Vidyya Medical News Service

Today's Vidyya features news from ASN's renal week.

Sun, 21 Nov 2010 09:48:07 -0600

Small amounts of urinary protein predict more rapid cognitive decline in elderly women: Screening efforts in older individuals may be warranted

Urinary protein excretion increases risk of cognitive impairment: Simple urine tests could identify individuals at risk

Kidney disease patients benefit from a diet high in fruits and vegetables: Healthy foods can help maintain kidney function

Melatonin improves dialysis patients' sleep: Hormone's effects do not persist, though

Elderly can blame fractures and falls on low sodium

Modest amounts of alcohol prevent diabetes and premature death

Discovery of taste receptors in the lungs could help people with asthma breathe easier

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:49:57 -0500

Taste receptors in the lungs? Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have discovered that bitter taste receptors are not just located in the mouth but also in human lungs. What they learned about the role of the receptors could revolutionize the treatment of asthma and other obstructive lung diseases.

Neurons work like a chain of dominos to control action sequences

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:49:32 -0500

As anyone who as ever picked up a guitar or a tennis racket knows, precise timing is often an essential part of performing complex tasks. Now, by studying the brain circuits that control bird song, MIT researchers have identified a "chain reaction" of brain activity that appears to control the timing of song.

Charting brain maturity

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:49:09 -0500

Researchers used advanced imaging to chart individuals' brain maturity based on the functional connections between brain regions. The finding raises the possibility that brain scanning data may one day be used to monitor psychiatric and developmental disorders.

Structure of receptor involved in cancer, HIV infection

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:48:52 -0500

Scientists determined the 3-dimensional structure of a molecule involved in HIV infection and many forms of cancer. The accomplishment sheds light on how the molecule functions. It could also point to ways of locking out HIV and stalling cancer's spread.

Scientists identify novel role for lipids in pneumonia

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:48:29 -0500

A study of mouse and human lung fluid revealed a fatty molecule that may play an unexpected role in the breathing difficulties of pneumonia. The finding could open the door to entirely new approaches for treating this sometimes-deadly condition.

Intervention improves outlook in type 2 diabetes

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:48:05 -0500

A program designed to help people with type 2 diabetes lose and keep off extra weight led to improved diabetes control and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The finding suggests that lifestyle changes can have long-term benefits for overweight and obese people with diabetes

NHLBI launches body cooling treatment study for pediatric cardiac arrest

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:47:09 -0500

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched the first large-scale, multicenter study to investigate the effectiveness of body cooling treatment in infants and children who have had cardiac arrest. The Therapeutic Hypothermia after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest (THAPCA) trials total more than $21 million over six years.

Childhood cancer survivors face long-term risk of GI complications, study finds

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:46:52 -0500

People treated for cancer when they were children have a higher-than-average risk of gastrointestinal problems – some mild, some quite severe – in the years following treatment, according to a study to be presented at the 42nd Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Boston on Sunday, Oct. 24. Investigators at Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center and their colleagues say their findings suggest that childhood cancer survivors and their physicians should be especially aware of the increased likelihood of gastrointestinal troubles and factor them into plans for monitoring survivors' health.

Sorpion has welcome sting for heart bypass patients

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:46:38 -0500

A toxin found in the venom of the Central American bark scorpion (Centruroides margaritatus) could hold the key to reducing heart bypass failures, according to research from the University of Leeds.

Quebec City researchers pave the way for novel treatment of pulmonary hypertension

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:46:24 -0500

A Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher has discovered what could be the first truly effective breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension, a devastating, life-threatening condition which results in an enlargement of the heart.

New approaches to skin cancer prevention

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:46:04 -0500

The annual "Euromelanoma Day" campaign is designed to prevent skin cancer among the general public. While there has been considerable interest, it has proved difficult to reach out to some of the at-risk groups. As such, new ways of encouraging these people to go to a dermatologist are being introduced, reveals research from the University of Gothenburg presented at the dermatologist conference in Sweden.

LSUHSC study IDs proteins regulating water retention in salt-sensitive hypertension

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:45:47 -0500

Research conducted by scientists at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans has found that two proteins in the brain act as valves to turn the hormone that regulates water retention in the body on and off. Their findings may lead to advances in treatment for diseases like high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and cirrhosis of the liver. The research is published in the November 1, 2010 issue of Endocrinology.

UC San Diego researchers identify factor boosting leukemia's aggressiveness

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:45:33 -0500

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells survive and thrive not just by their own innate wiles, but by also acquiring aid and support from host cells in their surrounding environment. In a paper published online this week in The Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, an international team of researchers led by cancer specialists at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and the Moores UCSD Cancer Center identify a particular relationship that can promote notably aggressive leukemias and lymphomas.

Vancomycin is the drug of choice for treating cellulitis

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:45:17 -0500

Patients admitted to the hospital for the common bacterial skin infection cellulitis should be treated as a first line of defense with the potent antibiotic drug vancomycin rather than other antibiotics such as penicillin, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.

Why the MRC didn't fund research that led to the birth of the world's first test tube baby

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:56:41 -0500

Thirty-two years ago today, the world's first baby was born after in vitro fertilisation. However, the work that led to the birth of Louise Brown on 25 July 1978 had to be privately funded after the UK's Medical Research Council decided in 1971 against providing the Cambridge physiologist Robert Edwards and the Oldham gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe with long-term financial support. Today, an intriguing paper published in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction [1] reveals for the first time the reasoning behind the MRC's much-criticised decision.

Study recommends that parents, physicians share decisions in sex development disorder surgery

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:56:03 -0500

A shared decision-making process would assist doctors and parents who are facing the extraordinarily complex, challenging and controversial choices presented when infants are born with genetic or anatomical anomalies in sexual development and are being considered for elective corrective surgery, a new research paper suggests.

Noninvasive MR imaging of blood vessel growth in tumors using nanosized contrast agents

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:55:47 -0500

Formation of new blood vessels, also known as angiogenesis, is crucial for sustained tumor growth and cancer metastasis. Recently, clinically available therapies to suppress the growth of these vessels have been available to improve patient survival in some cancer types. Accurate detection and quantification of blood vessel growth using nonsurgical methods would greatly complement current therapies and allow physicians to quickly assess treatment regimens and adjust them as necessary. In the work published in the August issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Kessinger and coworkers have incorporated nanotechnology, material science, and the clinical imaging modality MRI, to create a nanosized probe capable of noninvasively visualizing and quantifying the blood vessel growth in tumors in a preclinical model. The work was carried out by Chase Kessinger, as part of his PhD thesis in cancer molecular imaging, working together with Jinming Gao and other colleagues, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Length of stay in ERs reaches new high, delays in moving admitted patients out of ERs blamed : Nation's emergency physicians predict conditions will continue to deteriorate

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:55:31 -0500

Average length of stay in the nation's emergency departments increased to four hours and seven minutes, and the nation's emergency physicians are very concerned about patient safety being jeopardized by long wait times. Press Ganey's Pulse Report 2010, released yesterday, confirms what the American College of Emergency Physicians has reported previously: The recession, high unemployment and insurance losses are increasing pressure on emergency departments and their patients.

Can we prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:55:19 -0500

Will doing crossword puzzles prevent memory loss as we age? Does exercise delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease? Will adding fish oil to a diet help keep our brains healthy as we age? NIH recently convened a conference to answer these and other questions. The conclusion? Research so far has offered good leads about preventing Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. Still, more research is needed before we can be sure what’s effective.

Gene pattern spells freedom from medications

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:54:57 -0500

Most patients who’ve received a kidney transplant have to take special drugs—called immunosuppressants—for the rest of their lives. Otherwise, their body’s own immune system will attack and destroy the transplanted organ.

Einstein receives $4 million to test HPV microbicide

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 07:54:36 -0500

The National Cancer Institute has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University $4.1 million to test the microbicide Carraguard® against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer. The research will evaluate the efficacy of Carraguard®, – a clear gel made from the seaweed derivative carrageenan – in preventing new HPV infections in women.

Touch affects impressions, decisions

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:54:17 -0500

The physical characteristics of something you’re touching can influence your feelings about unrelated events, situations and objects, according to new research. Among the findings, heavy objects made job candidates appear more important, rough objects made social interactions seem more difficult, and hard objects increased rigidity in negotiations.

The malicious use of pharmaceuticals: An under-recognized form of child abuse

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:53:57 -0500

Child abuse is a serious problem that affects nearly one million children a year in the United States alone. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Department of Health and Human Services classify child abuse into four categories including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. None of these categories, however, clearly includes the abusive use of drugs on children. A study soon to be published in the Journal of Pediatrics investigates the malicious use of pharmaceuticals and attempts to shed light on this under-recognized problem.

Diagnostic 'guidelines' a barrier to prompt relief for some back pain

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:53:41 -0500

Slavishly following long-held guidelines for diagnosing the cause of arthritis-related back pain is resulting in excessive tests, delays in pain relief and wasteful spending of as much as $10,000 per patient, new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests.

Gene may hold key to reducing spread of oral cancers

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:53:26 -0500

The spread of cancer cells in the tongue may be reduced if a gene that regulates cancer cell migration can be controlled, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Diabetes monitoring device benefits man and man’s best friend

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:52:57 -0500

The treatment of diabetes was revolutionized in 1922 when insulin was isolated from dogs. Since then, significant advances in human medicine have made diabetes more manageable for patients. Now, human medicine has returned the favor and used these advances to help dogs with diabetes. A University of Missouri researcher is using a continuous glucose monitoring device – commonly used in humans with diabetes – to help treat dogs and other animals. The device, which provides a detailed glucose picture of an animal over several days, will help pet owners manage their pets’ diabetes.

No firm conclusions about HDL cholesterol can be drawn from JUPITER sub-analysis

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:52:41 -0500

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is concerned that interpretations of a paper about cholesterol, published in the Lancet (1), could act to deter ongoing research efforts into developing new therapeutic strategies to increase high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Caution, the ESC experts advise, should be displayed in the interpretation of the results.

Inhibiting fatty acids in immune cells decreases atherosclerosis risk

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:52:15 -0500

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a way to significantly reduce atherosclerosis in mice that does not involve lowering cholesterol levels or eliminating other obesity-related problems.

Herpes prevalent in 16 percent of Americans aged 14-49

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:38:39 -0500

About 1 in 6 Americans (16.2 percent) between the ages of 14 and 49 is infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), according to a national health survey released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HSV-2 is a lifelong and incurable infection that can cause recurrent and painful genital sores.

Meditation: an introduction

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:38:10 -0500

Meditation is a mind-body practice in complementary and alternative medicineA group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. (CAM). There are many types of meditation, most of which originated in ancient religious and spiritual traditions. Generally, a person who is meditating uses certain techniques, such as a specific posture, focused attention, and an open attitude toward distractions. Meditation may be practiced for many reasons, such as to increase calmness and physical relaxation, to improve psychological balance, to cope with illness, or to enhance overall health and well-being. This Backgrounder provides a general introduction to meditation and suggests some resources for more information.

Scientists identify brain circuits related to the initiation and termination of movement sequences in NIH-supported study

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:37:44 -0500

In humans, throwing a ball, typing on a keyboard, or engaging in most other physical activities involves the coordination of numerous discrete movements that are organized as action sequences. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health and the Gulbenkian Institute in Portugal have identified brain activity in mice that can signal the initiation and termination of newly learned action sequences. The findings appear online today in the current issue of Nature.

Could diabetes be in your bones?

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:36:39 -0500

Our bones have much greater influence on the rest of our bodies than they are often given credit for, according to two new studies in the July 23 issue of Cell, a Cell Press publication. Both studies offer new insights into the interplay between bone and blood sugar, based on signals sent via insulin and a bone-derived hormone known as osteocalcin.

Vidyya resource: Pediatric labeling changes

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:34:21 -0500

This table highlights key pediatric information from the studies submitted in response to pediatric legislative initiatives. Biologics have a solid dot (œ) by the proper name. The table presents the most recent information first and it is searchable (e.g., Trade Name, Generic Name).

Gene linked to aging also linked to Alzheimer's

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:34:03 -0500

MIT biologists report that they have discovered the first link between the amyloid plaques that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and a gene previously implicated in the aging process, SIRT1.

A blood test for depression?

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:33:43 -0500

Blood tests have been extremely important tools aiding doctors in making medical diagnoses and in guiding the treatment of many diseases. However, psychiatry is one area of medicine where there are few diagnostic blood tests.

Study links more time spent sitting to higher risk of death

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:34:07 -0500

A new study from American Cancer Society researchers finds it's not just how much physical activity you get, but how much time you spend sitting that can affect your risk of death. Researchers say time spent sitting was independently associated with total mortality, regardless of physical activity level. They conclude that public health messages should promote both being physically active and reducing time spent sitting. The study appears early online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.