Health Research:Sleepwalkers feel no pain, remain asleep despite suffering injuries ♦ 3-D printed 'building blocks' of life ♦ Lifestyle a risk factor for celiac disease

Off-label prescription drug use and adverse drug events Off-label use of prescription drugs was associated with adverse drug events in a study of patients in Canada, especially off-label use lacking strong scientific evidence.

Lifestyle a risk factor for celiac disease Celiac disease incidence has increased among Swedish children between 2 to 15 years. The significant escalation in celiac disease can be associated with planned caesarean sections, urinary tract infections during pregnancy, season of birth and being born in south Sweden.

Sleepwalkers feel no pain, remain asleep despite suffering injuries A new study of sleepwalkers found an intriguing paradox: Although sleepwalkers have an increased risk for headaches and migraines while awake, during sleepwalking episodes they are unlikely to feel pain even while suffering an injury.

3-D printed 'building blocks' of life Scientists have developed a 3-D printing method capable of producing highly uniform 'blocks' of embryonic stem cells. These cells -- capable of generating all cell types in the body -- could be used as the 'Lego bricks' to build tissue constructs, larger structures of tissues, and potentially even micro-organs.

Children's Health:Early maturing girls at great risk of alcohol abuse without close parental supervision ♦ Birth weight affects social trust, ♦ Blocking light improves preemies' survival rates

Early exposure to tobacco can cause behavioral problems in children Researchers have analyzed data on pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco in the homes of 5,200 primary school children, and have found that early exposure to tobacco can lead to behavioral problems in children.

Birth weight affects social trust, Low birth weight is statistically correlated with low levels of social trust. The findings deepen our understanding of what keeps society together.

Early maturing girls at great risk of alcohol abuse without close parental supervision Inadequate parental supervision during early adolescence forecasts a host of behavior problems, including problem drinking. Early maturing girls given the most autonomy had the highest rates of alcohol abuse, with intoxication frequency increasing an average of 234 percent.

Early life infections may be a risk factor for Celiac disease in childhood Children with frequent infections in the first 18 months of life have a slightly increased risk of later developing celiac disease compared with children who have few infections, conclude researchers. Celiac disease is an immune-mediated disease triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. In recent decades there has been a marked increase in the prevalence of celiac disease and it is believed that one per cent of the population in Western countries.

Blocking light improves preemies' survival rates The survival rate of preemies born between 26 to 31 weeks of gestation is improved by blocking light from reaching the intravenously-fed infused nutritious mixture they depend on for survival.

Children's Health: Novel genes found in inflammatory bowel disease ♦ Emotional behavior altered after multiple exposures to anesthesia ♦ Babies benefit from parenting classes even before birth

Babies benefit from parenting classes even before birth A brief series of classes to help first-time parents better support each other through the often stressful transition to parenthood has a positive effect on birth outcomes as well.

Emotional behavior altered after multiple exposures to anesthesia during infancy Repeated exposure to anesthesia early in life causes alterations in emotional behavior that may persist long-term.

Childhood celiac disease discovery opens door for potential treatments Childhood celiac disease mirrors the condition in adults, increasing the possibility a celiac disease therapy that could enable patients to eat gluten again will work in children.

Novel genes found in inflammatory bowel disease under age five Researchers analyzing the complicated genetic influences in inflammatory bowel disease have discovered new gene variants associated with an often-severe type of the disease that affects children under age five. The genes play important roles in immune function, and that knowledge helps guide more precise, individualized treatments for very young patients.

Pulses for better posture In an effort to find a better treatment for spinal curvature in children and young people, the EU’s “StimulAIS” project is focused on electrostimulation of muscles. Scientists worked with partners from industry and research to develop a prototype implant that would do the job.

Immune Research: Protein suggests a new strategy to thwart infection ♦ Spouses, relatives of celiac disease patients at risk for autoimmune diseases ♦ Vitamin A supplementation may cause immune system to 'forget' past infections

Vitamin A supplementation may cause immune system to 'forget' past infections Although vitamin A supplementation can have profound health benefits when someone is deficient, new evidence is emerging to show that vitamin A supplementation above and beyond normal levels may have negative health consequences. A new research report may help to explain why too much vitamin A can be harmful.

Spouses, relatives of celiac disease patients at risk for autoimmune diseases Both spouses and first-degree relatives of patients with celiac disease are at increased risk of non celiac autoimmune disease. While the excess risk found in celiac first-degree relatives can be explained by genetics, the higher risk in spouses points to the impact of environmental factors. It is also possible that spouses share microbiome characteristics with their husband/wife, which might impact the risk of developing and diagnosing other autoimmune diseases.

Link found between autoimmune diseases, medications, dangerous heartbeat condition New research focuses on identifying the mechanism by which patients with various autoimmune and connective tissue disorders may be at risk for life-threatening cardiac events if they take certain anti-histamine or anti-depressant medications.

Protein suggests a new strategy to thwart infection The newfound ability of a protein of the intestines and lungs to distinguish between human cells and the cells of bacterial invaders could underpin new strategies to fight infections. A new article describes the knack of a human protein known as intelectin to distinguish between our cells and those of the disease-causing microbes that invade our bodies.

Health Research: Virus-carrying mosquitoes are more widespread than ever ♦ The riddle of Celiac disease solved? ♦ Medical tourism: Implications for patients, health systems

Longer acquaintance levels the romantic playing field Partners who become romantically involved soon after meeting tend to be more similar in physical attractiveness than partners who get together after knowing each other for a while, according to new findings

Smell fingerprints? Each person may have a unique sense of smell Scientists have developed an 'olfactory fingerprint' test that may do more than just identify individuals.

Virus-carrying mosquitoes are more widespread than ever, and spreading Scientists behind the first global distribution maps of two species of dengue and chikungunya-carrying mosquitoes warn they are spreading to new areas where they could cause disease

The riddle of Celiac disease solved? The cause of celiac disease has been found, researchers claim. Experts estimate that 1% of people have celiac disease. This is a partly hereditary disease that may place considerable strain on patients and their families. The immune system of patients with celiac disease reacts to gluten proteins from cereal grains, causing inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. This reaction to gluten causes the immune system of celiac patients to attack their own body.

Medical tourism: Implications for patients, health systems Patients who travel abroad for medical treatment risk returning with complications or infections that require costly treatment, and is one of the issues highlighted in a new handbook exploring medical tourism