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14-Nov-2013 4:00 PM EST
Rural and Southern Regions Lack Annual Training in CPR
Duke Health

Annual rates of CPR training in the United States are low and vary widely across the country, but the communities most in need of training are the least likely to be trained, according to a new study from the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

Released: 18-Nov-2013 6:00 AM EST
Bitter Melon Extract May Have Potential to Fight Head and Neck Cancer
Saint Louis University Medical Center

Preliminary findings show bitter melon reduces cancer cell growth in animal model.

15-Nov-2013 5:00 PM EST
Salk Scientists for the First Time Generate “Mini-Kidney” Structures From Human Stem Cells
Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Diseases affecting the kidneys represent a major and unsolved health issue worldwide. The kidneys rarely recover function once they are damaged by disease, highlighting the urgent need for better knowledge of kidney development and physiology.

   
Released: 14-Nov-2013 11:00 AM EST
Early Stages of Breast Cancer Could Soon Be Diagnosed From Blood Samples
Houston Methodist

A new blood test for the early detection of breast cancer was shown in preliminary studies to successfully identify the presence of breast cancer cells from serum biomarkers.

Released: 14-Nov-2013 10:00 AM EST
Genetic Signature Identified for RSV, the Leading Cause of Infant Hospitalizations Worldwide
Nationwide Children's Hospital

Scientists have identified the genetic signature of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of infant hospitalizations around the world. The work is a key step toward a better understanding of the immune response to RSV, which will aid the development of a vaccine and a tool that could allow physicians to determine the severity of the infection when symptoms first develop.

13-Nov-2013 3:10 PM EST
Gut Microbes in Healthy Kids Carry Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Washington University in St. Louis

Friendly microbes in the intestinal tracts of healthy American children have numerous antibiotic resistance genes that could be passed to harmful microbes, according to a pilot study by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Released: 13-Nov-2013 4:45 PM EST
Deletion of Any Single Gene Provokes Mutations Elsewhere in the Genome
Johns Hopkins Medicine

The deletion of any single gene in yeast cells puts pressure on the organism’s genome to compensate, leading to a mutation in another gene. The discovery is likely applicable to human genetics and cancer, and could have significant consequences for the way genetic research is done.

   
Released: 13-Nov-2013 4:00 PM EST
Research Findings Will Help in the Fight Against Dengue, One of the Fastest Spreading Tropical Diseases
SUNY Upstate Medical University

A study by an international team of researchers will help decrease the risk of dengue, a life-threatening mosquito-borne viral disease that is now one of the fastest spreading tropical diseases globally.

11-Nov-2013 5:35 PM EST
Novel Gene Therapy Works to Reverse Heart Failure
Mount Sinai Health System

Researchers at the Cardiovascular Research Center at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have successfully tested a powerful gene therapy, delivered directly into the heart, to reverse heart failure in large animal models.

Released: 13-Nov-2013 10:55 AM EST
Tomato Therapy: Engineered Veggies Target Intestinal Lipids, Improve Cholesterol
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

UCLA researchers report that tiny amounts of a specific type of lipid in the small intestine may play a greater role than previously thought in generating the high cholesterol levels and inflammation that lead to clogged arteries. The team also found they could reduce the negative effects of these lipids in mice by feeding the animals a new genetically engineered tomato being developed at UCLA that is designed to mimic HDL (“good”) cholesterol. The study, in the December issue of the Journal of Lipid Research with an accompanying editorial, focused on a group of lipids found in the small intestine called unsaturated lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs).

11-Nov-2013 11:05 AM EST
Some “Healthy” Vegetable Oils May Actually Increase Risk of Heart Disease
University of Toronto

Some vegetable oils that claim to be healthy may actually increase the risk of heart disease, and Health Canada should reconsider cholesterol-lowering claims on food labelling, states an analysis in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) http://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.130253.

Released: 10-Nov-2013 8:00 PM EST
How Zinc Starves Lethal Bacteria to Stop Infection
University of Adelaide

Australian researchers have found that zinc can ‘starve’ one of the world’s most deadly bacteria by preventing its uptake of an essential metal.

   
4-Nov-2013 6:00 AM EST
Exercise During Pregnancy Gives Newborn Brain Development a Head Start
Universite de Montreal

As little as 20 minutes of moderate exercise three times per week during pregnancy enhances the newborn child’s brain development, according to researchers at the University of Montreal and its affiliated CHU Sainte-Justine children’s hospital. This head-start could have an impact on the child's entire life.

5-Nov-2013 5:00 PM EST
Genetic Variation Increases Risk of Kidney Disease Progression in African Americans
University of Maryland Medical Center

New research provides direct evidence that genetic variations in some African Americans with chronic kidney disease contribute to a more rapid decline in kidney function compared with white Americans.

Released: 8-Nov-2013 12:00 PM EST
UAB Does First Virtual Surgery with VIPAAR and Google Glass
University of Alabama at Birmingham

A University of Alabama at Birmingham surgical team has performed the first surgery using a virtual augmented reality technology called VIPAAR in conjunction with Google Glass, a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display. The combination of the two technologies could be an important step toward the development of useful, practical telemedicine.

Released: 7-Nov-2013 2:00 PM EST
New Method Predicts Time from Alzheimer’s Onset to Nursing Home, Death
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

A Columbia-led research team has clinically validated a new method for predicting time to nursing home residence or death for patients with Alzheimer’s. The method uses data from a single patient visit, and is based on a complex model of Alzheimer’s progression developed by consecutively following two sets of Alzheimer’s patients for 10 years each.

6-Nov-2013 7:00 PM EST
Scientists Identify Clue to Regrowing Nerve Cells
Washington University in St. Louis

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a chain reaction that triggers the regrowth of some damaged nerve cell branches, a discovery that one day may help improve treatments for nerve injuries that can cause loss of sensation or paralysis.

   
Released: 5-Nov-2013 5:00 PM EST
Researchers Discover New Path to Address Genetic Muscular Diseases
Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

For decades, scientists have searched for treatments for myopathies — genetic muscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy and ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. Now, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Arizona State and Stanford Universities, and the University of Arizona, has discovered a new avenue to search for treatment possibilities.

Released: 4-Nov-2013 12:00 PM EST
A New Study Shows Steady Increases in Diagnoses of Anxiety Disorders Among Active Component Service Members In the Past 13 Years
Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center (AFHSC)

During the 13-year surveillance period there were 217,409 incident diagnoses of anxiety disorders among active component service members (Table 1), according to the study published in the Medical Surveillance Monthly Report, a peer-reviewed journal on illnesses and injuries affecting service members from the Armed Forces health Surveillance Center (AFHSC). The unadjusted incidence rate was 117.2 per 10,000 person-years (p-yrs).

28-Oct-2013 4:05 PM EDT
Firearm Injuries Cost More Than $16 Billion in Hospital Care Over 9 Years
American Public Health Association (APHA)

Firearm injuries in the U.S. cost more than $16 billion in hospital resources between 2000 and 2008.

31-Oct-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Is DNA From Mom or Dad?
Ludwig Cancer Research

A new technique successfully takes on a longstanding challenge in DNA sequencing – determining whether a particular genetic sequence comes from an individual's mother or father. The method, described in a Ludwig Cancer Research study in Nature Biotechnology, promises to accelerate studies of how genes contribute to disease, improve the process of matching donors with organs and help scientists better understand human migration patterns.

27-Oct-2013 7:50 PM EDT
Scientists Capture Most Detailed Picture Yet of Key AIDS Protein
Scripps Research Institute

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and Weill Cornell Medical College of have determined the first atomic-level structure of the tripartite HIV envelope protein—long considered one of the most difficult targets in structural biology and of great value for medical science.

Released: 31-Oct-2013 1:20 PM EDT
Women Under 60 With Diabetes at Much Greater Risk for Heart Disease
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Results of a Johns Hopkins study published today in the journal Diabetes Care found that young and middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes are at much greater risk of coronary artery disease than previously believed.

Released: 31-Oct-2013 8:00 AM EDT
Monster Mash: Protein Folding Gone Wrong
NIH, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Imagine a 1950s horror movie monster—a creeping, gluey tangle of gunk that strangles everything around it. That’s what amyloid plaques are like when they form in body tissues. These gooey protein clumps are associated with many chronic and debilitating disorders, and scientists have made enormous strides in understanding how these structures play roles in disease.

28-Oct-2013 2:00 PM EDT
Staph Infections & Eczema: What’s the Connection?
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

For the millions of people suffering from the intensely red, horribly itchy skin condition known as eczema, the only thing more maddening than their disease is the lack of understanding of what causes it, or makes it flare up from time to time. Now, a new finding may bring that understanding closer – and could help lead to better treatments.

Released: 29-Oct-2013 5:00 AM EDT
High Blood Sugar Makes Alzheimer’s Plaque More Toxic to the Brain
Tulane University

High blood-sugar levels, such as those linked with Type 2 diabetes, make beta amyloid protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease dramatically more toxic to cells lining blood vessels in the brain, according to a new Tulane University study published in latest issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Released: 28-Oct-2013 4:15 PM EDT
Moderate Exercise Not Only Treats, but Prevents Depression
University of Toronto

Physical activity is being increasingly recognized as an effective tool to treat depression. PhD candidate George Mammen’s review published in the October issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has taken the connection one step further, finding that moderate exercise can actually prevent episodes of depression in the long term. This is the first longitudinal review to focus exclusively on the role that exercise plays in maintaining good mental health and preventing the onset of depression later in life.

24-Oct-2013 5:45 PM EDT
Nurturing May Protect Kids From Brain Changes Linked to Poverty
Washington University in St. Louis

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified changes in the brains of children growing up in poverty. Those changes can lead to lifelong problems like depression, learning difficulties and limitations in the ability to cope with stress. But the study showed that the extent of those changes was influenced strongly by whether parents were attentive and nurturing.

   
Released: 28-Oct-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Emerging Technologies Look Deeper Into the Eyes to Catch Signs of Disease
NIH, National Eye Institute (NEI)

Some of the most common vision disorders take their toll by damaging blood vessels near the retina. But it’s difficult for eye care professionals and researchers to see these vessels with standard techniques. NIH’s National Eye Institute is supporting the development of new methods to get deeper, more detailed views of the retinal vasculature.

   
Released: 28-Oct-2013 11:00 AM EDT
It's Shocking: Ultra-Focused Electric Current Helps Brain Curb Pain
University of Michigan

Imagine significantly reducing a persistent migraine or fibromyalgia by a visit to a doctor who delivers low doses of electricity to the brain

23-Oct-2013 2:30 PM EDT
Flawed Health Care System Causes Doctors to “Bend” Ethical Norms to Best Serve Their Patients
Hospital for Special Surgery

A survey among rheumatologists finds many face moral dilemmas when trying to do what’s best for their patients in the current health care environment.

24-Oct-2013 2:55 PM EDT
Cell Nucleus Protein in Brown Fat Cells Governs Daily Control of Body Temperature
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Body temperature follows a 24-hour rhythm, peaking during the day, low at night. The benefit might be the conservation of energy while sleeping. It is also critical to be able to adapt to changes in ambient temperature regardless of the time of day. A new mouse study shows how body temperature rhythms are synchronized while maintaining the ability to adapt to changes in environmental temperature day or night.

23-Oct-2013 4:00 PM EDT
Genetic Analysis Reveals Novel Insights Into the Genetic Architecture of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tourette Syndrome
University of Chicago Medical Center

An international research consortium led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Chicago has answered several questions about the genetic background of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome (TS), providing the first direct confirmation that both are highly heritable and also revealing major differences between the underlying genetic makeup of the disorders. Their report is being published in the October issue of the open-access journal PLOS Genetics.

   
Released: 23-Oct-2013 2:45 PM EDT
A Simple Blood Test May Catch Early Pancreatic Cancer
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Reporting on a small preliminary study, Johns Hopkins researchers say a simple blood test based on detection of tiny epigenetic alterations may reveal the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer, a disease that is nearly always fatal because it isn’t usually discovered until it has spread to other parts of the body.

21-Oct-2013 11:55 AM EDT
Shorter Sleep Duration and Poorer Sleep Quality Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarker
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

New study finds, shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality were associated with a greater β-Amyloid burden.

16-Oct-2013 3:15 PM EDT
Breast Milk Protein May Be Key to Protecting Babies From HIV Infection
Duke Health

A substance in breast milk that neutralizes HIV and may protect babies from acquiring HIV from their infected mothers has been identified for the first time by researchers at Duke Medicine.

Released: 21-Oct-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Mentally Challenging Activities Improve Memory as Baby Boomers Age
University of Texas at Dallas

Can complex thinking stave off the effects of aging? A new study from the University of Texas at Dallas shows that learning new, mentally challenging tasks, such as digital photography, improves memory in seniors, while less demanding tasks, such as socializing or playing simple games, does not.

Released: 21-Oct-2013 10:00 AM EDT
Parents Want E-Mail Consults with Doctors, but Don’t Want to Pay for Them
Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan

Most parents would love to get an e-mail response from their kids’ health care provider for a minor illness rather than making an office visit, but about half say that online consultation should be free.

16-Oct-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Scientist Uncovers Internal Clock Able to Measure Age of Most Human Tissues
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

A UCLA study is the first to identify a biological clock able to gauge the age of most human tissues. Some parts of the anatomy, like a woman’s breasts, age faster than the rest of the body.

   
Released: 18-Oct-2013 1:05 PM EDT
Beating the Blues: Expert Tips to Overcome Unhappiness
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Whether it’s simply waking up on the wrong side of the bed, or a bad week at work, feeling down is a form of depression and should be addressed.

   
14-Oct-2013 12:30 PM EDT
Vitamin D Does Not Contribute to Kidney Stones, Study Asserts
UC San Diego Health

Increased vitamin D levels may prevent a wide range of diseases, according to recent studies. However, some previous studies led to a concern that vitamin D supplementation could increase an individual’s risk of developing kidney stones.

Released: 17-Oct-2013 11:10 AM EDT
Depression Twice as Likely in Migraine Sufferers
University of Toronto

The prevalence of depression among those with migraine is approximately twice as high as for those without the disease (men: 8.4% vs. 3.4%; women 12.4% vs. 5.7%), according to a new study published by University of Toronto researchers.

10-Oct-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Narrow-Spectrum UV Light May Reduce Surgical Infections
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Despite major efforts to keep operating rooms sterile, surgical wound infections remain a serious and stubborn problem, killing up to 8,200 patients a year in the U.S. Columbia University Medical Center research published in PLOS ONE suggests that narrow-spectrum UV light could dramatically reduce such infections without damaging human tissue.

15-Oct-2013 1:40 PM EDT
Finding Alzheimer's Disease Before Symptoms Start
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Johns Hopkins researchers say that by measuring levels of certain proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), they can predict when people will develop the cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease years before the first symptoms of memory loss appear.

14-Oct-2013 4:00 PM EDT
Genetic Errors Identified in 12 Major Cancer Types
Washington University in St. Louis

Examining 12 major types of cancer, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified 127 repeatedly mutated genes that appear to drive the development and progression of a range of tumors in the body. The discovery sets the stage for devising new diagnostic tools and more personalized cancer treatments.

Released: 14-Oct-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Stepping Out in Style: Toward an Artificial Leg with a Natural Gait
Michigan Technological University

Humans rarely walk the straight and narrow; something's always in the way. So Michigan Tech scientists are developing a computer-controlled artificial limb that can turn like a flesh-and-blood foot.

Released: 14-Oct-2013 12:00 PM EDT
Twelve Percent of Midlife Women Say They Are Satisfied with Their Body Size
University of North Carolina Health Care System

A new study of women ages 50 and older examines the 12.2 percent who say they are satisfied with their body size to unlock the secrets of body satisfaction. This minority of midlife women who report being satisfied with their body size appears to exert considerable effort to achieve and maintain this satisfaction.

   
11-Oct-2013 11:00 AM EDT
Herbal and Weight Loss Supplements, Energy Drink Associated with Liver Damage and Liver Failure: Four Case Reports
American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)

Severe liver damage, and even failure, has been associated with the consumption of weight loss supplements, an herbal supplement and an energy drink, according to four separate case reports presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s 78th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego, CA. Use of herbal and dietary supplements is widespread for a variety of health problems. Because many patients do not disclose supplement use to their physicians, important drug side effects can be missed.

7-Oct-2013 1:00 PM EDT
Urine Biomarkers Reveal Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetic Kidney Disease
UC San Diego Health

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified 13 metabolites – small molecules produced by cellular metabolism – that are significantly different in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease compared to healthy controls.

9-Oct-2013 9:00 AM EDT
Stomach Cells Naturally Revert to Stem Cells
Washington University in St. Louis

New research has shown that the stomach naturally produces more stem cells than previously realized, likely for repair of injuries from infections, digestive fluids and the foods we eat.



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