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** ALCOHOL / ADDICTION / ILLEGAL DRUGS News **
Breast Cancer Survival Not Affected By Alcohol Consumption
http://mnt.to/a/4cNz
Although previous research has linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, a new study has found that drinking before and after diagnosis does not impact survival from the disease.
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** ALZHEIMER'S / DEMENTIA News **
Alzheimer's Gene Doubles Risk In African-Americans
http://mnt.to/a/4cRh
A variation in the gene ABCA7 causes the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease to double in African-Americans, according to a new study in JAMA.The research, the largest analysis yet to establish genetic risk linked to late-onset Azheimer's disease in African-Americans, was undertaken by the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium and led by scientists from Columbia University Medical Center.
How Neurons Protect Themselves Against Excess Fat
http://mnt.to/a/4cNN
We're all fatheads. That is, our brain cells are packed with fat molecules, more of them than almost any other cell type. Still, if the brain cells' fat content gets too high, they'll be in trouble.
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** ANXIETY / STRESS News **
59% Increased Risk Of Miscarriage For Women Living Under Rocket Fire
http://mnt.to/a/4cP3
Several studies have examined the impact of stress on a pregnancy - both chronic stress, such as workload, and acute stress associated with traumatic events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They conclude that stress can lead to adverse birth outcomes, including miscarriage and premature birth.
Our Experience Of Acute Or Short-Term Stress Is Shaped By How We Interpret Physical Cues
http://mnt.to/a/4cNY
Fear of public speaking tops death and spiders as the nation's number one phobia. But new research shows that learning to rethink the way we view our shaky hands, pounding heart, and sweaty palms can help people perform better both mentally and physically.
Posttraumatic Stress Significantly Reduced By Transcendental Meditation
http://mnt.to/a/4cND
A significant percentage of veterans returning from wars exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS). This is now recognized as a serious health problem, but what about the victims of such violence? Refugees live with the constant reminder of what war has done to their lives and those of their families.
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** AUTISM News **
The Social Nature Of Imitation Is Very Important And Challenging For Children With Autism
http://mnt.to/a/4cNL
When a child with autism copies the actions of an adult, he or she is likely to omit anything "silly" about what they've just seen. In contrast, typically developing children will go out of their way to repeat each and every element of the behavior even as they may realize that parts of it don't make any sense.
Minocycline Show Benefits In Children With Inherited Cause Of Intellectual Disability And Autism
http://mnt.to/a/4cNF
The antibiotic drug minocycline yields "modest" but meaningful improvements in functioning and mood for children with fragile X syndrome (FXS), reports a study in the April Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
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** BIOLOGY / BIOCHEMISTRY News **
Altering Calcium Build-Up In Blood Vessels May Be New Treatment Method For Heart Disease
http://mnt.to/a/4cPN
The cells responsible for creating calcium build-up in vessel walls - resulting in heart disease - have now been identified in a new study published in PLOS Biology.Atherosclerosis - or hardening of the arteries - is the main cause of heart disease.
----------------------------------------------
** BIRD FLU / AVIAN FLU News **
Discovery That Small Genetic Changes Enable The H5N1 Bird Flu Virus To Replicate More Easily In The Noses Of Mammals Could Lead To Vaccine
http://mnt.to/a/4cNR
So far there have only been isolated cases of bird flu in humans, and no widespread transmission as the H5N1 virus can't replicate efficiently in the nose. The new study, using weakened viruses in the lab, supports the conclusions of controversial research published in 2012 which demonstrated that just a few genetic mutations could enable bird flu to spread between ferrets, which are used to model flu infection in humans.
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** BREAST CANCER News **
Researchers Identify Abnormally Expressed LincRNAs In Breast Cancer Patients
http://mnt.to/a/4cNM
Once considered part of the "junk" of our genome, much of the DNA between protein-coding genes is now known to be transcribed. New findings by scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified several dozen transcripts known as lincRNAs, or long intergenic non-coding RNAs, that are dysregulated in breast cancer.
Combined HER2 Targeted Therapy Without Chemotherapy Will Likely Benefit Certain Breast Cancer Patients
http://mnt.to/a/4cNJ
Is the era of targeted therapy for breast cancer at hand? It could be, said experts at the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine - at least for a certain population of women.
Cancer Survivors Who Had Chest Radiation At Increased Mortality Risk Following Heart Surgery
http://mnt.to/a/4cNG
Cancer survivors who had chest radiation are nearly twice as likely to die in the years after having major heart surgery as similar patients who didn't have radiation, according to research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Breast Cancer Survival Not Affected By Alcohol Consumption
http://mnt.to/a/4cNz
Although previous research has linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, a new study has found that drinking before and after diagnosis does not impact survival from the disease.
Genetic Testing Not Carried Out For Nearly Half Of Breast Cancer Patients At Risk Of Having BRCA Mutations
http://mnt.to/a/4cNv
Only 53 percent of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who were at high risk of carrying a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation - based on age, diagnosis, and family history of breast or ovarian cancer - reported that their doctors urged them to be tested for the genes, according to a research team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
New 2-Drug Combination Effective For Some Patients With Incurable Tumors And BRCA Mutations
http://mnt.to/a/4cNq
A novel combination of two drugs has shown anti-cancer activity in patients who had incurable solid tumors and carried a germline mutation in their BRCA genes, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers reported at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Washington, April 6-10.
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** CANCER / ONCOLOGY News **
Fetal Exposure To Air Pollution Increases Risk Of Pediatric Cancers
http://mnt.to/a/4cRg
Pregnant women exposed to air pollution put their children at an increased risk of three different types of cancer, according to new research presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013. In their study, researchers identified that prolonged exposure to traffic-related air pollution can increase a child's risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and two other rare childhood cancers.
Clinical Trial Finds New Class Of Cancer Drugs Safe And Effective
http://mnt.to/a/4cQr
The safety and preliminary efficacy of a new class of tumor fighting drugs were reported by Scottsdale Healthcare's Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Prostate Cancer With Faulty BRCA2 Gene Spreads More Quickly
http://mnt.to/a/4cPS
A new study finds that prostate cancer spreads more quickly and is more likely to be fatal in men who have inherited a faulty BRCA2 gene. The researchers say such patients should be treated straight away with surgery or radiotherapy rather than just be monitored.
Drug Designed To Restore Cell Suicide In HPV-Related Head And Neck Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4cPc
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which the human papilloma virus (HPV) causes head and neck cancer, and they have designed a drug to block that mechanism. Though further research is needed, the new agent might offer a safer treatment for these tumors when combined with a tapered dose of standard chemotherapy.
Researchers Exploring 'Nano-Sized Extracellular Vesicles' For Identification, Monitoring And Treatment Of Brain Tumors
http://mnt.to/a/4cP9
The recent discovery of circulating "nano-sized extracellular vesicles" (EVs) carrying proteins and nucleic acids derived from brain tumors may lead to exciting new avenues for brain cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, according to a special article in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
'Fast fMRI' Protocol Could Aid In Planning Surgery For Epilepsy And Brain Tumors
http://mnt.to/a/4cP8
A new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique may provide neurosurgeons with a non-invasive tool to help in mapping critical areas of the brain before surgery, reports a study in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Unique Mechanism Identified By Which Glioblastoma Cells Develop Resistance To Drugs That Target EGFR Signaling
http://mnt.to/a/4cNQ
Proteins that control cell growth are often mutated in cancer, and their aberrant signaling drives the wild proliferation of cells that gives rise to tumors. One such protein, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), fuels a wide variety of cancers - including a highly malignant brain cancer known as glioblastoma.
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** CARDIOVASCULAR / CARDIOLOGY News **
Altering Calcium Build-Up In Blood Vessels May Be New Treatment Method For Heart Disease
http://mnt.to/a/4cPN
The cells responsible for creating calcium build-up in vessel walls - resulting in heart disease - have now been identified in a new study published in PLOS Biology.Atherosclerosis - or hardening of the arteries - is the main cause of heart disease.
The Potential To Move Cells With Light Holds Medical Promise
http://mnt.to/a/4cPb
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown they can coax cells to move toward a beam of light. The feat is a first step toward manipulating cells to control insulin secretion or heart rate using light.
Cancer Survivors Who Had Chest Radiation At Increased Mortality Risk Following Heart Surgery
http://mnt.to/a/4cNG
Cancer survivors who had chest radiation are nearly twice as likely to die in the years after having major heart surgery as similar patients who didn't have radiation, according to research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
----------------------------------------------
** CERVICAL CANCER / HPV VACCINE News **
Drug Designed To Restore Cell Suicide In HPV-Related Head And Neck Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4cPc
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which the human papilloma virus (HPV) causes head and neck cancer, and they have designed a drug to block that mechanism. Though further research is needed, the new agent might offer a safer treatment for these tumors when combined with a tapered dose of standard chemotherapy.
----------------------------------------------
** CHOLESTEROL News **
New Link Discovered Between Heart Disease And Red Meat
http://mnt.to/a/4cNr
A compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks has been found to promote atherosclerosis - or the hardening or clogging of the arteries - according to Cleveland Clinic research published online this week in the journal Nature Medicine.
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** CLINICAL TRIALS / DRUG TRIALS News **
Bavarian Nordic Agrees On Interim Analysis With The FDA And Provides An Update On Its PROSPECT Phase 3 Trial
http://mnt.to/a/4cPD
Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) have announced that the Company plans to conduct an interim analysis of the on-going PROSPECT Phase 3 trial of PROSTVAC® in prostate cancer patients with metastatic disease.
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** COLORECTAL CANCER News **
Selecting Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer And Liver Metastasis For Surgery
http://mnt.to/a/4cNt
New results from a clinical trial conducted in Shanghai, China, indicate that adding cetuximab (Erbitux) to standard chemotherapy enables some patients with otherwise inoperable liver metastases due to colorectal cancer have their metastases surgically removed.
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** COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE / ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE News **
Posttraumatic Stress Significantly Reduced By Transcendental Meditation
http://mnt.to/a/4cND
A significant percentage of veterans returning from wars exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS). This is now recognized as a serious health problem, but what about the victims of such violence? Refugees live with the constant reminder of what war has done to their lives and those of their families.
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** CONFERENCES News **
Free Webinar: Guidance For Pharma On NHS Decision Making, April 19, 15:00-16:00 GMT
http://mnt.to/a/4cRf
April 1st saw a major change for Big Pharma decision-making transferred to the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).

 To help big pharma fully understand this new model Create HealthCare are hosting a free webinar.
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** DEPRESSION News **
Amazing Results From Pacemaker Electrodes Implanted In Patients With Major Depression
http://mnt.to/a/4cQy
Researchers from the Bonn University Hospital implanted pacemaker electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle in the brains of patients suffering from major depression with amazing results: In six out of seven patients, symptoms improved both considerably and rapidly.
TBI Increases Odds For Depression, Behavior Impulsivity, PTSD In Patients With Nonepileptic Seizures
http://mnt.to/a/4cNZ
A new study by a Rhode Island Hospital researcher has found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) can significantly increase the odds of having major depression, personality impulsivity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).
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** DIABETES News **
Economic Hard Times in Cuba Reduces Rates Of Heart Disease And Diabetes
http://mnt.to/a/4cRj
During the 1990s in Cuba, food was sparse and gasoline was nearly unavailable because of the US embargo and loss of Russian support; one of the positive consequences of that situation was a reduction in rates of diabetes and heart disease.
The Potential To Move Cells With Light Holds Medical Promise
http://mnt.to/a/4cPb
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown they can coax cells to move toward a beam of light. The feat is a first step toward manipulating cells to control insulin secretion or heart rate using light.
Complications In Diabetes Treatment Can Be Avoided When Patients Cooperate With Their Doctor
http://mnt.to/a/4cNX
Patients who cooperate with their general practitioner and set personal goals for treatment while receiving continuous feedback from their doctor can reduce their risk of complications by up to 20 percent.
Risk For Diabetes Increases With Higher Mercury Levels
http://mnt.to/a/4cNV
A new study found that higher levels of mercury exposure in young adults increased their risks for type 2 diabetes later in life by 65 percent. The study, led by Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington epidemiologist Ka He, is the first to establish the link between mercury and diabetes in humans.
Metabolic Syndrome Prevented, Treated In Mice By The Addition Of Intestinal Enzyme To Their Diets
http://mnt.to/a/4cNw
Feeding an intestinal enzyme to mice kept on a high-fat diet appears to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome - a group of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver - and to reduce symptoms in mice that already had the condition.
----------------------------------------------
** EAR, NOSE AND THROAT News **
Drug Designed To Restore Cell Suicide In HPV-Related Head And Neck Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4cPc
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism by which the human papilloma virus (HPV) causes head and neck cancer, and they have designed a drug to block that mechanism. Though further research is needed, the new agent might offer a safer treatment for these tumors when combined with a tapered dose of standard chemotherapy.
----------------------------------------------
** EPILEPSY News **
'Fast fMRI' Protocol Could Aid In Planning Surgery For Epilepsy And Brain Tumors
http://mnt.to/a/4cP8
A new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique may provide neurosurgeons with a non-invasive tool to help in mapping critical areas of the brain before surgery, reports a study in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
TBI Increases Odds For Depression, Behavior Impulsivity, PTSD In Patients With Nonepileptic Seizures
http://mnt.to/a/4cNZ
A new study by a Rhode Island Hospital researcher has found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) can significantly increase the odds of having major depression, personality impulsivity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).
Prolonged Seizures In Children And Developmental Delays
http://mnt.to/a/4cNB
Researchers from the UK determined that developmental delays are present in children within six weeks following convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) - a seizure lasting longer than thirty minutes.
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** EYE HEALTH / BLINDNESS News **
New Invention Aims To Boost Confidence Of Eye Loss Victims
http://mnt.to/a/4cPF
Researchers at Nottingham Trent University have created an artificial eye with a cosmetic pupil that can dilate and contract in response to light.Using smart materials, the prototype aims to solve the longstanding problem of eye loss victims having two different sized pupils at night or in bright sunshine.
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** GENETICS News **
Alzheimer's Gene Doubles Risk In African-Americans
http://mnt.to/a/4cRh
A variation in the gene ABCA7 causes the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease to double in African-Americans, according to a new study in JAMA.The research, the largest analysis yet to establish genetic risk linked to late-onset Azheimer's disease in African-Americans, was undertaken by the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium and led by scientists from Columbia University Medical Center.
Clinical Trial Finds New Class Of Cancer Drugs Safe And Effective
http://mnt.to/a/4cQr
The safety and preliminary efficacy of a new class of tumor fighting drugs were reported by Scottsdale Healthcare's Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).
Important New Policy Statement On 'Noninvasive Prenatal Screening For Fetal Aneuploidy'
http://mnt.to/a/4cP6
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has just released an important new Policy Statement on "Noninvasive Prenatal Screening for Fetal Aneuploidy." The Statement can be found in the Publications section of the ACMG website* and will soon be published in the peer-reviewed medical journal, Genetics in Medicine.
Shedding Light On Gout: Repair Of Protein Pump Possible
http://mnt.to/a/4cP5
Johns Hopkins scientists have found out how a gout-linked genetic mutation contributes to the disease: by causing a breakdown in a cellular pump that clears an acidic waste product from the bloodstream.
Fly Mutation Offers Clues To Potential Treatment For Motor Neuron Diseases Such As Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
http://mnt.to/a/4cP4
A team of researchers, led by Marc Freeman, PhD, an early career scientist with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have discovered a gene in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that, when mutant, blocks the self-destruction of damaged axons, which could hold clues to treating motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
How Neurons Protect Themselves Against Excess Fat
http://mnt.to/a/4cNN
We're all fatheads. That is, our brain cells are packed with fat molecules, more of them than almost any other cell type. Still, if the brain cells' fat content gets too high, they'll be in trouble.
Researchers Identify Abnormally Expressed LincRNAs In Breast Cancer Patients
http://mnt.to/a/4cNM
Once considered part of the "junk" of our genome, much of the DNA between protein-coding genes is now known to be transcribed. New findings by scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified several dozen transcripts known as lincRNAs, or long intergenic non-coding RNAs, that are dysregulated in breast cancer.
Genetic Testing Not Carried Out For Nearly Half Of Breast Cancer Patients At Risk Of Having BRCA Mutations
http://mnt.to/a/4cNv
Only 53 percent of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who were at high risk of carrying a BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutation - based on age, diagnosis, and family history of breast or ovarian cancer - reported that their doctors urged them to be tested for the genes, according to a research team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
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** GOUT News **
Shedding Light On Gout: Repair Of Protein Pump Possible
http://mnt.to/a/4cP5
Johns Hopkins scientists have found out how a gout-linked genetic mutation contributes to the disease: by causing a breakdown in a cellular pump that clears an acidic waste product from the bloodstream.
----------------------------------------------
** HEADACHE / MIGRAINE News **
Correctly Identifying Migraine Triggers - Formal Experiments Needed, So Work With Your Doctor
http://mnt.to/a/4cNW
Women often point to stress, hormones, alcohol, or even the weather as possible triggers for their migraines. But a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that it is nearly impossible for patients to determine the true cause of their migraine episodes without undergoing formal experiments.
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** HEART DISEASE News **
Economic Hard Times in Cuba Reduces Rates Of Heart Disease And Diabetes
http://mnt.to/a/4cRj
During the 1990s in Cuba, food was sparse and gasoline was nearly unavailable because of the US embargo and loss of Russian support; one of the positive consequences of that situation was a reduction in rates of diabetes and heart disease.
Altering Calcium Build-Up In Blood Vessels May Be New Treatment Method For Heart Disease
http://mnt.to/a/4cPN
The cells responsible for creating calcium build-up in vessel walls - resulting in heart disease - have now been identified in a new study published in PLOS Biology.Atherosclerosis - or hardening of the arteries - is the main cause of heart disease.
Breast Cancer Survival Not Affected By Alcohol Consumption
http://mnt.to/a/4cNz
Although previous research has linked alcohol consumption to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, a new study has found that drinking before and after diagnosis does not impact survival from the disease.
Metabolic Syndrome Prevented, Treated In Mice By The Addition Of Intestinal Enzyme To Their Diets
http://mnt.to/a/4cNw
Feeding an intestinal enzyme to mice kept on a high-fat diet appears to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome - a group of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver - and to reduce symptoms in mice that already had the condition.
New Link Discovered Between Heart Disease And Red Meat
http://mnt.to/a/4cNr
A compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks has been found to promote atherosclerosis - or the hardening or clogging of the arteries - according to Cleveland Clinic research published online this week in the journal Nature Medicine.
----------------------------------------------
** HYPERTENSION News **
High Blood Pressure May Be Lowered By Egg White Protein
http://mnt.to/a/4cQ6
Scientists reported new evidence today that a component of egg whites - already popular as a substitute for whole eggs among health-conscious consumers concerned about cholesterol in the yolk - may have another beneficial effect in reducing blood pressure.
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** IMMUNE SYSTEM / VACCINES News **
The Potential To Move Cells With Light Holds Medical Promise
http://mnt.to/a/4cPb
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown they can coax cells to move toward a beam of light. The feat is a first step toward manipulating cells to control insulin secretion or heart rate using light.
Discovery That Small Genetic Changes Enable The H5N1 Bird Flu Virus To Replicate More Easily In The Noses Of Mammals Could Lead To Vaccine
http://mnt.to/a/4cNR
So far there have only been isolated cases of bird flu in humans, and no widespread transmission as the H5N1 virus can't replicate efficiently in the nose. The new study, using weakened viruses in the lab, supports the conclusions of controversial research published in 2012 which demonstrated that just a few genetic mutations could enable bird flu to spread between ferrets, which are used to model flu infection in humans.
----------------------------------------------
** INFECTIOUS DISEASES / BACTERIA / VIRUSES News **
Minocycline Show Benefits In Children With Inherited Cause Of Intellectual Disability And Autism
http://mnt.to/a/4cNF
The antibiotic drug minocycline yields "modest" but meaningful improvements in functioning and mood for children with fragile X syndrome (FXS), reports a study in the April Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
----------------------------------------------
** IT / INTERNET / E-MAIL News **
Eight In Ten Doctors Are Concerned Online Medical Records Will Increase Workload, MPS Survey Reveals
http://mnt.to/a/4cPH
A survey by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) reveals that 84% of doctors think that online records will mean spending more time explaining the contents of records to patients. Although doctors and the public agree the most important use of medical records is to give the doctor an overview of all the medical treatments a patient has received, there is a mismatch in expectations about how records should be written.
Risk Posed By Lung Nodules Identified And Stratified By New Software
http://mnt.to/a/4cP2
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Mayo Clinic has developed a new software tool to noninvasively characterize pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common type of cancerous nodule in the lungs.
Verifying Software Safety In Surgical Robots
http://mnt.to/a/4cNP
Surgical robots could make some types of surgery safer and more effective, but proving that the software controlling these machines works as intended is problematic. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have demonstrated that methods for reliably detecting software bugs and ultimately verifying software safety can be applied successfully to this breed of robot.
----------------------------------------------
** LIVER DISEASE / HEPATITIS News **
Selecting Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer And Liver Metastasis For Surgery
http://mnt.to/a/4cNt
New results from a clinical trial conducted in Shanghai, China, indicate that adding cetuximab (Erbitux) to standard chemotherapy enables some patients with otherwise inoperable liver metastases due to colorectal cancer have their metastases surgically removed.
----------------------------------------------
** LUNG CANCER News **
BIND Therapeutics' Nanoparticle Drug Effective Against Multiple Solid Tumors In Phase 1 Study
http://mnt.to/a/4cQs
The nanoparticle drug BIND-014 is effective against multiple solid tumors, according to results generated by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare, and presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2013.
Risk Posed By Lung Nodules Identified And Stratified By New Software
http://mnt.to/a/4cP2
A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Mayo Clinic has developed a new software tool to noninvasively characterize pulmonary adenocarcinoma, a common type of cancerous nodule in the lungs.
Male Smokers With Low Levels Of Serum Bilirubin At Greater Risk For Lung Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4cNs
Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood get attention in the clinic because they often indicate that something has gone wrong with the liver. Now researchers have found that male smokers with low levels of the yellow-tinged chemical are at higher risk for lung cancer and dying from the disease.
----------------------------------------------
** MEDICAL DEVICES / DIAGNOSTICS News **
Amazing Results From Pacemaker Electrodes Implanted In Patients With Major Depression
http://mnt.to/a/4cQy
Researchers from the Bonn University Hospital implanted pacemaker electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle in the brains of patients suffering from major depression with amazing results: In six out of seven patients, symptoms improved both considerably and rapidly.
Alarm Fatigue Is Putting Patients' Lives At Risk
http://mnt.to/a/4cPM
The constant beeping of medical devices in hospitals is causing "alarm fatigue" and putting patients' lives at risk.Hospital workers have become desensitized to the noise, which sometimes causes them to ignore the alarms, and has resulted in at least two dozen deaths each year, according to a new report by the Joint Commission, the national organization that accredits hospitals.
Verifying Software Safety In Surgical Robots
http://mnt.to/a/4cNP
Surgical robots could make some types of surgery safer and more effective, but proving that the software controlling these machines works as intended is problematic. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have demonstrated that methods for reliably detecting software bugs and ultimately verifying software safety can be applied successfully to this breed of robot.
----------------------------------------------
** MEN'S HEALTH News **
Prostate Cancer With Faulty BRCA2 Gene Spreads More Quickly
http://mnt.to/a/4cPS
A new study finds that prostate cancer spreads more quickly and is more likely to be fatal in men who have inherited a faulty BRCA2 gene. The researchers say such patients should be treated straight away with surgery or radiotherapy rather than just be monitored.
Male Smokers With Low Levels Of Serum Bilirubin At Greater Risk For Lung Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4cNs
Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood get attention in the clinic because they often indicate that something has gone wrong with the liver. Now researchers have found that male smokers with low levels of the yellow-tinged chemical are at higher risk for lung cancer and dying from the disease.
----------------------------------------------
** MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY / ALS News **
Fly Mutation Offers Clues To Potential Treatment For Motor Neuron Diseases Such As Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
http://mnt.to/a/4cP4
A team of researchers, led by Marc Freeman, PhD, an early career scientist with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have discovered a gene in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that, when mutant, blocks the self-destruction of damaged axons, which could hold clues to treating motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
----------------------------------------------
** NEUROLOGY / NEUROSCIENCE News **
Researchers Exploring 'Nano-Sized Extracellular Vesicles' For Identification, Monitoring And Treatment Of Brain Tumors
http://mnt.to/a/4cP9
The recent discovery of circulating "nano-sized extracellular vesicles" (EVs) carrying proteins and nucleic acids derived from brain tumors may lead to exciting new avenues for brain cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, according to a special article in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
'Fast fMRI' Protocol Could Aid In Planning Surgery For Epilepsy And Brain Tumors
http://mnt.to/a/4cP8
A new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique may provide neurosurgeons with a non-invasive tool to help in mapping critical areas of the brain before surgery, reports a study in the April issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Fly Mutation Offers Clues To Potential Treatment For Motor Neuron Diseases Such As Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
http://mnt.to/a/4cP4
A team of researchers, led by Marc Freeman, PhD, an early career scientist with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have discovered a gene in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster that, when mutant, blocks the self-destruction of damaged axons, which could hold clues to treating motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
TBI Increases Odds For Depression, Behavior Impulsivity, PTSD In Patients With Nonepileptic Seizures
http://mnt.to/a/4cNZ
A new study by a Rhode Island Hospital researcher has found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) can significantly increase the odds of having major depression, personality impulsivity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).
Unique Mechanism Identified By Which Glioblastoma Cells Develop Resistance To Drugs That Target EGFR Signaling
http://mnt.to/a/4cNQ
Proteins that control cell growth are often mutated in cancer, and their aberrant signaling drives the wild proliferation of cells that gives rise to tumors. One such protein, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), fuels a wide variety of cancers - including a highly malignant brain cancer known as glioblastoma.
How Neurons Protect Themselves Against Excess Fat
http://mnt.to/a/4cNN
We're all fatheads. That is, our brain cells are packed with fat molecules, more of them than almost any other cell type. Still, if the brain cells' fat content gets too high, they'll be in trouble.
Minocycline Show Benefits In Children With Inherited Cause Of Intellectual Disability And Autism
http://mnt.to/a/4cNF
The antibiotic drug minocycline yields "modest" but meaningful improvements in functioning and mood for children with fragile X syndrome (FXS), reports a study in the April Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
Prolonged Seizures In Children And Developmental Delays
http://mnt.to/a/4cNB
Researchers from the UK determined that developmental delays are present in children within six weeks following convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) - a seizure lasting longer than thirty minutes.
'Jumping Genes' May Contribute To Aging-Related Brain Defects
http://mnt.to/a/4cNp
As the body ages, the physical effects are notable; wrinkles in the skin appear, physical exertion becomes harder. But there are also less visible processes going on. Inside aging brains there is another phenomenon at work, which may contribute to age-related brain defects.
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** NUTRITION / DIET News **
High Blood Pressure May Be Lowered By Egg White Protein
http://mnt.to/a/4cQ6
Scientists reported new evidence today that a component of egg whites - already popular as a substitute for whole eggs among health-conscious consumers concerned about cholesterol in the yolk - may have another beneficial effect in reducing blood pressure.
Risk For Diabetes Increases With Higher Mercury Levels
http://mnt.to/a/4cNV
A new study found that higher levels of mercury exposure in young adults increased their risks for type 2 diabetes later in life by 65 percent. The study, led by Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington epidemiologist Ka He, is the first to establish the link between mercury and diabetes in humans.
Metabolic Syndrome Prevented, Treated In Mice By The Addition Of Intestinal Enzyme To Their Diets
http://mnt.to/a/4cNw
Feeding an intestinal enzyme to mice kept on a high-fat diet appears to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome - a group of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver - and to reduce symptoms in mice that already had the condition.
New Link Discovered Between Heart Disease And Red Meat
http://mnt.to/a/4cNr
A compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks has been found to promote atherosclerosis - or the hardening or clogging of the arteries - according to Cleveland Clinic research published online this week in the journal Nature Medicine.
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** OBESITY / WEIGHT LOSS / FITNESS News **
Increased Sleep Could Reduce Rate Of Adolescent Obesity: Each Additional Hour Of Sleep Is Associated With A Lower BMI
http://mnt.to/a/4cP7
Increasing the number of hours of sleep adolescents get each night may reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Addressing Pre-Pregnancy Weight And Then Weight Gain And GDM Together In Pregnancy To Avoid Risk Of High Birthweight Babies
http://mnt.to/a/4cNx
A new study shows that a woman's pre-pregnancy body fat (adiposity), in-pregnancy weight gain, and presence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can all combine to steeply increase the risk of giving birth to large-for-gestational age (LGA) babies to different degrees in white non-Hispanic, black non-Hispanic, White Hispanic, and Asian women, with the highest combined risk being in White non-Hispanic women.
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** OVARIAN CANCER News **
New 2-Drug Combination Effective For Some Patients With Incurable Tumors And BRCA Mutations
http://mnt.to/a/4cNq
A novel combination of two drugs has shown anti-cancer activity in patients who had incurable solid tumors and carried a germline mutation in their BRCA genes, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers reported at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Washington, April 6-10.
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** PANCREATIC CANCER News **
New 2-Drug Combination Effective For Some Patients With Incurable Tumors And BRCA Mutations
http://mnt.to/a/4cNq
A novel combination of two drugs has shown anti-cancer activity in patients who had incurable solid tumors and carried a germline mutation in their BRCA genes, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers reported at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Washington, April 6-10.
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** PEDIATRICS / CHILDREN'S HEALTH News **
Fetal Exposure To Air Pollution Increases Risk Of Pediatric Cancers
http://mnt.to/a/4cRg
Pregnant women exposed to air pollution put their children at an increased risk of three different types of cancer, according to new research presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013. In their study, researchers identified that prolonged exposure to traffic-related air pollution can increase a child's risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and two other rare childhood cancers.
Increased Sleep Could Reduce Rate Of Adolescent Obesity: Each Additional Hour Of Sleep Is Associated With A Lower BMI
http://mnt.to/a/4cP7
Increasing the number of hours of sleep adolescents get each night may reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Teenagers Can Safely Use IUDs For Birth Control
http://mnt.to/a/4cNC
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are as safe for teenagers - including those who have never given birth - as they are for adults, according to research from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Prolonged Seizures In Children And Developmental Delays
http://mnt.to/a/4cNB
Researchers from the UK determined that developmental delays are present in children within six weeks following convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) - a seizure lasting longer than thirty minutes.
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** PHARMA INDUSTRY / BIOTECH INDUSTRY News **
Free Webinar: Guidance For Pharma On NHS Decision Making, April 19, 15:00-16:00 GMT
http://mnt.to/a/4cRf
April 1st saw a major change for Big Pharma decision-making transferred to the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).

 To help big pharma fully understand this new model Create HealthCare are hosting a free webinar.
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** PREGNANCY / OBSTETRICS News **
Fetal Exposure To Air Pollution Increases Risk Of Pediatric Cancers
http://mnt.to/a/4cRg
Pregnant women exposed to air pollution put their children at an increased risk of three different types of cancer, according to new research presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013. In their study, researchers identified that prolonged exposure to traffic-related air pollution can increase a child's risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and two other rare childhood cancers.
Important New Policy Statement On 'Noninvasive Prenatal Screening For Fetal Aneuploidy'
http://mnt.to/a/4cP6
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) has just released an important new Policy Statement on "Noninvasive Prenatal Screening for Fetal Aneuploidy." The Statement can be found in the Publications section of the ACMG website* and will soon be published in the peer-reviewed medical journal, Genetics in Medicine.
59% Increased Risk Of Miscarriage For Women Living Under Rocket Fire
http://mnt.to/a/4cP3
Several studies have examined the impact of stress on a pregnancy - both chronic stress, such as workload, and acute stress associated with traumatic events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They conclude that stress can lead to adverse birth outcomes, including miscarriage and premature birth.
Stillbirth Rates Have Increased Significantly, Although Spontaneous Stillbirth Rates Have Not
http://mnt.to/a/4cNK
The rate of stillbirths in British Columbia, Canada, increased by 31% over a decade, although the rate of spontaneous stillbirths did not increase, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Addressing Pre-Pregnancy Weight And Then Weight Gain And GDM Together In Pregnancy To Avoid Risk Of High Birthweight Babies
http://mnt.to/a/4cNx
A new study shows that a woman's pre-pregnancy body fat (adiposity), in-pregnancy weight gain, and presence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can all combine to steeply increase the risk of giving birth to large-for-gestational age (LGA) babies to different degrees in white non-Hispanic, black non-Hispanic, White Hispanic, and Asian women, with the highest combined risk being in White non-Hispanic women.
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** PREVENTIVE MEDICINE News **
Promoting Physician Health Leads To Healthier Patients
http://mnt.to/a/4cNy
Patients are more likely to follow preventive health practices like getting a flu shot or mammography if their doctors do likewise, researchers at the University of British Columbia and in Israel have discovered.
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** PRIMARY CARE / GENERAL PRACTICE News **
Eight In Ten Doctors Are Concerned Online Medical Records Will Increase Workload, MPS Survey Reveals
http://mnt.to/a/4cPH
A survey by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) reveals that 84% of doctors think that online records will mean spending more time explaining the contents of records to patients. Although doctors and the public agree the most important use of medical records is to give the doctor an overview of all the medical treatments a patient has received, there is a mismatch in expectations about how records should be written.
Expectations Found To Be Higher In Older Patients And They Experience Greater Satisfaction With Healthcare
http://mnt.to/a/4cNT
New research on patients' experiences of health services and how these relate to their expectations and satisfaction, published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, reveals that older people have higher expectations of their care and that they believe that their expectations are being met.
Promoting Physician Health Leads To Healthier Patients
http://mnt.to/a/4cNy
Patients are more likely to follow preventive health practices like getting a flu shot or mammography if their doctors do likewise, researchers at the University of British Columbia and in Israel have discovered.
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** PROSTATE / PROSTATE CANCER News **
BIND Therapeutics' Nanoparticle Drug Effective Against Multiple Solid Tumors In Phase 1 Study
http://mnt.to/a/4cQs
The nanoparticle drug BIND-014 is effective against multiple solid tumors, according to results generated by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare, and presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2013.
Prostate Cancer With Faulty BRCA2 Gene Spreads More Quickly
http://mnt.to/a/4cPS
A new study finds that prostate cancer spreads more quickly and is more likely to be fatal in men who have inherited a faulty BRCA2 gene. The researchers say such patients should be treated straight away with surgery or radiotherapy rather than just be monitored.
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** PSYCHOLOGY / PSYCHIATRY News **
Our Experience Of Acute Or Short-Term Stress Is Shaped By How We Interpret Physical Cues
http://mnt.to/a/4cNY
Fear of public speaking tops death and spiders as the nation's number one phobia. But new research shows that learning to rethink the way we view our shaky hands, pounding heart, and sweaty palms can help people perform better both mentally and physically.
Posttraumatic Stress Significantly Reduced By Transcendental Meditation
http://mnt.to/a/4cND
A significant percentage of veterans returning from wars exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS). This is now recognized as a serious health problem, but what about the victims of such violence? Refugees live with the constant reminder of what war has done to their lives and those of their families.
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** PUBLIC HEALTH News **
Economic Hard Times in Cuba Reduces Rates Of Heart Disease And Diabetes
http://mnt.to/a/4cRj
During the 1990s in Cuba, food was sparse and gasoline was nearly unavailable because of the US embargo and loss of Russian support; one of the positive consequences of that situation was a reduction in rates of diabetes and heart disease.
Patients Follow Doctors Who Follow Preventive Health Practices
http://mnt.to/a/4cPP
Patients are more likely to follow preventive health practices like getting a flu shot or mammography if their doctors do likewise, researchers at the University of British Columbia and in Israel have discovered.
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** RADIOLOGY / NUCLEAR MEDICINE News **
Cancer Survivors Who Had Chest Radiation At Increased Mortality Risk Following Heart Surgery
http://mnt.to/a/4cNG
Cancer survivors who had chest radiation are nearly twice as likely to die in the years after having major heart surgery as similar patients who didn't have radiation, according to research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
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** REGULATORY AFFAIRS / DRUG APPROVALS News **
Bavarian Nordic Agrees On Interim Analysis With The FDA And Provides An Update On Its PROSPECT Phase 3 Trial
http://mnt.to/a/4cPD
Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) have announced that the Company plans to conduct an interim analysis of the on-going PROSPECT Phase 3 trial of PROSTVAC® in prostate cancer patients with metastatic disease.
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** SENIORS / AGING News **
Expectations Found To Be Higher In Older Patients And They Experience Greater Satisfaction With Healthcare
http://mnt.to/a/4cNT
New research on patients' experiences of health services and how these relate to their expectations and satisfaction, published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, reveals that older people have higher expectations of their care and that they believe that their expectations are being met.
'Jumping Genes' May Contribute To Aging-Related Brain Defects
http://mnt.to/a/4cNp
As the body ages, the physical effects are notable; wrinkles in the skin appear, physical exertion becomes harder. But there are also less visible processes going on. Inside aging brains there is another phenomenon at work, which may contribute to age-related brain defects.
----------------------------------------------
** SEXUAL HEALTH / STDS News **
Teenagers Can Safely Use IUDs For Birth Control
http://mnt.to/a/4cNC
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are as safe for teenagers - including those who have never given birth - as they are for adults, according to research from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
----------------------------------------------
** SLEEP / SLEEP DISORDERS / INSOMNIA News **
Increased Sleep Could Reduce Rate Of Adolescent Obesity: Each Additional Hour Of Sleep Is Associated With A Lower BMI
http://mnt.to/a/4cP7
Increasing the number of hours of sleep adolescents get each night may reduce the prevalence of adolescent obesity, according to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
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** SMOKING / QUIT SMOKING News **
Male Smokers With Low Levels Of Serum Bilirubin At Greater Risk For Lung Cancer
http://mnt.to/a/4cNs
Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood get attention in the clinic because they often indicate that something has gone wrong with the liver. Now researchers have found that male smokers with low levels of the yellow-tinged chemical are at higher risk for lung cancer and dying from the disease.
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** UROLOGY / NEPHROLOGY News **
BIND Therapeutics' Nanoparticle Drug Effective Against Multiple Solid Tumors In Phase 1 Study
http://mnt.to/a/4cQs
The nanoparticle drug BIND-014 is effective against multiple solid tumors, according to results generated by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare, and presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2013.
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** VASCULAR News **
Surprising Discovery Important For The Understanding Of Vascular Stenosis And For Technical Spinning Processes
http://mnt.to/a/4cNS
When small particles flow through thin capillaries, they display an unusual orientation behaviour. This has recently been discovered by a research team led by Prof. Stephan Forster and Prof. Walter Zimmermann (University of Bayreuth, Germany) at the X-ray sources DORIS III and PETRA III of the research centre DESY in Hamburg, Germany.
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** WOMEN'S HEALTH / GYNECOLOGY News **
Correctly Identifying Migraine Triggers - Formal Experiments Needed, So Work With Your Doctor
http://mnt.to/a/4cNW
Women often point to stress, hormones, alcohol, or even the weather as possible triggers for their migraines. But a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that it is nearly impossible for patients to determine the true cause of their migraine episodes without undergoing formal experiments.
Teenagers Can Safely Use IUDs For Birth Control
http://mnt.to/a/4cNC
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are as safe for teenagers - including those who have never given birth - as they are for adults, according to research from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
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