health News: Use of nanoparticles administered via hair follicles will combat surgical site infections ♦ Gains in health insurance across Texas fall behind rest of US

Use of nanoparticles administered via hair follicles will combat surgical site infections and wounds Many surgery patients develop infections and are a major source of prolonged illness and significant cause of death. Now, a research project is investigating the use of nanoparticles as a way to disinfect wounds. It could prove to be much more effective than existing techniques because the particles would be tiny enough to enter the skin via hair follicles, ensuring much better penetration of the area affected by surgery.

Multiple myeloma drug could revolutionize treatment for sickle cell disease An established drug for recurrent multiple myeloma might effectively be repurposed to improve the survival and day-to-day lives of patients with devastating sickle cell disease.

Gains in health insurance across Texas fall behind rest of US The rate of adults without health insurance across the US dropped nearly twice as much as in Texas from 2013 to 2015, according to a new report. The report found that since enrollment began in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in September 2013, the adult uninsured rate in the U.S. fell by 41 percent. Researchers found Texas' uninsured rate dropped just 21 percent during the same time.

New material developed for accelerated skin regeneration in major wounds Researchers have developed a synthetic biomaterial that fills wounds and aids in regeneration of skin cells, which ultimately improves wound healing.

Children's Health: Children with specific birth defects at increased risk for abuse ♦ New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US schoolchildren

New technology may standardize sickle cell disease screening for infants Researchers offer promising findings related to new technology aimed at facilitating early detection of sickle cell disease for infants in developing countries. Over half of babies born with sickle cell disease (SCD) in countries with limited resources die before age five. Over 6 million people in West and Central Africa suffer from the disease, which causes pain crises, widespread organ damage and early mortality

New report finds 43 percent increase in ADHD diagnosis for US schoolchildren Twelve percent of US children and teens had a diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 2011, a number that has jumped by 43 percent since 2003.

Children with specific birth defects at increased risk for abuse Children born with cleft lip or palate and spina bifida are at an increased risk for abuse before the age of two, according to researchers. The researchers found that compared to children without birth defects the risk of maltreatment in children with cleft lip and/or palate was increased by 40 percent and for children with spina bifida, the risk was increased by 58 percent.

Parents have more influence than they might realize to prevent substance use Adolescence is a time when many children may consider experimenting with alcohol or drugs. New research shows parents can reduce that risk by maintaining a healthy and open relationship with their children.

Health Research:Fat cells originating from bone marrow found in humans ♦ Vision test gives insight into the effect of prenatal exposure to recreational drugs

City-wide effort boosts NYC's colorectal cancer screening rates Work to increase colorectal cancer screening rates in New York City have resulted in a 40 percent increase in screening rates over four years.

Treatment for sickle cell disease may help protect patients' kidney function After six months of treatment with hydroxyurea, sickle cell disease patients' kidney function, as measured by the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, improved significantly.

Vision test gives insight into the effect of prenatal exposure to recreational drugs

Children exposed to marijuana in the womb show a significant improvement in their ability to track moving objects at age four. But researchers are warning that the results do not mean marijuana has a beneficial effect on fetal development.

Fat cells originating from bone marrow found in humans Fat cells produced by stem cells from the bone marrow may be linked to chronic illnesses like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and some cancers.

Health Research: Mindfulness training helps with inflammatory bowel diseases ♦ An easy test for sickle cell disease ♦ Drug protects fertility and may prolong life

Mindfulness training helps patients with inflammatory bowel diseases Training in meditation and other mindfulness-based techniques brings lasting improvements in mental health and quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

An easy test for sickle cell disease A team of biomedical engineers has developed a simple, inexpensive, and quick technique for the diagnosis and monitoring of sickle cell disease that can be used in regions where advanced medical technology and training are scarce

Study points to more individualized treatment options for youth with onset type 2 diabetes New research examined predictors of the outcomes in youth with onset type 2 diabetes based on early characteristics at diagnosis, and suggests the need for specific criteria for adolescents that are different from those in adults

Drug protects fertility and may prolong life in chemo-treated mice A physician and her research team have shown that a heart medication can prevent ovarian damage and improve survival in adolescent mice after chemotherapy. The treatment also increased the number of their healthy offspring.

Cardiovascular Research:New imaging agent can locate hidden blood clots ♦ Extreme makeover of the heart ♦ Cure for sickle cell in adults validated

Microbiome implicated in sickle cell disease; antibiotics can counter its effects New research on sickle cell disease (SCD) has found that using antibiotics to deplete the body’s microbiome may prevent acute sickle cell crisis and could offer the first effective strategy for warding off the disease’s long-term complications, such as organ failure. The study could also lead to better treatment for other inflammatory blood-vessel disorders including septic shock.

Whole-body PET scan with new imaging agent can locate hidden blood clots A novel radiopharmaceutical probe has the potential of providing physicians with information that could save the lives of patients with ischemic stroke or pulmonary embolism -- conditions caused when important blood vessels are blocked by a clot that has traveled from another part of the body.

Blood tests reveal early signs of cardiovascular disease risk in obese African-American teens Obese African-American teens, particularly girls, may have immune system changes that can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Taking steps to control weight early in life may reduce inflammation and its negative effects on the cardiovascular system. Blood tests are a possible new preventive tactic to identify teens who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease

Extreme makeover of the heart: Matrix therapy is first FDA-approved procedure of its kind A cardiovascular team has successfully performed a first-in-the-world heart procedure on a 72-year-old attorney after suffering a large heart attack. In the emerging heart procedure cardiac matrix is directly injected into a damaged heart

Cure for sickle cell in adults validated Physicians have cured 12 adult patients of sickle cell disease using a unique procedure for stem cell transplantation from healthy, tissue-matched siblings. The new technique eliminates the need for chemotherapy to prepare the patient to receive the transplanted cells and offers the prospect of cure for tens of thousands of adults suffering from sickle cell disease.