---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, May 10, 2013 at 1:59 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Thursday, May 9
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, May 10, 2013 at 1:59 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Thursday, May 9
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 9, 2013:
- Dad's genome more ready at fertilization than mom's is—but hers catches up
- The secret lives of bubbles: Mathematicians describe evolution, dissolution of clusters of bubbles (w/ video)
- Cirrus clouds form around mineral dust and metallic particles, study finds
- Water on Moon and Earth came from same primitive meteorites, analysis shows
- Ice-free Arctic may be in our future, says research
- How individuality develops? Experience leads to the growth of new brain cells
- Scientists create new tool for identifying powerful HIV antibodies
- Bacterial infection in mosquitoes renders them immune to malaria parasites
- Unleashing the watchdog protein
- Researchers discover dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain
- Sifting through the atmospheres of far-off worlds
- Salk researchers chart epigenomics of stem cells that mimic early human development
- New advance in biofuel production: Researchers develop enzyme-free ionic liquid pre-treatment
- UK budget airline to test ash cloud detector
Braided rivers, with their continuously changing network of channels, are highly dynamic systems. Four mechanisms of channel change and evolution are considered the classic mechanisms of braided river formation: development of central bars, conversion of single transverse bars to mid-channel braid bars, formation of chutes, and dissection of multiple-braid bars.
New research shows Phosphorus recovery from wastewater viable
Phosphorus is a precious element, with all life depending on it. It is an essential nutrient for plant growth and an important constituent of fertiliser used in agriculture.
Discovery of new submarine hydrothermal activity area off the western coast of Kumejima Island, Okinawa Prefecture
Researchers from National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) conducted surveys of the seafloor off the coast around Kumejima Island, Okinawa Prefecture and Okinoerabujima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture using the research vessel Kaiyo Maru No.7 (499 tons; owned by Nippon Kaiyo Co., Ltd.) from August 20 to September 13, 2012 and discovered a new submarine hydrothermal activity area off the western coast of Kumejima Island. This submarine hydrothermal activity area is located in the caldera of a submarine volcano. Multiple plumes indicating intense hydrothermal activity were observed by acoustic surveys, and in addition, samples that appear to be fragments of chimneys formed in relation to submarine hydrothermal activity were collected. There were also several submarine volcanoes with similar calderas adjacent to this area of hydrothermal activity, and manganese oxide that appears to have been formed from hydrothermal activity was collected from some! of these. No submarine volcanoes with caldera topographies or submarine hydrothermal activity areas have previously been known off the western coast of Kumejima Island.
Underground permeation of seawater in tsunami disaster areas caused by 2011 earthquake
Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) conducted an airborne electromagnetic survey by helicopter in Watari-cho and Yamamoto-cho of Watari-gun in Miyagi Prefecture and Shinchi-machi of Soma-gun and Soma city in Fukushima Prefecture in June 2012 in order to investigate the underground permeation of seawater in tsunami disaster regions caused by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake.
Havana Bay slowly reclaims historic splendor
Pelicans and their prey are back in Havana Bay in a sign that efforts to clean up the historic and once splendid port of the Cuban capital are paying off.
Galactic knee and extragalactic ankle
It is obvious from the data of the KASCADE-Grande experiment at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) that the so-called "knee" of the cosmic rays, a bend in the energy spectrum at high energies, is located at different energies for light and heavy particles. As regards light particles, the scientists have now found that the energy spectrum flattens again beyond the knee and forms a type of "ankle". This structure indicates that cosmic radiation particles with energies beyond the knee are accelerated in galaxies other than the Milky Way.
Climate change already affecting UK wildlife
UK wildlife is already feeling the effects of climate change, scientists say. According to a report out on Thursday, with input from many of the UK's top environmental scientists, many species are now found further north and at higher altitudes than in previous decades.
Research shows how natural disturbances affect climate change response strategies
(Phys.org) —Fires and hurricanes are only two examples of natural disturbances that drastically affect millions of people worldwide. Now, scientists are considering how these events might limit opportunities for climate mitigation as well. A team of scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, working at the Joint Global Change Research Institute at Maryland, found that strategies to alleviate the impacts of climate change will need to account for future land and atmospheric disturbances that impact forests. This study is the first to quantify the effect of future natural disturbances on climate mitigation strategies.
Climate change: Can nature help us?
(Phys.org) —Hard-engineered sea walls have a limited life span. Could saltmarshes and mangroves offer a different approach to buffering against storm surges and coastal erosion?
Studying how flocculation affects acoustic reflection
In inland estuaries and shallow coastal waters, small particles of organic matter, such as organic waste and debris or bacteria, clump together to form an aggregate known as floc. Flocculated particles can span a range of sizes, from a few micrometers to a few millimeters, and the properties and concentration of floc have a strong influence on water quality. To infer the properties of floc particles, researchers have proposed using acoustic backscatter measurements, a common technique for estimating sediment concentrations. To do so, however, requires an understanding of how the properties of floc particles affect acoustic wave reflection.
Charting the growth of the Turkish-Iranian plateau
Stretching from the Persian Gulf up through Turkey, the northwest-southeast running Zagros fold-and-thrust belt is a region of extensive crustal deformation and seismic activity. Near the Zagros Mountains the structure of the Middle Eastern region is the result of the intersection of three tectonic plates, with the Eurasian plate being squished on both sides by the Arabian and Indian plates. Convergence of the plates is driving the formation of the Turkish-Iranian plateau, a high-elevation expanse of relatively smooth terrain reaching in some places more than 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) into the sky and lying northeast of the Zagros belt.
Thousands around the world applying for one-way ticket to Mars
Do you dream of living on Mars? Then turn on your webcam. You've got an application video to make. Mars One, a Netherlands-based group that wants to turn the colonizing of Mars into a reality television phenomenon, has started accepting applications for its astronaut selection program.
Study highlights under-appreciated benefit of oyster restoration
Scientists have identified many benefits for restoring oyster reefs to Chesapeake Bay and other coastal ecosystems. Oysters filter and clean the water, provide habitat for their own young and for other species, and sustain both watermen and seafood lovers.
Geologists study mystery of 'eternal flames'
"Eternal flames" fueled by hydrocarbon gas could shine a light on the presence of natural gas in underground rock layers and conditions that let it seep to the surface, according to research by geologists at the Department of Geological Sciences and the Indiana Geological Survey at Indiana University Bloomington.
Thermal shield testing on Webb's MIRI
(Phys.org) —NASA engineer Acey Herrera recently checked out copper test wires inside the thermal shield of the Mid-Infrared Instrument, known as MIRI, that will fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The shield is designed to protect the vital MIRI instrument from excess heat. At the time of the photo, the thermal shield was about to go through rigorous environmental testing to ensure it can perform properly in the extreme cold temperatures that it will encounter in space.
Melvin Calvin's moon dust rediscovered at Berkeley Lab
(Phys.org) —When Apollo 11 returned from its historic flight in 1969, the moon rocks and lunar soil collected by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin eventually found their way to some 150 laboratories worldwide. One of those was the Space Sciences Laboratory in Latimer Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. After experiments were conducted and papers published, those samples should have been sent back to NASA. Instead they wound up in storage, where they sat collecting dust until they were discovered more than four decades later.
Ice-free Arctic may be in our future, says research
Analyses of the longest continental sediment core ever collected in the Arctic, recently completed by an international team led by Julie Brigham-Grette of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, provide "absolutely new knowledge" of Arctic climate from 2.2 to 3.6 million years ago.
Hubble finds dead stars 'polluted' with planetary debris
(Phys.org) —The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has found signs of Earth-like planets in an unlikely place: the atmospheres of a pair of burnt-out stars in a nearby star cluster. The white dwarf stars are being polluted by debris from asteroid-like objects falling onto them. This discovery suggests that rocky planet assembly is common in clusters, say researchers.
Sifting through the atmospheres of far-off worlds
(Phys.org) —Gone are the days of being able to count the number of known planets on your fingers. Today, there are more than 800 confirmed exoplanets—planets that orbit stars beyond our sun—and more than 2,700 other candidates. What are these exotic planets made of? Unfortunately, you cannot stack them in a jar like marbles and take a closer look. Instead, researchers are coming up with advanced techniques for probing the planets' makeup.
UK budget airline to test ash cloud detector
A U.K. budget airline will create an artificial volcanic ash cloud over Europe this summer to test ash detection technology. The experiment aims to avoid the kind of chaos that paralyzed air traffic during eruptions three years ago.
Water on Moon and Earth came from same primitive meteorites, analysis shows
The water found on the moon, like that on Earth, came from small meteorites called carbonaceous chondrites in the first 100 million years or so after the solar system formed, researchers from Brown and Case Western Reserve universities and Carnegie Institution of Washington have found.
Cirrus clouds form around mineral dust and metallic particles, study finds
At any given time, cirrus clouds—the thin wisps of vapor that trail across the sky—cover nearly one-third of the globe. These clouds coalesce in the upper layers of the troposphere, often more than 10 miles above the Earth's surface.
Drugmaker Merck & Co. says the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing its second application to sell a new type of allergy treatment meant to gradually reduce allergic reactions over time, rather than just relieving sneezing, itching and other symptoms temporarily.
Brazil slum study: Mobile health tech promising
(AP)—A study conducted in a Rio de Janeiro hillside slum says that using mobile health technology to monitor patients in poor urban areas could improve residents' access to health care while also reducing healthcare spending.
Application for health coverage has been simplified, shortened
(HealthDay)—The application for health insurance coverage has been simplified and shortened, with the application reduced to three pages for individuals, according to a report released April 30 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The high-tech future of healthcare: A digital health assistant in your home
The UK's healthcare system faces unprecedented challenges. Britain is the most obese nation in Europe and the country's ageing population is especially at risk from isolation, depression, strokes and fractures caused by falls in the home. A pioneering new collaboration hopes to address these issues by developing a 24/7 digital home health assistant.
Wrigley takes new caffeinated gum off market
(AP)—A Food and Drug Administration investigation into the safety of caffeine-added foods has prompted Wrigley to take its new caffeinated gum off the market for the time being.
Cooking with traditional crops improves nutrition and boosts women's incomes
It's no secret that traditional crops such as millets and pulses are highly nutritious. Now researchers, working with women in Ethiopia and India are making it easier for them to use these local crops when cooking healthy meals at home and creating new business ventures.
Only half newly reported HCV cases receiving follow-up test
(HealthDay)—The lack of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA test for approximately one-half of persons newly reported as HCV infected suggests that testing and reporting must improve to detect all persons with current infection, according to a study published in the May 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
Exit discovered in cellular garbage truck: Immersed in the inner workings of a highly selective refuse collection
At the University of Geneva (UNIGE), the team led by Professor Jean Gruenberg has long been interested in the movement of lysosomes, the sub-compartments of cells to where endocytic vesicles deliver their waste content and the molecules destined to be destroyed. Within this context, researcher Christin Bissig, along with her international colleagues, carried out a detailed study of the route taken by Alix which is lodged inside the endosomal membrane. This tailing has highlighted how protein contributes to avoiding cellular digestion, like a door opening into the endosomal transporter garbage bin, bringing about a final waste sorting operation which determines the cell's health. The researchers also showed how vesicular stomatitis makes use of the same route to penetrate the inside of the cell and infect it.
Variations in antibiotic prescribing of acute rhinosinusitis in united states ambulatory settings
Antibiotics for acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) are prescribed frequently— especially for younger adult patients and in primary care settings—despite recent consensus guidelines that discourage antibiotic use in mild cases, according to a study in the May 2013 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Scientists define a new mechanism leading to tumor hypoxia
An article published recently in Tumor Microenvironment and Therapy - an open access journal by Versita, defines a novel mechanism of tumor hypoxia induced by the longitudinal gradient of residual oxygen along tumor vessels as they transverse the tumor.
Doctor's choice of words may influence family's decision to permit CPR in critically ill
A physician's choice of words when talking with family members about whether or not to try cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a critically ill patient's heart stops may influence the decision, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh researchers in the June edition of Critical Care Medicine and now available online.
Research finds identifies social needs of young people with cancer
Research conducted by Xiao-Cheng Wu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of the Louisiana Tumor Registry at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, and colleagues, reports adolescents and young adults with cancer may be at higher risk for social isolation and that a substantial proportion of them have unmet social needs that could adversely affect their health. The research is published online in the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. More than 500 participants in the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Outcomes and
Do insomnia and disrupted sleep during menopause increase a woman's risk of heart disease?
Insomnia and other sleep disturbances are common among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and may increase their risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Evidence that a combination of altered sleep duration and insomnia among women ages 50-79 doubled their risk of both CHD and CVD over a period of more than 10 years is presented in an article in Journal of Women's Health.
The Lancet Series on bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder – where patients experience recurrent episodes of mood disturbance, ranging from extreme elation (mania) to severe depression – is thought to affect roughly 2% of the world's population in its most pronounced forms (bipolar I and II), with milder forms of the disorder affecting another 2%. A new Lancet Series provides a comprehensive overview of the genetics, diagnosis, and treatment of bipolar disorder, outlining future challenges, and debating imminent changes to the criteria that psychiatrists use to diagnose the illness.
Treatment for painful curved penis shows promise
(HealthDay)—Some diseases are especially tough to discuss. When Tony Lee realized that his penis was curving whenever he had an erection—making it painful and difficult for him to have sex—he had no idea what was wrong. He became depressed and very worried, and his relationship with his wife started to change.
Study sees link between mom's flu, bipolar risk for children
(HealthDay)—Women who come down with the flu during pregnancy may be at increased risk of having a child who develops bipolar disorder, a new study suggests.
Gene discoveries give hope against 'Brittle bone' disease
(HealthDay)—Mutations in a gene involved in bone development appear to cause certain severe forms of bone loss, a finding that could lead to new therapies for the common bone-thinning disorder osteoporosis, researchers report.
Shift in lung allocation score alters transplant survival
(HealthDay)—An acute increase in lung allocation score (LAS) before transplantation is associated with worse post-transplant survival, according to a study published in the May 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Fun and friends help ease the pain of breast cancer
Breast cancer patients who say they have people with whom they have a good time, or have "positive social interactions" with, are better able to deal with pain and other physical symptoms, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published today in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Could eating peppers prevent Parkinson's? Dietary nicotine may hold protective key
New research reveals that Solanaceae—a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine—may provide a protective effect against Parkinson's disease. The study appearing today in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, suggests that eating foods that contain even a small amount of nicotine, such as peppers and tomatoes, may reduce risk of developing Parkinson's.
Imaging technique could help traumatic brain injury patients: Mapping technology used to predict long-term effects
(Medical Xpress)—A new application of an existing medical imaging technology could help predict long-term damage in patients with traumatic brain injury, according to a recent UC San Francisco study.
Toddlers from socially-deprived homes most at risk of scalds, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Toddlers living in socially-deprived areas are at the greatest risk of suffering a scald in the home, researchers at The University of Nottingham have found.
Real-time brain feedback can help people overcome anxiety
(Medical Xpress)—People provided with a real-time readout of activity in specific regions of their brains can learn to control that activity and lessen their anxiety, according to new findings published online in the journal Translational Psychiatry.
Study reveals pressure ulcer research uncertainties
A new study involving researchers at the University of York has revealed substantial areas of doubt and uncertainty about the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
Anti-hypertension drug may improve schizophrenia symptoms
(Medical Xpress)—An anti-hypertension drug administered intravenously for a single four-hour treatment resulted in dramatic improvements of symptoms for people living with schizophrenia, according to newly published findings from clinician scientists at the University of Alberta's medical school and their colleagues in Brazil.
Nobody likes a 'fat-talker,' study shows
(Medical Xpress)—Women who engage in "fat talk"—the self-disparaging remarks girls and women make in relation to eating, exercise or their bodies—are less liked by their peers, a new study from the University of Notre Dame finds.
Study links adolescent bullies to criminal behavior later
(Medical Xpress)—Adults who say they bullied others when they were adolescents may have a higher likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior later in life, according to new research from UT Dallas.
Ethics experts call for more thoughtful optimization of drug development process
(Medical Xpress)—McGill University post-doctoral fellow Spencer Phillips Hey and Prof. Jonathan Kimmelman, Biomedical Ethics, Social Studies of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine argue that some clinical trials of new drugs need to fail in order to protect study volunteers and healthcare systems. Their work is published this week in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Researchers discover a missing link in signals contributing to neurodegeneration
In many neurodegenerative diseases the neurons of the brain are over-stimulated and this leads to their destruction. After many failed attempts and much scepticism this process was finally shown last year to be a possible basis for treatment in some patients with stroke. But very few targets for drugs to block this process are known.
Mutations in CSF3R common in CNL, atypical CML
(HealthDay)—In the war against cancer, it looks like matchmaking—between genes and drugs—could be an important tool, according to new research into the genetic underpinnings of two rare forms of leukemia.
Palivizumab cuts number of days of wheezing in preemies
(HealthDay)—Many pre-term babies suffer recurrent episodes of wheezing. Now, researchers say a common infection is a likely culprit and they may be able to prevent the breathing problems.
Cases question diagnostic criteria for inherited diabetes
(HealthDay)—Two patients diagnosed with a genetic form of non-insulin-dependent diabetes developed diabetic ketoacidosis years later, even though a history of diabetic ketoacidosis is normally an exclusion criterion for genetic testing, according to two case reports published online April 22 in Diabetes Care.
n-3 fatty acids no benefit for high-risk cardio patients
(HealthDay)—For patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors or atherosclerotic vascular disease who have not had a myocardial infarction, daily treatment with n-3 fatty acids does not reduce cardiovascular mortality or morbidity, according to a study published in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Identifying key regulators of kidney injury
(Medical Xpress)—Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of RNA molecules that regulate how genes are expressed. UCD researchers led by Conway Fellow, Professor Catherine Godson are studying the role of miRNAs in diabetic kidney disease.
Drugmakers, health groups bring poor girls vaccine
Two multinational drugmakers are teaming up with top global health groups to protect millions of girls in the world's poorest countries from deadly cervical cancer.
Operating without interrupting warfarin reduces risk of bleeding after cardiac device surgery
A new Canadian study shows that operating without interrupting warfarin treatment at the time of cardiac device surgery is safe and markedly reduces the incidence of clinically significant hematomas compared to the current standard of care. The new findings were released today at Heart Rhythm 2013, the Heart Rhythm Society's 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, and will be published online today in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Gene identified, responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue
Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences have identified a gene that when mutated is responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue. This finding opens new avenues for research into a diagnosis and treatment for these until now incurable diseases.
Advance in tuberous sclerosis brain science
Doctors often diagnose tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) based on the abnormal growths the genetic disease causes in organs around the body. Those overt anatomical structures, however, belie the microscopic and mysterious neurological differences behind the disease's troublesome behavioral symptoms: autism, intellectual disabilities, and seizures. In a new study in mice, Brown University researchers highlight a role for a brain region called the thalamus and show that the timing of gene mutation during thalamus development makes a huge difference in the severity of the disease.
Patients should have right to control genomic health information
Doctors should not have the right or responsibility to force-feed their patients with genomic information about their future health risks, according to bioethicists writing on May 9 in Trends in Biotechnology, a Cell Press publication. They write in response to controversial recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) on the reporting of incidental findings in clinical genome sequencing.
Study finds brain system for emotional self-control
Different brain areas are activated when we choose to suppress an emotion, compared to when we are instructed to inhibit an emotion, according a new study from the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Ghent University.
Red hair pigment might raise melanoma risk, study says
(HealthDay)—The red in redheads' hair is thought to put them at increased risk of the dangerous skin cancer melanoma, even if they don't spend a lot of time in the sun, according to a new study.
Pregnancy adds challenge for teens treated for drug abuse, report says
(HealthDay)—Half of pregnant teens in substance-abuse treatment programs used alcohol or drugs in the month before they entered treatment. And nearly 20 percent used drugs or alcohol on a daily basis during that month, according to a U.S. government report.
Wireless pacemaker shows promise in early study
(HealthDay)—Scientists report positive results in early testing of a wireless pacemaker that's placed in the heart instead of being connected to it via wires from the upper chest.
Developers dive in to create a wealth of autism apps
At times, Andy Shih still finds himself overwhelmed by the groundswell of interest in autism applications he's seen in the three years since Apple Inc. released the first iPad.
It's never too soon to have 'the talk' with kids
In the Internet Age, the average kid encounters pornography by age 10 - when they mistype a link while doing their homework, or when it pops up on the side of the screen while they're watching a cat ride a Roomba on YouTube.
Study finds link between sexual harassment and 'purging'—in men
Men who experience high levels of sexual harassment are much more likely than women to induce vomiting and take laxatives and diuretics in an attempt to control their weight, according to a surprising finding by Michigan State University researchers.
Research reveals cancer-suppressing protein 'multitasks'
The understanding of how a powerful protein called p53 protects against cancer development has been upended by a discovery by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers.
Research finds opportunity in health care system to reach out to youth contemplating suicide
More than 80 per cent of youth who die by suicide had some form of contact with the health care system in the year before their death, according to a new study from St. Michael's Hospital.
Parental addictions linked to adult children's depression
The offspring of parents who were addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to be depressed in adulthood, according to a new study by University of Toronto researchers.
Obese students' childbearing risk varies with high school obesity rates
For young women in high school, the risk of childbearing may depend on the prevalence of obesity in their schools, according to sociologists, who found that as the prevalence of obesity rises in a school, so do the odds of obese high school students bearing children.
Social connections drive the 'upward spiral' of positive emotions and health
People who experience warmer, more upbeat emotions may have better physical health because they make more social connections, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Pets may help reduce your risk of heart disease
Having a pet might lower your risk of heart disease, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement.
Your immune system: On surveillance in the war against cancer
Predicting outcomes for cancer patients based on tumor-immune system interactions is an emerging clinical approach, and new research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is advancing the field when it comes to the most deadly types of breast cancer.
Positive social support at work shown to reduce risk of diabetes
Cases of type 2 diabetes continue to rise in the US. And while the development of the disease is more commonly associated with risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity, research has shown that stress can also have a significant impact.
Air pollution increases risk of insulin resistance in children
New research shows that growing up in areas where air pollution is increased raises the risk of insulin resistance (the prescursor to diabetes) in children. The research is published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and is by Elisabeth Thiering and Joachim Heinrich, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany, and colleagues.
Popular diabetes drug does not improve survival rates after cancer
Despite previous scientific studies that suggest diabetes drug metformin has anti-cancer properties, a new, first-of-its-kind study from Women's College Hospital has found the drug may not actually improve survival rates after breast cancer in certain patients.
How state and local governments can address the obesity epidemic
With simple and innovative measures, public agencies at state and local levels can play a significant role in promoting healthier eating habits—steps that could make a difference in curbing the nation's obesity epidemic. One effective option, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is requiring restaurants to include calorie counts on menus, along with the physical activity equivalents required to burn off a meal. The researchers, who examined studies on calorie labeling and regulatory options available to local governments, offer several recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of menu labeling. The suggestions are especially applicable to chain restaurants with fewer than 20 locations, a category that represents more than half of the restaurants in the U.S. These eateries are not subject to the federal Affordable Care Act's menu- labeling provision. It requires chain restaurants with more than 20 locations to provide calorie information on their menus and menu boards, as well as a statement addressing daily recommended caloric intake. The findings are featured in a Perspective in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Women altering menstruation cycles in large numbers, study shows
A surprisingly large number of women 18 or older choose to delay or skip monthly menstruation by deviating from the instructions of birth-control pills and other hormonal contraceptives, a team of University of Oregon researchers and others found in a study of female students at the university.
Elevated cadmium levels linked to disease
People with higher levels of cadmium in their urine—evidence of chronic exposure to the heavy metal found in industrial emissions and tobacco smoke—appear to be nearly 3.5 times more likely to die of liver disease than those with lower levels, according to a study by Johns Hopkins scientists.
Methylphenidate 'normalizes' activation in key brain areas in kids with ADHD
The stimulant drug methylphenidate "normalizes" activation of several brain areas in young patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a review published in the May Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
Mapping the embryonic epigenome
A large, multi-institutional research team involved in the NIH Epigenome Roadmap Project has published a sweeping analysis in the current issue of the journal Cell of how genes are turned on and off to direct early human development. Led by Bing Ren of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Joseph Ecker of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and James Thomson of the Morgridge Institute for Research, the scientists also describe novel genetic phenomena likely to play a pivotal role not only in the genesis of the embryo, but that of cancer as well. Their publicly available data, the result of more than four years of experimentation and analysis, will contribute significantly to virtually every subfield of the biomedical sciences.
Many seniors suffer mental decline in silence, CDC reports
(HealthDay)—About 13 percent of Americans 60 and older say they have increasing problems with thinking and memory and that they suffer growing confusion, a new report released Thursday shows.
Swimming pools may pose hazard for people with heart devices
(HealthDay)—With summer approaching, researchers caution that swimming pools may pose a risk to patients with irregular heartbeats who've received implantable defibrillators.
Fatal crashes involving cellphone use may be under-reported
(HealthDay)—The number of fatal crashes involving drivers distracted by cellphones is vastly under-reported in the United States, according to a new study.
iPads could affect implanted heart devices, early study finds
(HealthDay)—Sprawled out on the couch, reading the news on your iPad, you'd never think you could be putting yourself at risk. But you might be, if you happen to have an implanted heart device.
Smartphones, smartphone apps increasingly used by docs
(HealthDay)—Smartphones and smartphone applications are increasingly being used in a professional capacity among physicians, according to two reports published in the March issue of Kantar Media Sources & Interactions Study-Medical/Surgical Edition.
Engineered spider toxin could be the future of anti-venom vaccines
New engineered spider protein could be the start of a new generation of anti-venom vaccines, potentially saving thousands of lives worldwide. The new protein, created from parts of a toxin from the reaper spider, is described today in the journal Vaccine.
Researchers identify how cells control calcium influx
(Medical Xpress)—When brain cells are overwhelmed by an influx of too many calcium molecules, they shut down the channels through which these molecules enter the cells. Until now, the "stop" signal mechanism that cells use to control the molecular traffic was unknown.
Scientists show how nerve wiring self-destructs
Many medical issues affect nerves, from injuries in car accidents and side effects of chemotherapy to glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. The common theme in these scenarios is destruction of nerve axons, the long wires that transmit signals to other parts of the body, allowing movement, sight and sense of touch, among other vital functions.
Researchers identify protein that reverses some effects of aging in mouse hearts
Two Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers – one a stem cell biologist and one a practicing cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital – have identified a protein in the blood of mice and humans that may prove to be the first effective treatment for the form of age-related heart failure that affects millions of Americans.
How individuality develops? Experience leads to the growth of new brain cells
How do organisms evolve into individuals that are distinguished from others by their own personal brain structure and behavior? Scientists in Dresden, Berlin, Münster, and Saarbrücken have now taken a decisive step towards clarifying this question. Using mice as an animal model, they were able to show that individual experiences influence the development of new neurons, leading to measurable changes in the brain. The results of this study are published in Science on May 10, 2013.
Scientists create new tool for identifying powerful HIV antibodies
A team of NIH scientists has developed a new tool to identify broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) capable of preventing infection by the majority of HIV strains found around the globe, an advance that could help speed HIV vaccine research.
Unleashing the watchdog protein
McGill University researchers have unlocked a new door to developing drugs to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. Collaborating teams led by Dr. Edward A. Fon at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, and Dr. Kalle Gehring in the Department of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine, have discovered the three-dimensional structure of the protein Parkin.
Researchers discover dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain
By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
You are subscribed as pascal.alter@gmail.com
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 9, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- In first head-to-head speed test with conventional computing, quantum computer wins- Dad's genome more ready at fertilization than mom's is—but hers catches up
- The secret lives of bubbles: Mathematicians describe evolution, dissolution of clusters of bubbles (w/ video)
- Cirrus clouds form around mineral dust and metallic particles, study finds
- Water on Moon and Earth came from same primitive meteorites, analysis shows
- Ice-free Arctic may be in our future, says research
- How individuality develops? Experience leads to the growth of new brain cells
- Scientists create new tool for identifying powerful HIV antibodies
- Bacterial infection in mosquitoes renders them immune to malaria parasites
- Unleashing the watchdog protein
- Researchers discover dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain
- Sifting through the atmospheres of far-off worlds
- Salk researchers chart epigenomics of stem cells that mimic early human development
- New advance in biofuel production: Researchers develop enzyme-free ionic liquid pre-treatment
- UK budget airline to test ash cloud detector
Space & Earth news
How do braided river dynamics affect sediment storage?Braided rivers, with their continuously changing network of channels, are highly dynamic systems. Four mechanisms of channel change and evolution are considered the classic mechanisms of braided river formation: development of central bars, conversion of single transverse bars to mid-channel braid bars, formation of chutes, and dissection of multiple-braid bars.
New research shows Phosphorus recovery from wastewater viable
Phosphorus is a precious element, with all life depending on it. It is an essential nutrient for plant growth and an important constituent of fertiliser used in agriculture.
Discovery of new submarine hydrothermal activity area off the western coast of Kumejima Island, Okinawa Prefecture
Researchers from National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) conducted surveys of the seafloor off the coast around Kumejima Island, Okinawa Prefecture and Okinoerabujima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture using the research vessel Kaiyo Maru No.7 (499 tons; owned by Nippon Kaiyo Co., Ltd.) from August 20 to September 13, 2012 and discovered a new submarine hydrothermal activity area off the western coast of Kumejima Island. This submarine hydrothermal activity area is located in the caldera of a submarine volcano. Multiple plumes indicating intense hydrothermal activity were observed by acoustic surveys, and in addition, samples that appear to be fragments of chimneys formed in relation to submarine hydrothermal activity were collected. There were also several submarine volcanoes with similar calderas adjacent to this area of hydrothermal activity, and manganese oxide that appears to have been formed from hydrothermal activity was collected from some! of these. No submarine volcanoes with caldera topographies or submarine hydrothermal activity areas have previously been known off the western coast of Kumejima Island.
Underground permeation of seawater in tsunami disaster areas caused by 2011 earthquake
Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) conducted an airborne electromagnetic survey by helicopter in Watari-cho and Yamamoto-cho of Watari-gun in Miyagi Prefecture and Shinchi-machi of Soma-gun and Soma city in Fukushima Prefecture in June 2012 in order to investigate the underground permeation of seawater in tsunami disaster regions caused by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake.
Havana Bay slowly reclaims historic splendor
Pelicans and their prey are back in Havana Bay in a sign that efforts to clean up the historic and once splendid port of the Cuban capital are paying off.
Galactic knee and extragalactic ankle
It is obvious from the data of the KASCADE-Grande experiment at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) that the so-called "knee" of the cosmic rays, a bend in the energy spectrum at high energies, is located at different energies for light and heavy particles. As regards light particles, the scientists have now found that the energy spectrum flattens again beyond the knee and forms a type of "ankle". This structure indicates that cosmic radiation particles with energies beyond the knee are accelerated in galaxies other than the Milky Way.
Climate change already affecting UK wildlife
UK wildlife is already feeling the effects of climate change, scientists say. According to a report out on Thursday, with input from many of the UK's top environmental scientists, many species are now found further north and at higher altitudes than in previous decades.
Research shows how natural disturbances affect climate change response strategies
(Phys.org) —Fires and hurricanes are only two examples of natural disturbances that drastically affect millions of people worldwide. Now, scientists are considering how these events might limit opportunities for climate mitigation as well. A team of scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, working at the Joint Global Change Research Institute at Maryland, found that strategies to alleviate the impacts of climate change will need to account for future land and atmospheric disturbances that impact forests. This study is the first to quantify the effect of future natural disturbances on climate mitigation strategies.
Climate change: Can nature help us?
(Phys.org) —Hard-engineered sea walls have a limited life span. Could saltmarshes and mangroves offer a different approach to buffering against storm surges and coastal erosion?
Studying how flocculation affects acoustic reflection
In inland estuaries and shallow coastal waters, small particles of organic matter, such as organic waste and debris or bacteria, clump together to form an aggregate known as floc. Flocculated particles can span a range of sizes, from a few micrometers to a few millimeters, and the properties and concentration of floc have a strong influence on water quality. To infer the properties of floc particles, researchers have proposed using acoustic backscatter measurements, a common technique for estimating sediment concentrations. To do so, however, requires an understanding of how the properties of floc particles affect acoustic wave reflection.
Charting the growth of the Turkish-Iranian plateau
Stretching from the Persian Gulf up through Turkey, the northwest-southeast running Zagros fold-and-thrust belt is a region of extensive crustal deformation and seismic activity. Near the Zagros Mountains the structure of the Middle Eastern region is the result of the intersection of three tectonic plates, with the Eurasian plate being squished on both sides by the Arabian and Indian plates. Convergence of the plates is driving the formation of the Turkish-Iranian plateau, a high-elevation expanse of relatively smooth terrain reaching in some places more than 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) into the sky and lying northeast of the Zagros belt.
Thousands around the world applying for one-way ticket to Mars
Do you dream of living on Mars? Then turn on your webcam. You've got an application video to make. Mars One, a Netherlands-based group that wants to turn the colonizing of Mars into a reality television phenomenon, has started accepting applications for its astronaut selection program.
Study highlights under-appreciated benefit of oyster restoration
Scientists have identified many benefits for restoring oyster reefs to Chesapeake Bay and other coastal ecosystems. Oysters filter and clean the water, provide habitat for their own young and for other species, and sustain both watermen and seafood lovers.
Geologists study mystery of 'eternal flames'
"Eternal flames" fueled by hydrocarbon gas could shine a light on the presence of natural gas in underground rock layers and conditions that let it seep to the surface, according to research by geologists at the Department of Geological Sciences and the Indiana Geological Survey at Indiana University Bloomington.
Thermal shield testing on Webb's MIRI
(Phys.org) —NASA engineer Acey Herrera recently checked out copper test wires inside the thermal shield of the Mid-Infrared Instrument, known as MIRI, that will fly aboard NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. The shield is designed to protect the vital MIRI instrument from excess heat. At the time of the photo, the thermal shield was about to go through rigorous environmental testing to ensure it can perform properly in the extreme cold temperatures that it will encounter in space.
Melvin Calvin's moon dust rediscovered at Berkeley Lab
(Phys.org) —When Apollo 11 returned from its historic flight in 1969, the moon rocks and lunar soil collected by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin eventually found their way to some 150 laboratories worldwide. One of those was the Space Sciences Laboratory in Latimer Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. After experiments were conducted and papers published, those samples should have been sent back to NASA. Instead they wound up in storage, where they sat collecting dust until they were discovered more than four decades later.
Ice-free Arctic may be in our future, says research
Analyses of the longest continental sediment core ever collected in the Arctic, recently completed by an international team led by Julie Brigham-Grette of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, provide "absolutely new knowledge" of Arctic climate from 2.2 to 3.6 million years ago.
Hubble finds dead stars 'polluted' with planetary debris
(Phys.org) —The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has found signs of Earth-like planets in an unlikely place: the atmospheres of a pair of burnt-out stars in a nearby star cluster. The white dwarf stars are being polluted by debris from asteroid-like objects falling onto them. This discovery suggests that rocky planet assembly is common in clusters, say researchers.
Sifting through the atmospheres of far-off worlds
(Phys.org) —Gone are the days of being able to count the number of known planets on your fingers. Today, there are more than 800 confirmed exoplanets—planets that orbit stars beyond our sun—and more than 2,700 other candidates. What are these exotic planets made of? Unfortunately, you cannot stack them in a jar like marbles and take a closer look. Instead, researchers are coming up with advanced techniques for probing the planets' makeup.
UK budget airline to test ash cloud detector
A U.K. budget airline will create an artificial volcanic ash cloud over Europe this summer to test ash detection technology. The experiment aims to avoid the kind of chaos that paralyzed air traffic during eruptions three years ago.
Water on Moon and Earth came from same primitive meteorites, analysis shows
The water found on the moon, like that on Earth, came from small meteorites called carbonaceous chondrites in the first 100 million years or so after the solar system formed, researchers from Brown and Case Western Reserve universities and Carnegie Institution of Washington have found.
Cirrus clouds form around mineral dust and metallic particles, study finds
At any given time, cirrus clouds—the thin wisps of vapor that trail across the sky—cover nearly one-third of the globe. These clouds coalesce in the upper layers of the troposphere, often more than 10 miles above the Earth's surface.
Medicine & Health news
Merck says FDA reviewing its ragweed allergy therapyDrugmaker Merck & Co. says the Food and Drug Administration is reviewing its second application to sell a new type of allergy treatment meant to gradually reduce allergic reactions over time, rather than just relieving sneezing, itching and other symptoms temporarily.
Brazil slum study: Mobile health tech promising
(AP)—A study conducted in a Rio de Janeiro hillside slum says that using mobile health technology to monitor patients in poor urban areas could improve residents' access to health care while also reducing healthcare spending.
Application for health coverage has been simplified, shortened
(HealthDay)—The application for health insurance coverage has been simplified and shortened, with the application reduced to three pages for individuals, according to a report released April 30 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The high-tech future of healthcare: A digital health assistant in your home
The UK's healthcare system faces unprecedented challenges. Britain is the most obese nation in Europe and the country's ageing population is especially at risk from isolation, depression, strokes and fractures caused by falls in the home. A pioneering new collaboration hopes to address these issues by developing a 24/7 digital home health assistant.
Wrigley takes new caffeinated gum off market
(AP)—A Food and Drug Administration investigation into the safety of caffeine-added foods has prompted Wrigley to take its new caffeinated gum off the market for the time being.
Cooking with traditional crops improves nutrition and boosts women's incomes
It's no secret that traditional crops such as millets and pulses are highly nutritious. Now researchers, working with women in Ethiopia and India are making it easier for them to use these local crops when cooking healthy meals at home and creating new business ventures.
Only half newly reported HCV cases receiving follow-up test
(HealthDay)—The lack of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA test for approximately one-half of persons newly reported as HCV infected suggests that testing and reporting must improve to detect all persons with current infection, according to a study published in the May 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report.
Exit discovered in cellular garbage truck: Immersed in the inner workings of a highly selective refuse collection
At the University of Geneva (UNIGE), the team led by Professor Jean Gruenberg has long been interested in the movement of lysosomes, the sub-compartments of cells to where endocytic vesicles deliver their waste content and the molecules destined to be destroyed. Within this context, researcher Christin Bissig, along with her international colleagues, carried out a detailed study of the route taken by Alix which is lodged inside the endosomal membrane. This tailing has highlighted how protein contributes to avoiding cellular digestion, like a door opening into the endosomal transporter garbage bin, bringing about a final waste sorting operation which determines the cell's health. The researchers also showed how vesicular stomatitis makes use of the same route to penetrate the inside of the cell and infect it.
Variations in antibiotic prescribing of acute rhinosinusitis in united states ambulatory settings
Antibiotics for acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) are prescribed frequently— especially for younger adult patients and in primary care settings—despite recent consensus guidelines that discourage antibiotic use in mild cases, according to a study in the May 2013 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Scientists define a new mechanism leading to tumor hypoxia
An article published recently in Tumor Microenvironment and Therapy - an open access journal by Versita, defines a novel mechanism of tumor hypoxia induced by the longitudinal gradient of residual oxygen along tumor vessels as they transverse the tumor.
Doctor's choice of words may influence family's decision to permit CPR in critically ill
A physician's choice of words when talking with family members about whether or not to try cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a critically ill patient's heart stops may influence the decision, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh researchers in the June edition of Critical Care Medicine and now available online.
Research finds identifies social needs of young people with cancer
Research conducted by Xiao-Cheng Wu, MD, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of the Louisiana Tumor Registry at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health, and colleagues, reports adolescents and young adults with cancer may be at higher risk for social isolation and that a substantial proportion of them have unmet social needs that could adversely affect their health. The research is published online in the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. More than 500 participants in the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Outcomes and
Do insomnia and disrupted sleep during menopause increase a woman's risk of heart disease?
Insomnia and other sleep disturbances are common among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women and may increase their risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Evidence that a combination of altered sleep duration and insomnia among women ages 50-79 doubled their risk of both CHD and CVD over a period of more than 10 years is presented in an article in Journal of Women's Health.
The Lancet Series on bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder – where patients experience recurrent episodes of mood disturbance, ranging from extreme elation (mania) to severe depression – is thought to affect roughly 2% of the world's population in its most pronounced forms (bipolar I and II), with milder forms of the disorder affecting another 2%. A new Lancet Series provides a comprehensive overview of the genetics, diagnosis, and treatment of bipolar disorder, outlining future challenges, and debating imminent changes to the criteria that psychiatrists use to diagnose the illness.
Treatment for painful curved penis shows promise
(HealthDay)—Some diseases are especially tough to discuss. When Tony Lee realized that his penis was curving whenever he had an erection—making it painful and difficult for him to have sex—he had no idea what was wrong. He became depressed and very worried, and his relationship with his wife started to change.
Study sees link between mom's flu, bipolar risk for children
(HealthDay)—Women who come down with the flu during pregnancy may be at increased risk of having a child who develops bipolar disorder, a new study suggests.
Gene discoveries give hope against 'Brittle bone' disease
(HealthDay)—Mutations in a gene involved in bone development appear to cause certain severe forms of bone loss, a finding that could lead to new therapies for the common bone-thinning disorder osteoporosis, researchers report.
Shift in lung allocation score alters transplant survival
(HealthDay)—An acute increase in lung allocation score (LAS) before transplantation is associated with worse post-transplant survival, according to a study published in the May 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Fun and friends help ease the pain of breast cancer
Breast cancer patients who say they have people with whom they have a good time, or have "positive social interactions" with, are better able to deal with pain and other physical symptoms, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study published today in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
Could eating peppers prevent Parkinson's? Dietary nicotine may hold protective key
New research reveals that Solanaceae—a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine—may provide a protective effect against Parkinson's disease. The study appearing today in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, suggests that eating foods that contain even a small amount of nicotine, such as peppers and tomatoes, may reduce risk of developing Parkinson's.
Imaging technique could help traumatic brain injury patients: Mapping technology used to predict long-term effects
(Medical Xpress)—A new application of an existing medical imaging technology could help predict long-term damage in patients with traumatic brain injury, according to a recent UC San Francisco study.
Toddlers from socially-deprived homes most at risk of scalds, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Toddlers living in socially-deprived areas are at the greatest risk of suffering a scald in the home, researchers at The University of Nottingham have found.
Real-time brain feedback can help people overcome anxiety
(Medical Xpress)—People provided with a real-time readout of activity in specific regions of their brains can learn to control that activity and lessen their anxiety, according to new findings published online in the journal Translational Psychiatry.
Study reveals pressure ulcer research uncertainties
A new study involving researchers at the University of York has revealed substantial areas of doubt and uncertainty about the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers.
Anti-hypertension drug may improve schizophrenia symptoms
(Medical Xpress)—An anti-hypertension drug administered intravenously for a single four-hour treatment resulted in dramatic improvements of symptoms for people living with schizophrenia, according to newly published findings from clinician scientists at the University of Alberta's medical school and their colleagues in Brazil.
Nobody likes a 'fat-talker,' study shows
(Medical Xpress)—Women who engage in "fat talk"—the self-disparaging remarks girls and women make in relation to eating, exercise or their bodies—are less liked by their peers, a new study from the University of Notre Dame finds.
Study links adolescent bullies to criminal behavior later
(Medical Xpress)—Adults who say they bullied others when they were adolescents may have a higher likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior later in life, according to new research from UT Dallas.
Ethics experts call for more thoughtful optimization of drug development process
(Medical Xpress)—McGill University post-doctoral fellow Spencer Phillips Hey and Prof. Jonathan Kimmelman, Biomedical Ethics, Social Studies of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine argue that some clinical trials of new drugs need to fail in order to protect study volunteers and healthcare systems. Their work is published this week in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Researchers discover a missing link in signals contributing to neurodegeneration
In many neurodegenerative diseases the neurons of the brain are over-stimulated and this leads to their destruction. After many failed attempts and much scepticism this process was finally shown last year to be a possible basis for treatment in some patients with stroke. But very few targets for drugs to block this process are known.
Mutations in CSF3R common in CNL, atypical CML
(HealthDay)—In the war against cancer, it looks like matchmaking—between genes and drugs—could be an important tool, according to new research into the genetic underpinnings of two rare forms of leukemia.
Palivizumab cuts number of days of wheezing in preemies
(HealthDay)—Many pre-term babies suffer recurrent episodes of wheezing. Now, researchers say a common infection is a likely culprit and they may be able to prevent the breathing problems.
Cases question diagnostic criteria for inherited diabetes
(HealthDay)—Two patients diagnosed with a genetic form of non-insulin-dependent diabetes developed diabetic ketoacidosis years later, even though a history of diabetic ketoacidosis is normally an exclusion criterion for genetic testing, according to two case reports published online April 22 in Diabetes Care.
n-3 fatty acids no benefit for high-risk cardio patients
(HealthDay)—For patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors or atherosclerotic vascular disease who have not had a myocardial infarction, daily treatment with n-3 fatty acids does not reduce cardiovascular mortality or morbidity, according to a study published in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Identifying key regulators of kidney injury
(Medical Xpress)—Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of RNA molecules that regulate how genes are expressed. UCD researchers led by Conway Fellow, Professor Catherine Godson are studying the role of miRNAs in diabetic kidney disease.
Drugmakers, health groups bring poor girls vaccine
Two multinational drugmakers are teaming up with top global health groups to protect millions of girls in the world's poorest countries from deadly cervical cancer.
Operating without interrupting warfarin reduces risk of bleeding after cardiac device surgery
A new Canadian study shows that operating without interrupting warfarin treatment at the time of cardiac device surgery is safe and markedly reduces the incidence of clinically significant hematomas compared to the current standard of care. The new findings were released today at Heart Rhythm 2013, the Heart Rhythm Society's 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, and will be published online today in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
Gene identified, responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue
Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences have identified a gene that when mutated is responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue. This finding opens new avenues for research into a diagnosis and treatment for these until now incurable diseases.
Advance in tuberous sclerosis brain science
Doctors often diagnose tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) based on the abnormal growths the genetic disease causes in organs around the body. Those overt anatomical structures, however, belie the microscopic and mysterious neurological differences behind the disease's troublesome behavioral symptoms: autism, intellectual disabilities, and seizures. In a new study in mice, Brown University researchers highlight a role for a brain region called the thalamus and show that the timing of gene mutation during thalamus development makes a huge difference in the severity of the disease.
Patients should have right to control genomic health information
Doctors should not have the right or responsibility to force-feed their patients with genomic information about their future health risks, according to bioethicists writing on May 9 in Trends in Biotechnology, a Cell Press publication. They write in response to controversial recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) on the reporting of incidental findings in clinical genome sequencing.
Study finds brain system for emotional self-control
Different brain areas are activated when we choose to suppress an emotion, compared to when we are instructed to inhibit an emotion, according a new study from the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Ghent University.
Red hair pigment might raise melanoma risk, study says
(HealthDay)—The red in redheads' hair is thought to put them at increased risk of the dangerous skin cancer melanoma, even if they don't spend a lot of time in the sun, according to a new study.
Pregnancy adds challenge for teens treated for drug abuse, report says
(HealthDay)—Half of pregnant teens in substance-abuse treatment programs used alcohol or drugs in the month before they entered treatment. And nearly 20 percent used drugs or alcohol on a daily basis during that month, according to a U.S. government report.
Wireless pacemaker shows promise in early study
(HealthDay)—Scientists report positive results in early testing of a wireless pacemaker that's placed in the heart instead of being connected to it via wires from the upper chest.
Developers dive in to create a wealth of autism apps
At times, Andy Shih still finds himself overwhelmed by the groundswell of interest in autism applications he's seen in the three years since Apple Inc. released the first iPad.
It's never too soon to have 'the talk' with kids
In the Internet Age, the average kid encounters pornography by age 10 - when they mistype a link while doing their homework, or when it pops up on the side of the screen while they're watching a cat ride a Roomba on YouTube.
Study finds link between sexual harassment and 'purging'—in men
Men who experience high levels of sexual harassment are much more likely than women to induce vomiting and take laxatives and diuretics in an attempt to control their weight, according to a surprising finding by Michigan State University researchers.
Research reveals cancer-suppressing protein 'multitasks'
The understanding of how a powerful protein called p53 protects against cancer development has been upended by a discovery by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers.
Research finds opportunity in health care system to reach out to youth contemplating suicide
More than 80 per cent of youth who die by suicide had some form of contact with the health care system in the year before their death, according to a new study from St. Michael's Hospital.
Parental addictions linked to adult children's depression
The offspring of parents who were addicted to drugs or alcohol are more likely to be depressed in adulthood, according to a new study by University of Toronto researchers.
Obese students' childbearing risk varies with high school obesity rates
For young women in high school, the risk of childbearing may depend on the prevalence of obesity in their schools, according to sociologists, who found that as the prevalence of obesity rises in a school, so do the odds of obese high school students bearing children.
Social connections drive the 'upward spiral' of positive emotions and health
People who experience warmer, more upbeat emotions may have better physical health because they make more social connections, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Pets may help reduce your risk of heart disease
Having a pet might lower your risk of heart disease, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement.
Your immune system: On surveillance in the war against cancer
Predicting outcomes for cancer patients based on tumor-immune system interactions is an emerging clinical approach, and new research from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is advancing the field when it comes to the most deadly types of breast cancer.
Positive social support at work shown to reduce risk of diabetes
Cases of type 2 diabetes continue to rise in the US. And while the development of the disease is more commonly associated with risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity, research has shown that stress can also have a significant impact.
Air pollution increases risk of insulin resistance in children
New research shows that growing up in areas where air pollution is increased raises the risk of insulin resistance (the prescursor to diabetes) in children. The research is published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), and is by Elisabeth Thiering and Joachim Heinrich, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany, and colleagues.
Popular diabetes drug does not improve survival rates after cancer
Despite previous scientific studies that suggest diabetes drug metformin has anti-cancer properties, a new, first-of-its-kind study from Women's College Hospital has found the drug may not actually improve survival rates after breast cancer in certain patients.
How state and local governments can address the obesity epidemic
With simple and innovative measures, public agencies at state and local levels can play a significant role in promoting healthier eating habits—steps that could make a difference in curbing the nation's obesity epidemic. One effective option, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is requiring restaurants to include calorie counts on menus, along with the physical activity equivalents required to burn off a meal. The researchers, who examined studies on calorie labeling and regulatory options available to local governments, offer several recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of menu labeling. The suggestions are especially applicable to chain restaurants with fewer than 20 locations, a category that represents more than half of the restaurants in the U.S. These eateries are not subject to the federal Affordable Care Act's menu- labeling provision. It requires chain restaurants with more than 20 locations to provide calorie information on their menus and menu boards, as well as a statement addressing daily recommended caloric intake. The findings are featured in a Perspective in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Women altering menstruation cycles in large numbers, study shows
A surprisingly large number of women 18 or older choose to delay or skip monthly menstruation by deviating from the instructions of birth-control pills and other hormonal contraceptives, a team of University of Oregon researchers and others found in a study of female students at the university.
Elevated cadmium levels linked to disease
People with higher levels of cadmium in their urine—evidence of chronic exposure to the heavy metal found in industrial emissions and tobacco smoke—appear to be nearly 3.5 times more likely to die of liver disease than those with lower levels, according to a study by Johns Hopkins scientists.
Methylphenidate 'normalizes' activation in key brain areas in kids with ADHD
The stimulant drug methylphenidate "normalizes" activation of several brain areas in young patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a review published in the May Harvard Review of Psychiatry.
Mapping the embryonic epigenome
A large, multi-institutional research team involved in the NIH Epigenome Roadmap Project has published a sweeping analysis in the current issue of the journal Cell of how genes are turned on and off to direct early human development. Led by Bing Ren of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Joseph Ecker of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies and James Thomson of the Morgridge Institute for Research, the scientists also describe novel genetic phenomena likely to play a pivotal role not only in the genesis of the embryo, but that of cancer as well. Their publicly available data, the result of more than four years of experimentation and analysis, will contribute significantly to virtually every subfield of the biomedical sciences.
Many seniors suffer mental decline in silence, CDC reports
(HealthDay)—About 13 percent of Americans 60 and older say they have increasing problems with thinking and memory and that they suffer growing confusion, a new report released Thursday shows.
Swimming pools may pose hazard for people with heart devices
(HealthDay)—With summer approaching, researchers caution that swimming pools may pose a risk to patients with irregular heartbeats who've received implantable defibrillators.
Fatal crashes involving cellphone use may be under-reported
(HealthDay)—The number of fatal crashes involving drivers distracted by cellphones is vastly under-reported in the United States, according to a new study.
iPads could affect implanted heart devices, early study finds
(HealthDay)—Sprawled out on the couch, reading the news on your iPad, you'd never think you could be putting yourself at risk. But you might be, if you happen to have an implanted heart device.
Smartphones, smartphone apps increasingly used by docs
(HealthDay)—Smartphones and smartphone applications are increasingly being used in a professional capacity among physicians, according to two reports published in the March issue of Kantar Media Sources & Interactions Study-Medical/Surgical Edition.
Engineered spider toxin could be the future of anti-venom vaccines
New engineered spider protein could be the start of a new generation of anti-venom vaccines, potentially saving thousands of lives worldwide. The new protein, created from parts of a toxin from the reaper spider, is described today in the journal Vaccine.
Researchers identify how cells control calcium influx
(Medical Xpress)—When brain cells are overwhelmed by an influx of too many calcium molecules, they shut down the channels through which these molecules enter the cells. Until now, the "stop" signal mechanism that cells use to control the molecular traffic was unknown.
Scientists show how nerve wiring self-destructs
Many medical issues affect nerves, from injuries in car accidents and side effects of chemotherapy to glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. The common theme in these scenarios is destruction of nerve axons, the long wires that transmit signals to other parts of the body, allowing movement, sight and sense of touch, among other vital functions.
Researchers identify protein that reverses some effects of aging in mouse hearts
Two Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers – one a stem cell biologist and one a practicing cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital – have identified a protein in the blood of mice and humans that may prove to be the first effective treatment for the form of age-related heart failure that affects millions of Americans.
How individuality develops? Experience leads to the growth of new brain cells
How do organisms evolve into individuals that are distinguished from others by their own personal brain structure and behavior? Scientists in Dresden, Berlin, Münster, and Saarbrücken have now taken a decisive step towards clarifying this question. Using mice as an animal model, they were able to show that individual experiences influence the development of new neurons, leading to measurable changes in the brain. The results of this study are published in Science on May 10, 2013.
Scientists create new tool for identifying powerful HIV antibodies
A team of NIH scientists has developed a new tool to identify broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) capable of preventing infection by the majority of HIV strains found around the globe, an advance that could help speed HIV vaccine research.
Unleashing the watchdog protein
McGill University researchers have unlocked a new door to developing drugs to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. Collaborating teams led by Dr. Edward A. Fon at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital -The Neuro, and Dr. Kalle Gehring in the Department of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine, have discovered the three-dimensional structure of the protein Parkin.
Researchers discover dynamic behavior of progenitor cells in brain
By monitoring the behavior of a class of cells in the brains of living mice, neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins discovered that these cells remain highly dynamic in the adult brain, where they transform into cells that insulate nerve fibers and help form scars that aid in tissue repair.
This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
You are subscribed as pascal.alter@gmail.com
Posty
Brak komentarzy:
Prześlij komentarz