Health News – Trending Links

• Kitchen Sponges Harbor Viruses That Kill Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Researchers have discovered bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, living in their kitchen sponges. As the threat of antibiotic resistance increases, bacteriophages, or phages for short, may prove useful in fighting bacteria that cannot be killed by antibiotics alone.
• Healthy, Stress-Busting Fat Found Hidden in Dirt Thirty years after scientists coined the term 'hygiene hypothesis' to suggest that increased exposure to microorganisms could benefit health, researchers have identified an anti-inflammatory fat in a soil-dwelling bacterium that may be responsible.
• Obesity, Diabetes, High Cholesterol More Prevalent Among Irregular Sleepers A new study has found that not sticking to a regular bedtime and wake up schedule -- and getting different amounts of sleep each night -- can put a person at higher risk for obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, high blood sugar and other metabolic disorders. In fact, for every hour of variability in time to bed and time asleep, a person may have up to a 27% greater chance of experiencing a metabolic abnormality.
• Bid to Beat Superbugs Boosted by Immune Defense Discovery Scientists have found a molecule produced by the body – called LL-37 – specifically targets infected cells to produce a signal that summons neutrophils while causing infected cells to self-destruct, removing the threat to other healthy cells before the bacteria can grow and spread.
• Antibiotics in World's Rivers Exceed 'Safe' Levels in New Global Study Concentrations of antibiotics found in some of the world's rivers exceed 'safe' levels by up to 300 times, the first ever global study has discovered.
• New Protein Discovery Protects Against High-Dose Radiation Damage Intensive radiotherapy can be toxic in 60 percent of patients with tumors located in the gastrointestinal cavity. The protein URI protected mice against high-dose ionizing radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome and enhanced intestinal regeneration and survival in 100 percent of the cases. This finding could be useful to mitigate side effects of other sources of intensive radiation, such as nuclear accidents, nuclear warfare or the exposure to cosmic radiation during space explorations.
• Breakthrough in 3D Printing Replacement Organs Bioengineers bioprint tissues with entangled vascular networks to mimic the body's natural passageways for blood, air, lymph and other vital fluids.
• Right Combination of Diet and Bacteria Limits Cancer Progression Researchers have discovered a combination of dietary factors and gut bacteria that inhibits the progression of colorectal cancer. Their findings could help exploit dietary regimens for therapeutic purposes to improve chemotherapy efficacy and reduce toxicity.
• Disease-Causing Amoeba Hides by Nibbling, Displaying Proteins From Host cells A parasitic amoeba that causes severe gut disease in humans protects itself from attack by biting off pieces of host cells and putting their proteins on its own surface, according to microbiologists.
• New Method Effectively Kills Bacterial Biofilms to Improve Wound Care Removal of pyruvate induces a physiological change in biofilm bacteria that causes them to disassemble the biofilm structure, rendering biofilm bacteria more susceptible to antibiotics.
• New Approach Offers Hope for Deadly Pancreatic Cancer Patients live 89% longer than the expected 12 to 18 months, with an average survival of five years, using new approach of extended, personalized chemotherapy and radiation.
• Globally, One in Five Deaths Associated with Poor Diet People in almost every region of the world could benefit from rebalancing their diets to eat optimal amounts of various foods and nutrients, according to the Global Burden of Disease study tracking trends in consumption of 15 dietary factors from 1990 to 2017 in 195 countries.
• Use of Sleeping Pills Linked to Blood Pressure Medications A study of 752 older adults with hypertension followed from 2008-2010 through 2012-2013, using sleeping pills on a regular basis was linked with use of an increasing number of blood pressure medications over time.
• New Medication Enhances Muscle and Bone Mass A new group of compounds – Inhibitors of the Activin-receptor Signaling Pathway, or IASPs – have been shown to increase muscle and bone mass in mice, offering hope to the elderly and people suffering from weak muscles and bones due to illness.
• Study Uncovers Genetic Switches Controlling Whole-Body Regeneration Researchers are shedding new light on how animals perform whole-body regeneration, and uncovered a number of DNA switches that appear to control genes used in the process.
• Algae Could Prevent Amputation From Critical Limb Ischaemia Researchers develop new algae-based treatment which could reduce the need of leg amputation in people with severely limited blood flow.
• Lowering Blood Pressure Prevents Brain Damage in Elderly Elderly people who took medicine to keep their 24-hour systolic blood pressure around 130 mm Hg for three years showed significantly fewer harmful brain lesions compared to with those with systolic BP around 145 mm Hg.
• Diabetes Drug Effective Against Heart Failure in Wide Spectrum of Patients The cardiovascular benefits of the diabetes drug dapagliflozin extend across a wide spectrum of patients, Those with reduced ejection fraction see greatest decrease in death and hospitalizations.
• Push-up Capacity Linked with Reduced Cardiovascular Disease in Men Active, middle-aged men able to complete more than 40 push-ups had a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes – including coronary artery disease and heart failure – compared with those who were able to do less than 10 push-ups during the baseline exam.
• Diets Consisting of Fewer Calories Improve Cell Performance Animal experiments have shown that caloric restriction causes cellular changes that can prevent diseases. Researchers have now shown that low-calorie meals have a protective effect against some diseases.
• Drug Combo Offers New Treatment for Advanced Kidney Cancer A combination of two drugs — one of them an immunotherapy agent — could become a new standard, first-line treatment for patients with metastatic kidney cancer, results from a phase 3 clinical trial suggest.
• Higher Blood Levels of Flame-Retardant Toxins in Children Children living in homes with all vinyl flooring or flame-retardant chemicals in the sofa have significantly higher concentrations of potentially harmful semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in their blood or urine than children from homes where these materials are not present.
• Cell Study Sheds Light on Damage Caused by Aging Some of the damaging cell effects linked to aging could be prevented by manipulating tiny parts of cells, a study shows. Scientists have shed light on how the harm caused by senescence – a vital cell process that plays a key role in diseases of aging – could be controlled or even stopped.
• Gut Bacteria May Have a Direct Association With Dementia Researchers studying the population of bacteria and microbes in the intestines, known as gut microbiota, have found these "bugs" impact risks for diseases of the heart and more.
• Scientists Discover Cellular Process That Stops Cancer Before it Starts Scientists studying the relationship of telomeres to cancer made a surprising discovery: a cellular recycling process called autophagy – generally thought of as a survival mechanism – actually promotes the death of cells, thereby preventing cancer initiation.
• Aspirin and Ibuprofen Improve Survival in Head and Neck Cancer Regular use of common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin and ibuprofen significantly improves survival for a third or more patients with head and neck cancer, improving overall five-year survival rate from 25 percent to 78 percent.
• Stroke Drug May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease A drug currently being developed to treat stroke patients could also prevent Alzheimer's disease. Researchers report that the compound protects the brains of mice with Alzheimer's-like symptoms, reducing the buildup of toxic peptides and preventing memory loss.
• Fasting Protects Against Aging-Associated Diseases Researchers found evidence that fasting affects circadian clocks in the liver and skeletal muscle, causing them to rewire their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to improved health and protection against aging-associated diseases.
• Protein Alteration Controls Cell's Response to Stress, Immunity and Lifespan Scientists have revealed new insight into a stress-response mechanism, unfolded protein response (UPR), tnat will help researchers understand the processes that protect cells, boost immunity and extend lifespan.
• Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Reduce Brown Adipose Tissue Researchers report that statins, one of the most commonly prescribed classes of pharmaceuticals, reduce beneficial brown adipose tissue. Statins also increase risk of developing diabetes, suggesting a possible link between the two effects.
• ‘Nanoscavengers’ Could Protect People From Sarin Gas, Other Nerve Agents In the 1980s, thousands of Iranians were killed from exposure to the nerve agents sarin and tobin unleased by Iraqi forces. Similar chemicals have been used against soldiers and civilians in recent wars and terrorist attacks. Now, researchers are reporting a new therapy that may be able to provide long-acting protection against these agents.
• Gut Microbiome Regulates the Intestinal Immune System A new study in mice unveils the role of vitamin A in immune system regulation, a finding that could assist in developing treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as vitamin A deficiency.
• Biologists Turn Eavesdropping Viruses Into Bacterial Assassins Researchers have found a bacteria-killing virus that can listen in on bacterial conversations – and then they made it attack diseases including salmonella, E. coli and cholera.
• Potential Arthritis Treatment Prevents Cartilage Breakdown In a new treatment that could improve options available for osteoarthritis, engineers have designed a material that can be directly injected deeply into cartilage to deliver drugs that could potentially heal damaged tissue.
• Link Between Neonatal Vitamin D Deficiency and Schizophrenia Confirmed Newborns with vitamin D deficiency have an increased risk of schizophrenia later in life, a team of Australian and Danish researchers has reported. The discovery could help prevent some cases of the disease by treating vitamin D deficiency during the earliest stages of life.
• Tissue-Engineered Spinal Disks Mimic Real Thing Two-thirds of adults in the US will suffer from back or neck pain during their lifetimes. In this report researchers are getting closer to engineering healthy disk-like structures to implant in humans. In animal trials the disks become stable and well-integrated into the native tissue of the spinal columns several weeks post-surgery.
• Experimental Drug Cocktail Yields Greatest Lifespan Extension Ever Seen in Animals Scientists tried experimental combinations of different compounds on the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, and found that cocktails made up of already existing drugs could both slow the effects of ageing and significantly boost the animals' longevity.
• Antibiotic and Probiotic Combo Successfully Eradicate Resistant Bacteria Researchers have devised a new way to combat antibiotic resistance by combining a probiotic with an antibiotic. Encapsulating the probiotic in a biofilm-inspired shell of alginate prevented the antibiotic from killing it. The combination successfully eradicated two strains of drug-resistant bacteria known to infect wounds.
• Does Herpes Cause Alzheimer’s? A new study looks at the possible causal link between the herpes virus and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers report antiviral drugs significantly reduce the risk of developing dementia in patients with severe herpes infections
• Amino Acid L-Alanine Improves Glucose Control in Diabetes Scientists discover that L-Alanine activates AMP kinase (AMPK) to increase energy production in cells, resulting in a short-term reduction in blood glucose that does not involve insulin.
• Whey Protein Best for Helping Seniors Rebuild Lost Muscle While exercise buffs have long used protein supplements to gain muscle, new research suggests one protein source in particular, whey protein, is most effective for seniors struggling to rebuild muscle lost from inactivity associated with illness or long hospital stays.
• New 3-D Process Can Print Human Ligaments and Tendons Scientists have developed a method to 3-D print cells to produce human tissue such as ligaments and tendons. A person with a badly damaged ligament, tendon, or ruptured disc could simply have new replacement tissue printed and ultimately implanted in the damaged area.
• Newly Discovered Compounds Shed Light Health Benefits of Whole Grains Scientists have discovered new compounds that may explain whole grain health benefits. A high intake of whole grains increased the levels of betaine compounds in the body which, in turn, was associated with improved glucose metabolism, among other things.
• Nasal Administration of Resveratrol Shows Promise in Lung Cancer Lung cancer is the deadliest form of cancer in the world. Resveratrol exhibits chemopreventive properties against cancers of the digestive tract, no shows no effect on lung cancers. Scientists demonstrate that nasal administration of resveratrol shows very promising results in a study conducted in mice.
• Processed Meat Consumption Linked to Higher Breast Cancer Risk Previous studies linking red and processed meat consumption with breast cancer have been inconsistent. Now a new paper analyzing 15 earlier studies shows that eating processed meats is associated with a 9% higher breast cancer risk.
• Human Gut Study Questions Health Benefits of Probiotics New research suggests that probiotics might not be as effective as we think. Through a series of experiments looking inside the human gut, researchers show that many people's digestive tracts prevent standard probiotics from successfully colonizing them.
• Skin Cancer Linked to Widely-Used Drug Azathioprine The widely used drug azathioprine, used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, vasculitis and organ rejection, is identified as an important contributor to skin cancer development, especially cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
• Eating in 10-hour Window Can Override Disease-Causing Genetic Defects, Nurture Health Mice lacking the biological clocks thought to be necessary for a healthy metabolism are still protected against obesity and metabolic diseases by having their daily access to food restricted to a 10-hour window.
• ACE Inhibitors Prevent Memory Loss in Lupus Patients, Study Suggests Activation of brain cells called microglia contributes to the memory loss and cognitive impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ACE inhibitors – drugs used to treat hypertension – block this process in mice and might help preserve memory in lupus patients.
• Aldosterone Hormone Link Between Diabetes and Hypertension Identified Increased levels of the hormone aldosterone, already associated with hypertension, can play a significant role in the development of diabetes, particularly among certain racial groups, researchers report.
• Hormone Therapy Can Make Prostate Cancer Worse, Study Finds Scientists have discovered how prostate cancer can sometimes withstand and outwit a standard hormone therapy, causing the cancer to spread. The findings may lead to a simple blood test to predict when hormone therapy resistance will occur.
• Widespread Use of Statins in Healthy Older People to Prevent Heart Disease Not Recommended in New Study Statins are not associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease (conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels) or death in healthy people aged over 75, a new study finds.
• Secret Tunnels Discovered Between Skull and Brain According to a new study of mice and humans, tiny tunnels run from bone marrow in the skull into the lining of the brain and may provide a direct route for immune cells responding to injuries caused by stroke and other brain disorders.
• Oxygen Therapy for Patients Suffering a Heart Attack Does Not Prevent Heart Failure Oxygen therapy does not prevent the development of heart failure nor reduce the long-term risk of dying for patients with suspected heart attack.
• Sharp Increase in Falls in Women During Midlife Falls are not just a problem of advanced age, according to researchers in Trinity College Dublin, who have identified a sharp increase in falls after the age of 40, particularly in women.
• Osteoporosis Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia in Men and Women Osteoporosis is associated with a 1.2-fold increase in the risk of being diagnosed with dementia in women and a 1.3-fold increase in the risk of being diagnosed with dementia in men in new study.
• Eating Breakfast Burns More Carbs During Exercise and Accelerates Metabolism for Next Meal New research suggests that eating breakfast could 'prime' the body to burn carbohydrates during exercise and more rapidly metabolize foods after working out.
• Weight Loss Leads to Remission of Type 2 Diabetes in Some Patients Nearly half of individuals with type 2 diabetes achieved remission to a non-diabetic state after weight-loss. Now a new study links weight loss is with early and sustained improvement in the functioning of pancreatic beta cells.
• Products of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Metabolism May Have Anticancer Effects Molecules formed when the body metabolizes omega-3 fatty acids inhibit cancer's growth and spread in a new study in mice. The molecules – endocannabinoids – are made naturally by the body and have similar properties to cannabinoids found in marijuana.
• Technique May Improve Lung Delivery of Bacteria-Killing Phage A new delivery system for bacteriophages – viruses that selectively attack harmful bacteria – could help give doctors a new way to battle lung infections that threaten older patients and people with cystic fibrosis.
• Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis Deaths Skyrocket in Young Adults Rapid rise in liver deaths highlights new challenges in treatment and prevention, despite gains in fighting hepatitis C, researchers say.
• New Blood Test for Autism is Highly Accurate One year after researchers published their work on a physiological test for autism, a follow-up study confirms its exceptional success, with an 88 percent accuracy rate in correctly predicting if a child is on the autism spectrum.
• Prostate Cancer Ultrasound Treatment as Effective as Surgery or Radiotherapy Using high energy ultrasound beams to destroy prostate cancer tumours may be as effective as surgery or radiotherapy, but with fewer side effects.
• Exposure to Paint, Varnish, Other Solvents Linked to Increased Risk of MS People exposed to paint, varnish and other solvents who also carry genes that make them more susceptible to developing multiple sclerosis (MS) may be at much greater risk of developing the disease than people who have only the exposure to solvents or the MS genes.
• Daily Fasting on 16:8 Diet Aids Weight Loss Daily fasting is an effective tool to reduce weight and lower blood pressure, according to a new study that examines the effect of time-restricted eating on weight loss in obese individuals.
• Experimental Drug Stops Parkinson's Disease Progression in Mice Researchers say they have developed an experimental drug, similar to compounds used to treat diabetes, that slows the progression of Parkinson's disease itself – as well as its symptoms – in mice.
• Allergen in Red Meat Linked to Heart Disease A team of researchers says it has linked sensitivity to an allergen in red meat to the buildup of plaque in the arteries of the heart. While high saturated fat levels in red meat have long been known to contribute to heart disease for people in general, the new finding suggests that a subgroup of the population may be at heightened risk for a different reason – a food allergen.
• Do B Vitamins Increase the Risk of Getting Cancer? New study reveals a strong correlation between increased risk of lung cancer and long-term B₆/B₁₂ supplementation, especially in high doses and among smokers. There are several ways B vitamins may interact with cancer metabolism; more research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms at work.
• Growth Hormone May Improve Memory and Recovery For Stroke Survivors Less fatigue and better recovery of cognitive abilities such as learning and memory. These may be the results of growth hormone treatment after a stroke, an experimental study of mice suggests.
• Scientists Develop First 3D-Printed Human Corneas The first human corneas have been 3D-printed by scientists. It means the technique could be used in the future to ensure an unlimited supply of corneas.
• Fully Reprogrammed Virus Offers New Hope as Cancer Treatment Researchers have successfully 'trained' a respiratory virus to recognize ovarian cancer and completely destroy it without infecting other cells. The reprogrammed virus could also be used to treat other cancers such as breast, pancreatic, lung and oral.
• Vitamin B6 Helps People Recall Dreams New research from the University of Adelaide has found that taking high-dose vitamin B6 supplements before going to bed for five consecutive days could help people recall their dreams.
• Cocktail Of Vitamins And Steroids Treating a Major Killer In Hospitals
  An inexpensive cocktail of IV vitamin C, B1 (thiamine) and steroids is saving lives from sepsis, an out of control inflammatory response that kills more than 700 Americans every day.
• Gut Bacteria Linked to Arthritis, Knee Pain Bacteria in the gut, known as the gut microbiome, could be the culprit behind arthritis and joint pain that plagues people who are obese, according to a new study published today in JCI Insight.
• Kitchen Cabinets Are Emitting PCBs, Other Hazardous Compounds Scientist have detected airborne polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) in kitchen cabinets. Widely considered carcinogenic, PCBs, are unwanted byproducts of modern kitchen sealants.
• Fatty Fish, Camelina Sativa Oil Improve HDL and IDL Cholesterol Eating fatty fish increases the size and composition of HDL particles in people with impaired glucose metabolism, and Camelina sativa oil shown to reduce harmful IDL particles.
• World's Oldest Insect Inspires New Generation of Aerogels Experts have created a new form of highly-efficient, low-cost, sustainable insulation based on the wings of a dragonfly.
• New Breath and Urine Tests Detect Early Breast Cancer More Accurately A new method for early and accurate breast cancer screening has been developed using commercially available technology.