traumatic brain injuries in baseball and softball, there is poor compliance overall with helmet use and return-to-play guidelines following a concussion across all levels of play, according to a new systematic review. The review, published online today in Frontiers in Neurology, examined 29 studies that collectively identified 242,731 baseball-and-softball related traumatic brain

Medicine, Health Care New Approach for Treatment of… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by University of Bonn The newly discovered substance is a so-called RNA aptamer. Aptamers are molecules that are related to DNA, the carrier of the genetic information in our cells. They can specifically bind to unique target structures of proteins and thereby block them. “Our aptamer interferes with the communication between two important types of immune cells – T cells and dendritic cells,”

Medicine, Health Care Minorities Less Likely to Have… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine   PHILADELPHIA – Minority women are far less likely to undergo breast reconstruction than white women, even if they live in the same area and have similar insurance. The finding from a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania challenges the commonly held belief that the disparity is based on access

Medicine, Health Care Food Should Be Marketed as… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by University of Surrey Marketing food as a ‘snack’ leads to increased consumption and continued overeating, a new study in the journal Appetite reports. In the first ever study of its kind, Professor Jane Ogden and her researchers from the University of Surrey examined the impact of labelling food products as ‘snacks’ or ‘meals’. During this innovative investigation, eighty participants were asked to

Medicine, Health Care Research Pinpoints Powerful Biomarker of… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by University of Sydney   A breakthrough study led by the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital has revealed unique molecules in the blood of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) that could become definitive diagnostic biomarkers of the world’s most common neurologic disability in young adults. Published today in Scientific Reports, the discovery identifies tiny ‘dysregulated’ micro-RNA molecules

Medicine, Health Care Wait a Minute! Clamping the… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by University of Sydney   Thousands of preterm babies could be saved by waiting 60 seconds before clamping the umbilical cord after birth instead of clamping it immediately – according to two international studies coordinated by the University of Sydney’s National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre. Approved for publishing in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the review led by

Medicine, Health Care UTHealth Researchers’ Intriguing Study … Published: October 30, 2017.Released by University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston   Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Dentistry and McGovern Medical School have discovered a previously unknown characteristic of brain-cell aging that could help detect late-onset Alzheimer’s disease decades before symptoms begin. The study, “Interleukin33 deficiency causes tau abnormality and neurodegeneration with Alzheimer-like symptoms in aged mice,”

Psychology People Who Value Virtue Show… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by Association for Psychological Science From romantic dramas to tensions at work, we’re often better at working through other people’s problems than our own–while we may approach our friends’ problems with wise, clear-eyed objectivity, we often view our own problems through a personal, flawed, emotional lens. But new research suggests that not everyone may struggle to reason wisely about their own personal problems. People who

Psychology Bonding Benefits of Breastfeeding Extend… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by American Psychological Association   WASHINGTON — Women who breastfeed their children longer exhibit more maternal sensitivity well past the infant and toddler years, according to a 10-year longitudinal study published by the American Psychological Association. The results held even after accounting for maternal neuroticism, parenting attitudes, ethnicity, mother’s education and presence of a romantic partner. The findings are published in the journal Developmental Psychology. “It

Psychology Montessori Preschool Boosts Academic Results… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by Frontiers Children in Montessori preschools show improved academic performance and social understanding, while enjoying their school work more, finds the first longitudinal study of Montessori education outcomes. Strikingly, children from low-income families, who typically don’t perform as well at school, show similar academic performance as children from high-income families. Children with low executive function similarly benefit from Montessori preschools. The study, published in Frontiers

Psychology Willingness to Take Risks -… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by University of Basel People differ in their willingness to take risks. An individual’s propensity for risk taking can also vary across domains. However, there is new evidence showing that there is also a general factor of individual risk preference, which remains stable over time – akin to the general Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Researchers from Switzerland and Germany report these findings based on over 1500

Psychology Mental Health Clinicians Need to… Published: October 30, 2017.Released by University of Sydney   The approach to treating men with depression needs to change if their increased uptake of mental health services is to be successful, new research from the University of Sydney shows. The number of Australian men seeking clinical intervention to deal with depression has increased by approximately 10% in the last 10 years, says PhD candidate at the University’s School of Psychology

Medicine, Health Care Dry Mouth Symptoms Can Be… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by American Geriatrics Society For older adults, dry mouth can be a common side effect of prescribed medications. Having dry mouth means you don’t have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet. The condition can lead to problems chewing, eating, swallowing, and even talking. What’s more, dry mouth puts you at higher risk for tooth decay and oral infections. However, there’s

Medicine, Health Care TGen-UCSF Study Uses Genomics to… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by The Translational Genomics Research Institute PHOENIX, Ariz. — Oct. 27, 2017 — Several patients with recurring glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer, survived for more than a year in a clinical trial believed to be the first to use comprehensive DNA and RNA sequencing of a patient’s tumor to inform treatment for these patients in real-time. The study was led by the Translational

Medicine, Health Care Zika Virus Infects Developing Brain… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by University of California – San Diego Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues in Brazil, report that the Zika virus is transmitted from mother to fetus by infected cells that, ironically, will later develop into the brain’s first and primary form of defense against invasive pathogens. The findings are published in the current online issue of

Medicine, Health Care Cancer Trial Led by University… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by University of Minnesota Medical School   MINNEAPOLIS – October 27, 2017 – New data from a Phase I clinical trial led by Clark Chen, M.D., Ph.D., Lyle French Chair in Neurosurgery and Head of the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Neurosurgery shows more than a quarter of patients with recurrent high-grade glioma, a form of brain cancer, were alive more than

Medicine, Health Care New Molecule Shows Promise in… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by University of Maryland Researchers at the University of Maryland and Duke University have designed a novel protein-sugar vaccine candidate that, in an animal model, stimulated an immune response against sugars that form a protective shield around HIV. The molecule could one day become part of a successful HIV vaccine. “An obstacle to creating an effective HIV vaccine is the difficulty of getting

Medicine, Health Care Blocking Enzyme in Normal Cells… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by University of Pennsylvania Cancer of the pancreas is a deadly disease, with a median survival time of less than six months. Only one in 20 people with pancreatic cancer survives five years past the diagnosis. The reason is the cancer’s insidiousness; tumor cells hide deep inside the body, betraying no symptoms until late in the disease, when the cancer has almost invariably

Medicine, Health Care Sharing Experiences Improves Wellbeing of… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by University of Surrey   Healthcare staff who regularly share the emotional, social or ethical challenges they face in the workplace experience less psychological distress, improved teamwork and increased empathy and compassion for patients and colleagues, a new study commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research reports. In the first in-depth study in the UK, researchers from the University of Surrey, Kings College

Medicine, Health Care HIIT Alters Brain Glucose Metabolism… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by University of Turku Researchers at the University of Turku, Finland, studied how high-intensity interval training (HIIT) alters the brain’s glucose metabolism in physically inactive insulin resistant people. Only two weeks of HIIT training reduced glucose metabolism in all areas of the brain. A study lead by Jarna Hannukainen and Kari Kalliokoski at the University of Turku shows that HIIT training reduces brain

Medicine, Health Care Cosmetic Surgery on Social Media… Published: October 29, 2017.Released by Wolters Kluwer Health   October 27, 2017 – Plastic surgeons using social media to attract patients should know their audience’s preferred social media platforms and the types of posts of greatest interest, according to a survey study in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). “Plastic surgeons can utilize social

Medicine, Health Care Allergists Examine ‘Webside Manner’ … Published: October 27, 2017.Released by American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology   BOSTON, MA (Oct. 27, 2017) – How does an allergist communicate effectively with his or her patient when they’re not in the same room with the person being examined? The issue of improving “webside” manner – is one topic in a panel discussion on telemedicine during the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)

Medicine, Health Care Almost Half of Food Allergies… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology   BOSTON, MA (Oct. 27, 2017) – When people think of food allergies, it’s mostly in relation to children. New late-breaking research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting shows that almost half of all food-allergic adults surveyed reported one or more adult-onset food allergies. “Food allergies are

Medicine, Health Care Dogs May Protect Against Childhood… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology   BOSTON, MA (Oct. 27, 2017) – “Good dog!” Two studies being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting show there may be even more reason to love your dog. The first study shows babies born in a home with a dog during pregnancy receive protection from allergic eczema,

Medicine, Health Care Eczema Plus Family History Can… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology   BOSTON, MA (Oct. 27, 2017) – Asthma and allergies are related, and many people who suffer from asthma have allergies that trigger their asthma. Research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting examines the relationship between medical history and allergic reactions in children, and how long they

Medicine, Health Care New Study Suggests 21% Increase… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology   BOSTON, MA (Oct. 27, 2017) – Parents often worry about peanut allergies because the reaction to peanuts can be very severe. New late-breaking research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting suggests that peanut allergy in children has increased 21 percent since 2010, and that nearly 2.5

Medicine, Health Care New Treatments Help Those with… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology   BOSTON, MA (Oct. 27, 2017) – If you think only infants suffer from eczema, think again. The uncomfortable, itchy rash that most people relate to babies and young children occurs frequently in adults. Although many adults with atopic dermatitis (commonly known as eczema) develop the disease in childhood and carry it through life, a large

Medicine, Health Care What Pediatricians Tell Parents About… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology   BOSTON, MA (Oct. 27, 2017) – Guidelines to help parents introduce peanut-containing products to infants to prevent peanut allergies aren’t being discussed. New research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting shows pediatricians are not only not having the discussion, they’re not referring high-risk babies for testing prior

Medicine, Health Care Case Western Reserve Research Advance… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by Case Western Reserve University A research advance co-led by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine’s Kumar Alagramam, PhD, may stop the progression of hearing loss and lead to significant preservation of hearing in people with Usher syndrome type III, a form of hereditary hearing loss linked to defects in the sensory “hair” cells in the inner ear. USH3 is caused by

Medicine, Health Care An Experimental Model Might Shed… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by DZNE – German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Pediatric high-grade glioma is the primary cause of cancer death in children. Genesis of these tumors is believed to be driven by mutations in proteins that disrupt fundamental mechanisms governing the development of the human brain. However, our understanding of these tumors remains incomplete due to the lack of faithful experimental models. Now, researchers of

Medicine, Health Care Drexel Researchers Identify ‘Master Regulator’… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by Drexel University Researchers at Drexel University have revealed that inhibiting the micro-RNA miR-34a significantly reduces bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in mice. BPD is a chronic lung disease that affects up to 15,000 premature infants every year in the United States. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that targeting this “master regulator” (miR-34a) could treat this complex disorder. BPD develops when premature infants

Medicine, Health Care How Often Does Your Heart… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by Elsevier Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 27, 2017 – Recent studies have determined that blacks have a lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with whites despite having a higher prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension and heart failure. A new study in HeartRhythm found evidence that blacks experience statistically significantly fewer premature atrial contractions (PACs), but with similar frequencies of premature ventricular

Medicine, Health Care Advanced Artificial Limbs Mapped in… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Targeted motor and sensory reinnervation (TMSR) is a surgical procedure on patients with amputations that reroutes residual limb nerves towards intact muscles and skin in order to fit them with a limb prosthesis allowing unprecedented control. By its nature, TMSR changes the way the brain processes motor control and somatosensory input; however the detailed brain mechanisms have

Medicine, Health Care Malaria Parasite in the Americas… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo The populations found in the Americas of Plasmodium vivax, one of the main human malaria parasites, are as genetically diverse as those found in Southeast Asia, where malaria transmission is much more frequent. Because P. falciparum, the predominant species of malaria parasite, displays low genetic diversity in the Americas compared with other

Medicine, Health Care New Way to Treat Cholesterol… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by Houston Methodist HOUSTON – (Oct. 26, 2017) – A breakthrough discovery by scientists at Houston Methodist could change the way we treat cholesterol. Researchers found new evidence that challenges a 40-year notion of how fast we eliminate it from our bodies. This accidental discovery, made by medical biochemist Henry Pownall, Ph.D., and his team at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, reveals a

Medicine, Health Care Is Alzheimer’s Disease a Disorder… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by McLean Hospital   A team of investigators from McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, led by Kai C. Sonntag, MD, PhD, and Bruce M. Cohen, MD, PhD, has found a connection between disrupted energy production and the development of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). The findings appear in the current issue of Scientific Reports. “These findings have several implications for understanding and developing potential

Medicine, Health Care National Study Aims to Prove… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by UCLA Health   Los Angeles -Roughly every 40 seconds, someone in the United States will have a stroke. Almost every four minutes, one of those people will die as a result. Against that backdrop, UCLA Health has officially launched the first mobile stroke unit on the West Coast, enabling rapid delivery of brain-saving medications to stroke patients who might otherwise face debilitating delays

Medicine, Health Care Regular Marijuana Use Linked to… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by Stanford University Medical Center   The jury’s still out on rock ‘n’ roll. But the link between sex and at least one drug, marijuana, has been confirmed. A study by investigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine indicates that, despite concerns among physicians and scientists that frequent marijuana use may impair sexual desire or performance, the opposite appears more likely to be

Medicine, Health Care New Study Identifies Mechanism Bacteria… Published: October 27, 2017.Released by The City University of New York Most of our knowledge of bacteria comes from the study of bacteria swimming around in liquid but there is a growing consensus that how bacteria interact physically with each other and with surfaces is crucial to understanding their behavior. A new study appearing in the journal Science sheds some light on this consensus by showing that