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Researchers have found mosquito and human genes that help dengue fever to cause infection and to grow. They said this finding could lead to new drugs against the tropical disease. The research began with fruit flies, because they are similar to mosquitoes but more often studied. Scientists turned off, or “silenced,” fly genes, one by one. This allowed them to find 116 genes that helped dengue cause infection and grow. These genes are known as host factors. Then researchers tried turning off the genes in mosquitoes. Turning off one particular gene made it much harder for dengue to infect the mosquitoes. Researchers also found similar genes in human cells. The study was published April 23 in the journal Nature.

Pregnant woman and children are among those who should get H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine first, an expert panel says. The vaccine advice came July 30 from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The U.S. government usually follows this group’s advice, USA TODAY said. The group also named a few other groups that should get top priority for swine flu shots. They include young adults, parents and others who care for infants, emergency medical workers, and non-elderly adults with certain medical conditions. U.S. officials hope swine flu vaccine will be ready by late October. Supplies may be limited at first. People also will be urged to get regular flu shots. They fight a different type of flu than the swine flu vaccine.

Measuring the growth of small lumps in the lungs may help to detect lung cancer in some people at high risk, a new study suggests. The study included 7,557 people at high risk for lung cancer. Each received a computed tomography (CT) scan of the lungs. If the test showed a small lump called a nodule, it was repeated three months later. Further tests, such as biopsy, were done only for lumps that grew quickly between the two scans. About 40% of people with fast-growing lumps had lung cancer. Everyone else in the study received a follow-up CT scan after one year. That scan found cancer in 1 out of 1,000 people. Another scan after two years found cancer in 3 out of 1,000. These results show that the first round of tests missed few cancers, researchers said. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study December 3.

Truck and bus drivers and merchant ship pilots should be tested for sleep apnea, a U.S. agency says. The National Transportation Safety Board proposed the new rule. The Associated Press wrote about the proposal October 20. The safety board sent its advice in letters to agencies that regulate trucks, buses and ships. The board said sleep apnea tests can help prevent accidents. It cited several examples of fatal accidents caused by drivers or pilots who had sleep apnea. The condition affects the quality of sleep. It can make people drowsy in the daytime. Earlier this year, the safety board endorsed sleep apnea tests for airline pilots and train operators.

Weight loss surgery may lead to bone loss, a study suggests. The study included 23 very obese men and women. All had gastric bypass surgery for weight loss. After surgery, researchers kept track of their levels of vitamin D and calcium. Calcium levels dropped and vitamin D remained steady despite increased intake of both. Bone density also fell. The decline was greatest for those who lost the most weight. The study was published September 23 in the Journal of clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

People with brain cancer in the family are more likely to develop it themselves, a study has found. Researchers looked at records of 1,401 people with brain cancer and their families. Risk of glioblastoma was double for people with a close family member who had this type of tumor. Risk of astrocytoma was four times as high for people with a family history of it. The study looked only at cancers that started in the brain. It did not include those that spread to the brain from elsewhere in the body. Results appeared September 23 in the journal Neurology.

Six new cases of pancreatitis in people taking the diabetes drug Byetta have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Two people died. The drug will get a stronger warning label, the FDA said. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The FDA first warned about this problem with Byetta in 2007. At the time, there were 30 cases of pancreatitis. The Associated Press wrote about the FDA announcement August 18.

A vaccine against urinary tract infections (UTIs) shows promising results in tests with mice, researchers say. The vaccine fights infections caused by Escherichia coli bacteria. E. coli causes most simple UTIs. Mice who got the vaccine were protected from UTIs. The vaccine is given in the nose. It causes an immune reaction in a type of body tissue called mucosa, which is found in the nose and the urinary tract. The vaccine is made so that specific proteins on the surface of E. coli bacteria trigger the immune reaction. Most types of E. coli have these proteins. Therefore, researchers think the vaccine will protect against many UTIs. Study results were published in the journal PLoS Pathogens. HealthDay News wrote about the study September 18.

Bans on smoking in public places reduce heart attack rates. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The institute is an independent group of experts that advises the U.S. government. The experts looked at 11 studies from the United States, Canada, Italy and Scotland. They found that heart attack rates dropped after smoking bans in restaurants and other public places took effect. The reduction ranged from 6% to 47%. Smoking and secondhand smoke release tiny particles of air pollution. Smoke can damage blood vessels and promote formation of blood clots that cause heart attacks. The Associated Press wrote about the report October 15.

Your genes may affect your risk of fatty liver disease and insulin resistance, a study suggests. A buildup of fat in the liver can be caused by obesity or drinking too much alcohol. The disease also is common in Asian Indian men, for unknown reasons. Fatty liver disease can lead to more serious liver conditions. Insulin resistance is a problem with the body’s use of insulin to help turn sugar into energy. It is linked linked to obesity and can lead to diabetes. Researchers gave gene tests to 95 lean Asian Indian men and 163 men with mixed ethnic backgrounds. In both groups, 38% of those with a mutant version of one gene had fatty liver disease and insulin resistance. This was much higher than the average rate. The gene helps to regulate fat metabolism. People with the mutant gene were less able to break down fat. Therefore, it was stored in the liver.