From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Nov 13, 2013 at 2:00 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Tuesday, Nov 12
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for November 12, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Scientists create light bullets for high-intensity optical applications- Thin, active invisibility cloak demonstrated for first time
- Statistician suggests raising statistical standards to reduce amount of non-reproducible studies
- Researchers develop technique for imaging individual carbon nanotubes
- New research may improve early detection of dementia
- Biometrics researchers see world without passwords (Update)
- New experiments offer insight into how insects fly and how to design tiny flying robots
- Researchers discover specific inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis treatment
- The secret of short stems
- A nano-sized sponge made of electrons
- London-based banks simulate giant cyber-attack
- Cells show signs of faster aging after depression
- British neuroscientist proposes drug alternatives to alcohol for drinkers
- World set to heat up despite clean-energy efforts, IEA warns
- Green roofs may be a source of pollution
Space & Earth news
Australia 'can help solve world soils crisis'
Around the world a silent crisis in building in the soil that feeds us, putting global food security at risk as demand for nutrition soars in the coming half century.
Image: Anticyclone over the South Pacific
During its third and final flyby of Earth on 13 November 2009, Rosetta imaged this anticyclone over the South Pacific.
New vessel will contribute to marine knowledge
The University of Gothenburg is investing in a new research vessel that will further improve the capacity for education and research.
Confronting threats to clean water
Despite the abundance of water on our planet, it remains a precious and sought after life-sustaining resource. Without the technology to provide safe, clean water to the masses, the general public would be consuming massive amounts of deadly bacteria daily. This is a case of the natural environment endangering humans. However, this can go both ways. Every year humans endanger the lives of millions of marine animals by (accidently) contaminating their water with oil. Oil spills dump thousands of tons of oil into the ocean every year affecting many species of animals.
Reuse, recycle, refill: Writing the future with green pens
While conducting a "waste audit" on select campus trash bins, sustainability-minded Berkeley students discovered not just to-be-expected coffee-cup lids but a surprising assortment of oddball plastic items, from plastic bags to pipette trays and contact-lens cases.
AgriLife Research now monitoring sulfur dioxide in Amarillo
Under contract with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas A&M AgriLife Research has begun monitoring sulfur dioxide concentrations in Amarillo, according to the AgriLife Research engineer in charge of the project.
NPL and Astrium launch measurement service to improve analysis of greenhouse gas emissions
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is partnering with Astrium Services to deliver a new emissions measurement service to enable countries and cities to better quantify their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Two killed in Russian space centre accident
Two officers were killed Tuesday and three hospitalised with toxic burns suffered during a chemical spill at Russia's Plesetsk military launch pad, the defence ministry said.
'Japan plans $16 bn aid package for greenhouse-gas cuts'
Japan's public and private sectors will supply an aid package worth $16 billion over three years to help developing nations cut greenhouse-gas emissions, a report said Tuesday, as climate talks get underway in Warsaw.
NASA sees ex-Tropical Depression 30W trying to re-form in Indian Ocean
Tropical Depression 30W formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean basin and crossed into the Northern Indian Ocean from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10. By Nov. 12, NASA satellite imagery saw the ex-tropical depression coming back together.
India Mars mission back on track after engine glitch
India's Mars spacecraft was "successfully" raised into a higher orbit around Earth early on Tuesday, after a brief engine failure during an earlier attempt, the space agency said.
Experts say man, nature share typhoon tragedy blame
Nature and man together cooked up the disaster in the Philippines.
Russia launches Proton rocket with military satellite
Russia successfully launched a Proton-M rocket carrying a military satellite in the early hours of Tuesday from its Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Research shows mercury may biomagnify more effectively in northern regions
Mercury biomagnification rates in aquatic Arctic ecosystems are higher than in lower latitudes, says a new study from Queen's researcher Raphael Lavoie.
Indian Mars mission beats neighbours, sniffs for methane
Last Tuesday the Indian space agency launched a mission to Mars. Its goal is to place a satellite into orbit around that planet.
UN panel issues corrections for climate report
UN climate scientists have issued corrections to the summary of a key report on global warming issued in September.
NASA satellites see Cyclone 03A make landfall in Somalia
Tropical Cyclone 03A made landfall in Somalia and moved inland where it is dissipating over eastern Ethiopia today, Nov. 12. NASA's Aqua, Terra and TRMM satellites passed over the cyclone an captured images of 03A before and after it made landfall.
NASA satellites track Typhoon Haiyan's second landfall and flood potential
NASA satellites provided data to meteorologists at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center who were updating forecasts for Tropical Storm Haiyan as it weakened from a typhoon and made a second landfall in northern Vietnam.
Spitzer and ALMA reveal a star's bubbly birth
(Phys.org) —It's a bouncing baby . . . star! Combined observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the newly completed Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile have revealed the throes of stellar birth as never before in the well-studied object known as HH 46/47.
Comet at dawn
(Phys.org) —Soon after its discovery in late summer of last year, the media hyped ISON to be the comet of the millennium. At the time when it is expected to come closest to the Sun, on 28 November 2013, it is supposed to shine as bright as the full moon. And even though the predictions have now been revised, ISON could still conjure up a quite passable light show at the beginning of December.
New discovery could cause scientists to rethink chemical makeup of Earth's mantle
(Phys.org) —A new discovery by researchers from the University of Notre Dame's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences could change prevailing assumptions about the chemical makeup of the Earth's mantle.
Cosmic rays zap a planet's chances for life
Mysterious cosmic rays constantly bombard Earth from outer space. Now scientists find these energetic particles could limit where life as we know it might exist on alien planets.
Green roofs may be a source of pollution
Green roofs could become a future source of water pollution, says a new study.
World set to heat up despite clean-energy efforts, IEA warns
Global warming is set to heat up with temperatures rising to nearly twice targets set by the United Nations, the International Energy Agency warned on Tuesday.
Medicine & Health news
Understanding ourselves by studying the animal kingdom
Research released today reveals a new model for a genetic eye disease, and shows how animal models—from fruit flies to armadillos and monkeys—can yield valuable information about the human brain. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Sudan government, rebels block vaccination drive, UN says
The Sudan government and a key rebel group are refusing to let UN workers vaccinate 160,000 children against polio in conflict-stricken states despite agreeing to a ceasefire, the UN said Monday.
Bill Gates seeks to help eradicate polio in Nigeria
US billionaire Bill Gates on Monday vowed to help end the scourge of polio in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, still blighted by the debilitating disease.
Successful grant applications and scholarly impact in neurosurgery
Researchers have found a strong relationship between scholarly impact and success in receiving awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among faculty in academic neurosurgery departments. Faculty members who receive NIH funding have higher research productivity and scholarly impact than those who do not receive funding. Progression through the ranks of assistant, associate, and full professor in neurosurgery departments reflects progressive increases in scholarly impact and, among faculty who receive NIH grant funding, the amount of funding. These findings are presented and discussed in "Assessing National Institutes of Health funding and scholarly impact in neurological surgery. Clinical article," by Peter F. Svider, M.D., Qasim Husain, M.D., Adam J. Folbe, M.D., William T. Couldwell, M.D., Ph.D., James K. Liu, M.D., and Jean Anderson Eloy, M.D., which is published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery.
Could the next new cancer drug come from Kentucky coal mines?
In their ongoing quest to develop the latest and most effective drugs for disease treatment, researchers in the University of Kentucky's Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation (CPRI) are looking deep—as in, deep underground.
Understanding the mystery of preterm birth
Researchers at the University of Adelaide's Robinson Institute say there is still a lack of knowledge about the causes of preterm birth and what can be done to prevent it.
Working towards a personalized cancer treatment
Extensive statistical analyses of the mutation distribution in several thousand cancerous tumours make it possible to find cures for types of cancer that cannot be treated today.
What do young people gain from drug use?
The idea that illicit drugs could hold value in the lives of young people is bewildering to most people, who tend to assume that illicit drug use is necessarily destructive. This becomes even more distressing for many when the young people involved are still teenagers.
Results from gut bacteria sequencing project coming in
The initial results are now coming in for a project led by the University of Colorado Boulder that is expected to eventually sequence the gut bacteria of tens of thousands of people around the world in hopes of better understanding nutrition and health.
Learning strategies to cope with Parkinson's
Joy Elliott was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease more than two years ago. The diagnosis of Parkinson's can be devastating and overwhelming for patients and their families.
Researchers working to better treat soldiers
Auburn University and military researchers are studying the structures and activity of the brains of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in an effort to better understand post-traumatic stress disorder and post-concussion syndrome.
Single-dose radiotherapy during surgery 'effective in preventing breast cancer return'
A single dose of targeted radiotherapy delivered during or just after surgery could benefit some women undergoing treatment for early breast cancer, two new European studies suggest.
Polish study on MRI-ultrasound for targeted prostate biopsy wins CEM award
Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Ultrasound (MRIUS)- guided prostate biopsy has high sensitivity to detect prostate abnormalities compared with transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS biopsy) of MRI positive findings.
Medicaid is health overhaul's early success story
Medicaid is the underdog of government health care programs. But it's turning into a rare early success story for President Barack Obama's technologically challenged health overhaul.
Researchers call for health-care changes to help adults with developmental disabilities
Adults with developmental disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome are having a harder time accessing health care even though they have more health issues than people without developmental disabilities, according to research done at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
First dual-protection intravaginal ring design shows promise in long-term HIV and pregnancy prevention
A new intravaginal ring (IVR) has been developed for the sustained 90-day co-delivery of tenofovir and levonorgestrel, an anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug and a contraceptive. Tenofovir is the only topical prophylactic shown to be effective at reducing the sexual transmission of HIV when formulated in a gel. This research is being presented at the 2013 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition, the world's largest pharmaceutical sciences meeting, in San Antonio, Nov. 10
Clinical trial looks at impact of platelet-rich plasma therapy on tennis elbow
A procedure intended to help heal musculoskeletal injuries called platelet-rich plasma therapy, or P.R.P., has created a big buzz in sports medicine and the media in recent years. Tiger Woods reportedly received the procedure for a sore knee and Pittsburgh Steelers' Hines Ward used it for a sprained knee ligament just before playing a key role in the team's 2009 Super Bowl victory.
Clinical Practice Guideline offers roadmap to treat adults affected by obesity, overweight
Healthcare providers are on the front line of the obesity epidemic – poised to identify who needs to lose weight for health reasons and in a prime position to direct successful weight loss efforts. The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and Obesity Society have developed comprehensive treatment recommendations to help healthcare providers tailor weight loss treatments to adult patients affected by overweight or obesity. The joint guideline is published simultaneously Circulation: a journal of the American Heart Association, Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Obesity: Journal of The Obesity Society.
ACC/AHA release new guideline for assessing cardiovascular risk in adults
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association today released a new clinical practice guideline to help primary care clinicians better identify adults who may be at high risk for developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, potentially serious cardiovascular conditions caused by atherosclerosis, and who thus may benefit from lifestyle changes or drug therapy to help prevent it.
Add bone deterioration to diabetes complications
The list of complications from type 2 diabetes is long: vascular and heart disease, eye problems, nerve damage, kidney disease, hearing problems and Alzheimer's disease. Physicians have long thought of osteoporosis as another outcome. Based on a Mayo Clinic study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, that's confirmed: You can definitely add skeletal problems to that list.
Studies explore potential origins of addiction and treaments
Studies released today suggest promising new treatments for nicotine and heroin addiction, and further our understanding of pathological gambling and heroin abuse in those suffering chronic pain. This new knowledge, released at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, may one day lead to non-pharmaceutical interventions and therapies to treat addiction.
Researchers find a new solution in detecting breast-cancer related lymphedem
Viewed as one of the most feared outcomes of breast cancer treatment, doctors struggle detecting and diagnosing breast-cancer related Lymphedema—a condition affecting the lymphatic system and causing psychosocial distress and physical challenges for patients.
Switzerland bans e-cigarettes in public transport
Use of e-cigarettes in public transport in Switzerland will be banned as of next month, the national association of mass transit operators said Tuesday.
New study analyzes sharp rise in US drug poisoning deaths by county
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine gives new insight into the geographic variation in drug poisoning mortality, with both urban centers and rural areas showing a large increase in death rates. While previous studies have looked at drug poisoning related deaths in broad strokes, this is the first study to examine them on the county level across the entire U.S.
News media reinforce sexual exploitation stereotypes
News stories about sexually exploited youth in Canada perpetuate unhelpful stereotypes, according to new research from the University of British Columbia.
Resistance to malaria drugs has spread in SE Asia (Update)
International experts raised the alarm Tuesday over the spread of drug-resistant malaria in several Southeast Asian countries, saying it endangers major global gains in fighting the mosquito-borne disease that kills more than 600,000 people annually.
Researcher calls for halt of US health care spending spiral
In order to evoke a true transformation, the U.S. health care system needs an audacious goal, one equivalent to President Kennedy's call for a man on the moon in 1962, says Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PHD, Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor and chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. In a Viewpoint published in the November 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Emanuel recommends limiting the rate of per capita health care cost increases to that of the U.S. economy as a whole as measured by the growth of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).
Analysis of health care in US indicates that improvement in outcomes has slowed
An examination of health care in the U.S. finds that despite the extraordinary economic success of many of its participants, the health care system has performed relatively poorly by some measures; and that outcomes have improved, but more slowly than in the past and more slowly than in comparable countries, according to an article in the November 13 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on critical issues in U.S. health care.
Politicization of health care preventing real changes to out-of-control system, researchers suggest
Over the last decade, the biggest driver of the high health care costs in the United States has been neither the aging of the population nor the large numbers of tests and treatments being prescribed.
A longitudinal study of grapheme-color synaesthesia in childhood
What colour is H? Is 4 brighter than 9? For most people these questions might seem baffling, but not for people with grapheme-color synesthesia.
Britain pays mothers to breastfeed under pilot scheme
New mothers in two areas of Britain are to be paid to breastfeed their babies, it was announced Tuesday, under a trial scheme aimed at boosting the practice in poor areas where it is "stigmatised".
A protein that 'rebels' against breast cancer treatment
Despite the fact that the cure rate for breast cancer, the most common cancer in women, is very high (around 80%), this disease can nevertheless have very serious consequences. The majority of breast cancer-related deaths are caused by relapses, in other words reappearance of a malignant tumour after a longer or shorter disease-free period. In the most serious cases, the "new" tumour tends to be resistant to treatment and is more invasive and aggressive than the primary tumour, thus resulting in a serious clinical problem.
Scientists find the "missing link" in important tumour suppression mechanism
Novel discovery relating to the function of RUNX3 gene provides new insights on human defence mechanism against early stages of lung cancer development
New clues to aggressive breast cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Queensland scientists have identified a genetic "switch" which indicates whether a woman's breast cancer will spread.
Poor coverage of breastfeeding found at first prenatal visit
(HealthDay)—Education about breastfeeding at the first prenatal visit typically is infrequent and limited, according to research published online Nov. 6 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
No good data for or against taking vitamins, experts say
(HealthDay)—Even though millions of Americans pop a vitamin, mineral or multivitamin supplement every day, an influential government-appointed panel of experts says the jury is still out on whether they help boost health or not.
Baboons shed light on human brain evolution
(HealthDay)—Research with baboon brains has provided new insight into the evolution of the human brain, a new study contends.
Noninvasive 18F-fluoride PET can identify culprit coronary plaques
(HealthDay)—Combined positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) using the radioactive tracer 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) can identify ruptured and high-risk coronary plaques, according to a study published online Nov. 11 in The Lancet.
'One-stop' radiation treatment might offer breast cancer care alternative
(HealthDay)—Some women with early breast cancer might benefit from a "one-and-done" treatment, in which they receive a single dose of targeted radiation therapy during the surgery that removes their tumor.
Experts hope sugar, salt are next on FDA target list
Now that the Food and Drug Administration has moved to banish most trans fats from the nation's diet, some public health advocates are hopeful that two other beloved ingredients - sugar and salt - will be subject to similar scrutiny.
Researchers call for dietary changes to prevent diabetes epidemic
University of Otago researchers say that helping people with pre-diabetes and diabetes to follow a healthier diet will significantly improve their blood sugar levels, and they are calling on smaller portion sizes to be offered at cafés and eateries to support this cause.
Clinicians influence patients' attitudes to back pain
(Medical Xpress)—Although people with low back pain consult with the Internet, family and friends for information and understanding of their symptoms, new research shows health care professionals appear to have the strongest influence on patients' attitudes and beliefs.
Tackling a large challenge for new modes of drug delivery
New treatments for prostate cancer, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis could be developed following research being carried out into how medicinal 'biologics' can be delivered to diseased cells.
Blocking 'lock and key' site of lung cancer proteins could lead to new treatments
A Cancer Research UK study reveals that stopping two essential lung cancer proteins from joining together at their 'lock and key' site could lead to new treatments for the disease. The research is published in the journal Cancer Cell.
Some see work as a calling, others say it's just a job
Why does one person see work primarily as a means to a paycheck, while another sitting in the next cubicle expects work to provide genuine fulfillment?
MRI-guided procedure tested as non-invasive study procedure for uterine fibroids
On April 11, 2013, Kimberly Dull became the first woman in Illinois—and one of the first in the United States—to take part in a clinical trial of an investigational, non-invasive procedure for uterine fibroids. The procedure, known as MRI-guided HIFU, uses magnetic-resonance imaging to focus heat-generating, high-intensity ultrasound onto these growths.
World's largest disease database will use artificial intelligence to find new cancer treatments
A new cancer database containing 1.7 billion experimental results will utilise artificial intelligence similar to the technology used to predict the weather to discover the cancer treatments of the future.
E-cigarettes could save millions of lives, conference told (Update)
Switching to e-cigarettes could save millions of smokers' lives, a conference on the rapidly expanding use of the devices heard Tuesday, though some delegates warned more research on the health effects is needed.
GlaxoSmithKline drug fails in late-stage study (Update)
A potential GlaxoSmithKline heart disease treatment acquired in a key company takeover fell short in a big, late-stage study.
Conscientious people more likely to provide good customer service
Conscientious people are more likely to provide good customer service, according to a new study from researchers at Rice University.
Tailored pre-transplant therapy boosts survival rate in rare immune deficiency
Chronic Granulomatous Disease is a rare immune deficiency that seriously compromises organ function and is life-threatening, with 20-30 per cent of patients dying within the first two decades of life. Cell transplantation, the only cure available to date, requires chemotherapy prior to transplantation in order to avoid transplant rejection, although there is a risk of complications such as central nervous system damage, organ failure, and infertility. Researchers from 16 university hospitals and 10 countries, including Switzerland, Sweden, and Canada have demonstrated in a clinical study published in The Lancet that tailored doses of the pre-transplant drug therapy boosts survival rates to over 90 per cent. This success rate is particularly impressive since most patients were transplanted with donors that are not in the same family as the patient, a situation in which the survival was below 60% with other protocols, making many centers being reluctant even in considering t! he transplantation.
Study finds aerobic exercise improves memory, brain function and physical fitness
A new study conducted by researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas published online in the open-access journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that engaging in a physical exercise regimen helps healthy aging adults improve their memory, brain health and physical fitness. This finding is significant considering that among adults 50 and older, "staying mentally sharp" outranks social security and physical health as the top priority and concern in the United States.
New discovery on early immune system development
Researchers at Lund University have shed light on how and when the immune system is formed, raising hope of better understanding various diseases in children, such as leukaemia.
Biomaterial-delivered chemotherapy could provide final blow to brain tumors
A polymer originally designed to help mend broken bones could be successful in delivering chemotherapy drugs directly to the brains of patients suffering from brain tumours, researchers at The University of Nottingham have discovered.
The heart's metronome
A specific cell population is responsible for ensuring that our heartbeat remains regular. Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have now elucidated the mode of action of one of the crucial components of the heart's intrinsic pacemaker.
Controlling the hormonal environment in endometrial cancer sensitizes tumors to PARP inhibitors
Modulating the hormonal environment in which endometrial cancers grow could make tumors significantly more sensitive to a new class of drugs known as PARP inhibitors, UCLA researchers have shown for the first time.
Balloon mis-positioning during prostate cancer treatment could affect success of radiation delivery
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the journal Physics in Medicine and Biology shows that endorectal balloons commonly used during precise radiation treatment for prostate cancer can deform the prostate in a way that could make radiation miss its mark.
Using morphine after abdominal surgery may prolong pain, researchers find
Using morphine to fight the pain associated with abdominal surgery may paradoxically prolong a patient's suffering, doubling or even tripling the amount of time it takes to recover from the surgical pain, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Deaths from pancreatic cancer rise, fall along racial lines
Pancreatic cancer death rates in whites and blacks have gone in opposite directions over the past several decades in the United States, with the direction reversing in each ethnicity during those years. The finding comes from a new study by American Cancer Society researchers, who say the rising and falling rates are largely unexplainable by known risk factors, and who call for urgent action for a better understanding of the disease in order to curb increasing death rates. The study appears early online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Study aims to change traditional approach to preventing pressure ulcers
A study led by Nancy Bergstrom, Ph.D., associate dean at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Nursing, found that nursing homes that utilize high-density foam mattresses may not need to turn residents every two hours to prevent pressure ulcers, a practice that has been used for over 50 years. A randomized controlled trial of at-risk residents demonstrated that there was no difference in the incidence of pressure ulcers for residents turned at intervals of two, three or four hours.
Young age at menarche doesn't equate to earlier sex
(HealthDay)—Younger age at menarche (AAM) does not confer increased risk of early first sexual intercourse (FSI), according to a study published online Nov. 11 in Pediatrics.
Soaring prices, not demand, behind massive hike in US health spending
(HealthDay)—Contrary to popular belief, the biggest reason for the rise in U.S. health care spending is not an aging population or patient demand but rather the increasing costs of drugs, procedures and hospital care, a new study finds.
Initial health-plan enrollment falls below expectations
(HealthDay)—Fewer than 50,000 people have enrolled in health insurance through the federal HealthCare.gov website, according to published reports.
AHA/ACC joint clinical practice guideline
Eating an overall heart-healthy diet and being physically active is critical for preventing heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases according to a new lifestyle guideline.
ACC/AHA publish new guideline for management of blood cholesterol
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association today released a new clinical practice guideline for the treatment of blood cholesterol in people at high risk for cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis, or hardening and narrowing of the arteries, that can lead to heart attack, stroke or death.
Bariatric surgery can lead to premature birth
Babies born of women who have undergone bariatric (weight-loss) surgery are more likely to be premature and to be small for gestational age, according to a large registry study carried out at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and published in the BMJ. The researchers believe that these pregnancies should be considered risk pregnancies and that prenatal care should monitor them extra carefully.
Epigenetic silencing of the HAND2 tumor suppressor promotes endometrial cancer
A study published this week in PLOS Medicine suggests that epigenetic modification of the HAND2 gene plays a critical role in the development of endometrial cancer. HAND2 is active in the healthy endometrium (the tissue lining the uterus) where it antagonizes the growth-inducing effects of estrogen. By contrast, in more than 90% of endometrial cancers, the gene has undergone hypermethylation, an epigenetic modification that doesn't change its DNA sequence but renders it inactive.
Molecular dissection of respiratory syncytial virus infection
A study published this week in PLOS Medicine reveals profound systemic dysregulation of the immune response induced by RSV infection in young children and suggest that molecular markers might be able to predict disease severity.
Musical training shapes brain anatomy and affects function
New findings show that extensive musical training affects the structure and function of different brain regions, how those regions communicate during the creation of music, and how the brain interprets and integrates sensory information. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2013, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Magnetic brain stimulation may help smokers quit
(HealthDay)—When willpower doesn't work, smokers who want to quit may have a new tool someday: magnetic brain stimulation.
Parental monitoring lowers odds of a gambling problem
Keeping an eye on your child can lower their odds for gambling by young adulthood, according to research conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Adolescents who had poor parental supervision at age 11, and which continued to decline through age 14, were significantly more likely than their peers to be problem gamblers between ages 16-22.
New research may improve early detection of dementia
Using scores obtained from cognitive tests, Johns Hopkins researchers think they have developed a model that could help determine whether memory loss in older adults is benign or a stop on the way to Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers transmit Parkinson disease variant from humans to mice
New research using tissue from the Parkinson's UK Brain Bank suggests that a protein called alpha-synuclein causes the spread of nerve cell death in multiple system atrophy (MSA), a Parkinson's-like condition.
New look identifies crucial clumping of diabetes-causing proteins
(Medical Xpress)—People get type 2 diabetes. So do cats. But rats don't, and neither do dogs. Subtle differences in the shape of proteins protect some and endanger others.
British neuroscientist proposes drug alternatives to alcohol for drinkers
(Medical Xpress)—Former chair of Britain's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, David Nutt is on a mission. He and his team at Imperial College in London are convinced that developing drugs that simulate the sensations that arise in people when drinking alcoholic beverages is an idea whose time has come. Nutt has been espousing his ideas to the British press (including the BBC) and to online magazines.
Researchers discover specific inhibitor for rheumatoid arthritis treatment
Collaborating with researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, a research team at Wayne State University's School of Medicine led by Kezhong Zhang, Ph.D., has contributed to an important discovery in the inflammatory stress mechanism and specific inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Cells show signs of faster aging after depression
(HealthDay)—The cells of people who have had depression may age more quickly, a new study suggests.
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