From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 5, 2014 at 2:28 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Tuesday, Mar 4
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 4, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Every red dwarf star has at least one planet- Researchers identify key intermediate steps in artificial photosynthesis reaction
- Transparent, color solar cells fuse energy, beauty
- Standard Type Ia supernovae have a surprisingly large range of masses
- Researchers sequence pepper genome, find jumping genes enhanced diversity
- 'Tribo-electric,' the buzzword of the future?
- 0-D: Zero-dimensional quantum dots identified by researchers
- Meat and cheese may be as bad for you as smoking
- Researchers propose a new way to detect the elusive graviton
- New study reveals insights on plate tectonics
- Sardis dig yields enigmatic trove: Ritual egg in a pot
- Researchers discover a link between sharp vision and the brain's processing speed
- Spiral galaxy spills blood and guts
- What makes flying snakes such gifted gliders?
- Novel drug treatment protects primates from deadly Marburg virus
Astronomy & Space news
Image: Astronaut Alexander Gerst training at Star City, Russia
ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst during training at Star City, Russia, on 13 February 2014. The exercice provides training for operations that Alexander would have to perform to attach himself safely in case he had to be airlifted by rescue helicopters.
NASA says US-Russia space ties 'normal'
NASA chief Charles Bolden said Tuesday the US space agency's relationship with Russia remained normal despite the ongoing international crisis in Ukraine.
Image: Star factory NGC 7538
(Phys.org) —The billowing clouds portrayed in this image from ESA's Herschel observatory are part of NGC 7538, a stellar nursery for massive stars. Located around 9000 light-years away, this is one of the few regions of massive-star formation that are relatively close to us, allowing astronomers to investigate this process in great detail.
NASA commercial crew partners complete space system milestones
NASA's aerospace industry partners continue to meet milestones under agreements with the agency's Commercial Crew Program (CCP), as they move forward in their development of spacecraft and rockets that will transport humans to destinations in low-Earth orbit.
China's yutu moon rover unable to properly maneuver solar panels
The serious technical malfunction afflicting the life and continued operations of China's Yutu moon rover since the start of its second Lunar Night time hibernation in late January 2014 has been identified as an inability to properly maneuver the life giving solar panels, according to a top Chinese space official.
It's a march of the CubeSats as space station deployment continues
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a CubeSat! With so many small, relatively inexpensive satellites deploying lately from the International Space Station, it may seem like the area referred to as low-Earth orbit, between 100 and 1,240 miles above the planet, is full of these compact cubes. The miniature satellites, or CubeSats, conduct research and demonstration missions.
Bright pulses of light could make space veggies more nutritious, says study
Exposing leafy vegetables grown during spaceflight to a few bright pulses of light daily could increase the amount of eye-protecting nutrients produced by the plants, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Space Station sensor to capture 'striking' lightning data
Keeping a spare on hand simply makes sense. Just as drivers keep spare tires on hand to replace a flat or blowout, NASA routinely maintains "spares," too. These flight hardware backups allow NASA to seamlessly continue work in the unlikely event something goes down for a repair. When projects end, these handy spares can sometimes find second lives in new areas for use.
Asteroid passing Earth will be closer than moon
An asteroid is headed this way. But even though it will come closer than the moon, astronomers say it will pose no danger.
Funding for US-German airborne observatory cut
NASA plans to mothball its infrared airborne observatory unless it can get some financial help from international partners.
NASA plots daring flight to Jupiter's watery moon
NASA is plotting a daring robotic mission to Jupiter's watery moon Europa, a place where astronomers speculate there might be life.
Researchers mulling inflatable airship VAMP for flying the skies of Venus
(Phys.org) —Researchers at Northrup Grumman and L'Garde are mulling the idea of a Venus Atmospheric Maneuverable Platform (VAMP) inflatable spacecraft—they have published an outline of their idea on NASA's web site.
Spiral galaxy spills blood and guts
(Phys.org) —This new Hubble image shows spiral galaxy ESO 137-001, framed against a bright background as it moves through the heart of galaxy cluster Abell 3627. This cluster is violently ripping the spiral's entrails out into space, leaving bright blue streaks as telltale clues to this cosmic crime.
'Dimer molecules' aid study of exoplanet pressure, hunt for life
(Phys.org) —Astronomers at the University of Washington have developed a new method of gauging the atmospheric pressure of exoplanets, or worlds beyond the solar system, by looking for a certain type of molecule.
Every red dwarf star has at least one planet
Three new planets classified as habitable-zone super-Earths are amongst eight new planets discovered orbiting nearby red dwarf stars by an international team of astronomers from the UK and Chile.
Standard Type Ia supernovae have a surprisingly large range of masses
(Phys.org) —Sixteen years ago two teams of supernova hunters, one led by Saul Perlmutter of the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), the other by Brian Schmidt of the Australian National University, declared that the expansion of the universe is accelerating – a Nobel Prize-winning discovery tantamount to the discovery of dark energy. Both teams measured how fast the universe was expanding at different times in its history by comparing the brightnesses and redshifts of Type Ia supernovae, the best cosmological "standard candles."
Medicine & Health news
Alzheimer's buddy program pairs patients, students
A retired Chicago physician and educator is getting a bittersweet last chance to teach about medicine. This time Dr. Dan Winship is the subject.
Cancer diagnosis doesn't increase a child's risk of post-traumatic stress disorder
A St. Jude Children's Research Hospital study found that despite being diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses, childhood cancer patients are no more likely than their healthy peers to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research appears in the current online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Predicting success of HIV interventions in NYC
New York City continues to battle an HIV epidemic, including among drug users. There are many possible interventions. Researchers have developed a sophisticated predictive computer model to help policymakers figure out which interventions, or combinations of interventions, would have the most meaningful impact.
Authorities should treat smoke events as disasters
QUT health experts warn air-polluting events like the Morwell fire should be treated as disasters.
Real-time insight into our brain
Combining two imagine technologies, such as MRI for structure and MEG for activity, could provide a new understanding of our how our brain works.
Valvular heart disease guidelines provide new disease classification, lower threshold for intervention
New practice guidelines for the management of patients with valvular heart disease (VHD) provide updated definitions of disease severity—categorizing four progressive stages from "at risk" to "symptomatic severe"—and lower the threshold for intervention in select patient populations.
Study identifies biomarkers that can provide advance warning of deadly kidney condition
A national, multi-center study led by University of Pittsburgh researchers found biomarkers that can tell a physician if a patient is at risk for acute kidney injury (AKI), a condition that often affects those in intensive care and can occur hours to days after serious infections, surgery or taking certain medications.
Study examines blood test to screen for fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
A blood test accurately screened for infection with the agent responsible for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), a fatal neurological disease.
Pitt public health analysis provides guidance on hospital community benefit programs
A new analysis led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health offers insights for nonprofit hospitals in implementing community health improvement programs. In a special issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved that focuses on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a multidisciplinary team of Pitt researchers explore published research on existing community benefit programs at U.S. hospitals and explain how rigorous implementation of such programs could help hospitals both meet federal requirements and improve the health of the populations they serve.
Exploring sexual orientation and intimate partner violence
Two studies at Sam Houston State University examined issues of sexual orientation and intimate partner violence, including its impact on substance abuse and physical and mental health as well as the effects of child abuse on its victims.
Researchers develop antibody-targeted treatment for recurrent small-cell lung cancer
Researchers at Norris Cotton Cancer Center have found an antibody that may be used in future treatments for recurrent small-cell lung cancer, which currently has no effective therapy.
Screening does not shift breast cancer to earlier stages
Screening for breast cancer appeared to have a very limited effect on the occurrence of serious and aggressive cancer cases. On the other hand, it appeared to detect many more early cancer cases, cases which would otherwise never have developed - but which are treated due to screening.
Pediatric surgeons develop standards for children's surgical care in the US
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has published new comprehensive guidelines that define the resources the nation's surgical facilities need to perform operations effectively and safely in infants and children. The standards—published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons—also have the approval of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia. Representatives of these organizations as well as invited leaders in other pediatric medical specialties, known as the Task Force for Children's Surgical Care, developed the consensus recommendations over the past three years.
Combination approach reduces spread of drug-related HIV
A computer model has created the most effective formula for reducing the spread of HIV among drug users in New York City over the next 25 years. Developed by scientists at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Brown University, the model recommends a combination of interventions, including increased HIV testing, improved access to substance abuse treatment, increased use of needle and syringe exchange programs, and broad implementation of antiretroviral treatment as prevention. The result would lower new infections by more than 60% by 2040.
Study summarizes fracture prediction strength of reference bone turnover markers
A new study by an International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) scientific working group summarizes the clinical performance of serum procollagen type I N propeptide (s-PINP) and serum C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (s-CTX) in fracture risk prediction in untreated individuals in prospective cohort studies.
Fighting against HIV in the Central African Republic—The importance of perseverance
According to Pierre-Marie David of the University of Montreal's Faculty of Pharmacy, stock-outs of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in recent years in the Central African Republic have had a dramatic impact on the health of HIV-infected people. These shortages have also created mistrust among patients toward the political and medical actors responsible for the fight against HIV/AIDS. And their wariness is likely to reduce their chances of getting better. David lived in the Central African Republic from 2005 to 2008, where he worked as Access to Antiretroviral Treatment Coordinator for the Red Cross. He then conducted research on the social effects of ARVs in the context of that country. His findings were recently published in Global Public Health.
Aggression, rule-breaking common among Taiwanese teenagers who have early sex
Taiwanese teenagers – and especially females – who become sexually active at a very young age are more likely to be rule-breakers and be more aggressive than their peers. These are the findings of a national study of Taiwanese youth led by Wei J. Chen of the National Taiwan University, with Chia-Hua Chan as first author. It is published in Springer's journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.
Next step in live-donor uterus transplant project
In Sweden alone, an estimated 2 000 young women of fertile age cannot become pregnant either because they were born without a womb or lost it later due to disease.
Which interventions are most effective to promote exclusive breastfeeding?
Only about 37% of babies around the world are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers are well-established. The effectiveness of different types of interventions for promoting exclusive breastfeeding in high-income countries is the focus of a Review article published in Breastfeeding Medicine.
Behavioral measures of product use didn't measure up in VOICE HIV prevention trial
A new analysis by researchers from the U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) confirms what they and many others had already assumed: The behavioral measures used for assessing adherence in the VOICE study – an HIV prevention trial that involved more than 5,000 women in sub-Saharan Africa – did not provide accurate information about women's use and nonuse of the products being tested. Their results, which were reported at the 21st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston today, found these tools were not much better than chance at being able to predict adherence to product use.
Combination ARV vaginal ring to prevent HIV safe in trial but one ARV carries the weight
An early phase clinical trial of a vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs dapivirine and maraviroc found the ring was safe in women who wore it for 28 days and evidence of dapivirine in cervical tissue and blood. In addition, laboratory tests of tissue samples showed that dapivirine was able to block HIV infection, though levels of maraviroc were not sufficient to have a similar effect, reported researchers from the National Institutes of Health-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) today at the 21st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston.
Serious complication of post-thrombotic syndrome often causes lengthy disability
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) often brings with it the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), an under-recognized but serious complication that often causes long-term disability for patients. During March's DVT Awareness Month, the Society of Interventional Radiology wants to help patients and family members to better understand the long-term risks of DVT.
Meeting face to face vs. meeting on Facebook—new study on social anxiety
Nearly a billion people use Facebook, the largest social networking site, but interacting with someone on social media is not the same as meeting them in person. The results of a study to determine whether Facebook exposure increases or reduces arousal during initial face-to-face encounters, especially among socially anxious individuals, are presented in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
New markers for acute kidney injury reported
Saeed A. Jortani, Ph.D., associate clinical professor in the University of Louisville's Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, headed up one of three labs in the United States involved in determining two new markers for acute kidney injury (AKI). The research group's paper, "Validation of Cell-Cycle Arrest Biomarkers for Acute Kidney Injury Using Clinical Adjudication," was posted online Feb. 25 by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
HIV/STI prevention program in Haiti is changing and saving lives
New research from the University of Toronto shows that a little training can go a long way in a desperate situation.
Trial continues after patient death: French heartmaker
French biomedical firm Carmat said Tuesday it would implant its experimental artificial heart into another three people, as planned, after the first recipient died.
Promise of value-based payments in health care remains unproven, study finds
After a decade of experimentation with reforms that give health providers financial incentives to improve performance, relatively little is known about how to best execute such strategies or judge their success, according to a new RAND Corporation report.
Warfarin for a-fib does not worsen outcomes for patients with kidney disease
Although some research has suggested that the use of the anticoagulant warfarin for atrial fibrillation among patients with chronic kidney disease would increase the risk of death or stroke, a study that included more than 24,000 patients found a lower l-year risk of the combined outcomes of death, heart attack or stroke without a higher risk of bleeding, according to a study in the March 5 issue of JAMA.
Study comparing injectable contraceptives DMPA and NET-EN finds HIV risk higher with DMPA
Women who used an injectable contraceptive called DMPA were more likely to acquire HIV than women using a similar product called NET-EN, according to a secondary analysis of data from a large HIV prevention trial called VOICE, researchers from the National Institutes of Health-funded Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) reported today at the 21st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston.
Intimate partner violence in men who have sex with men is linked to adverse health effects
Intimate partner violence (IPV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) is linked to greater risk of mental and physical health symptoms, substance misuse, and sexually transmitted infections, according to a research article published in this week's PLOS Medicine. The study, led by Ana Maria Buller and Loraine Bacchus from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, working with experts from King's College London, identified associations with negative health indicators for both victims and perpetrators of IPV among MSM.
How sexual contacts with outsiders contribute to HIV infections within communities
While a number of strategies can prevent and control HIV transmission and spread, their effective use depends on understanding the sexual networks within and between communities. A paper published in this week's PLOS Medicine reports a detailed analysis with surprising results from the Rakai district in Uganda, one of the most studied areas of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.
US aims to follow Britain's lead in fighting superbugs (Update)
Some $30 million proposed by President Barack Obama could help hospitals fight the growing problem of antibiotic resistance much the way Britain has, US health authorities said Tuesday.
Health care agency passes $1 trillion milestone
The government's biggest health care agency is passing the $1 trillion mark in President Barack Obama's new budget, a milestone for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Lawmakers, US drug enforcers clash over marijuana rules
US lawmakers supportive of steadily relaxing state marijuana laws sparred Tuesday with Obama administration officials who continue to label pot in the same high-danger category as killer drugs like cocaine and heroin.
New school meal standards significantly increase fruit, vegetable consumption
New federal standards launched in 2012 that require schools to offer healthier meals have led to increased fruit and vegetable consumption, according to a new study from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. The study, the first to examine school food consumption both before and after the standards went into effect, contradicts criticisms that the new standards have increased food waste.
Carotid Artery MRI helps predict likelihood of strokes and heart attacks
Noninvasive imaging of carotid artery plaque with MRI can accurately predict future cardiovascular events like strokes and heart attacks in people without a history of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Gonorrhea infections start from exposure to seminal fluid
Researchers have come a step closer to understanding how gonorrhea infections are transmitted. When Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea, are exposed to seminal plasma, the liquid part of semen containing secretions from the male genital tract, they can more easily move and start to colonize. The research, led by investigators at Northwestern University in Chicago, appears in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
Study: Friends common source of abused meds
Most people who abuse addictive prescription painkillers get them for free from friends or relatives, while drug dealers are a relatively uncommon source for those at highest risk for deadly overdoses, a U.S. government study found.
Heart attack risk rises in hours after angry outburst, study finds
(HealthDay)—A new study might supply another reason to keep your cool under stress. Researchers say angry outbursts may raise your odds for a heart attack or stroke in the hours after the incident.
Longer LOS for new heart failure in medicaid patients
(HealthDay)—Medicaid patients and patients with more comorbidities have a longer length of stay (LOS) for incident heart failure, compared to other hospitalized cases, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Journal for Healthcare Quality.
Change increases postpartum pertussis vaccination
(HealthDay)—Changing in-hospital ordering procedures increases the postpartum pertussis vaccination rate to 69 percent, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Single-patient trials determine statin tolerability
(HealthDay)—In patients with statin-related myalgia, single-patient randomized trials of statin and placebo can determine whether the myalgia is actually due to the statin, according to a small study published in the March 4 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Study identifies key protein that helps prevent lung cancer tumors from being destroyed
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have discovered a protein, Mcl-1, that helps enable one of the most common and deadly types of cancer to survive radiation and drug treatments.
Cancer drugs underprescribed in Wales compared to England
Patients suffering from cancer in England are up to seven times more likely to be prescribed expensive cancer drugs than fellow sufferers in Wales, a new study assessing the impact of the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) has revealed.
Using Google Glass in the operating room
At this point, only a few people are using Google Glass, Google's wearable eyeglasses-like computer. The device isn't yet commercially available.
The promise of particle beam cancer therapy
Accelerator physicists are natural-born problem solvers, finding ever more powerful ways to generate and steer particle beams for research into the mysteries of physics, materials, and matter. And from the very beginning, this field born at the dawn of the atomic age has actively sought ways to apply advanced technologies to tackle more practical problems. At the top of the list—even in those early days— was taking aim at cancer, the second leading cause of death in the U.S. today, affecting one in two men and one in three women.
Low-income home strife drives earlier teen sex
(Medical Xpress)—The age at which people become sexually active is genetically influenced – but not when they grow up in stressful, low-income household environments, reports a new study.
Memory's crucial impact on maintaining social bonds
Memory's crucial impact on our ability to establish and maintain social bonds is the focus of a new book, "Examining the Role of Memory in Social Cognition" (Frontiers), edited by Cornell neuroscientist Nathan Spreng.
Testing indigenous plants as cancer killers
Native Australian plants are being screened for potential cancer-killing properties by Flinders University researcher Dr Bradley Simpson.
Brain development provides insights into adolescent depression
(Medical Xpress)—A new study led by the University of Melbourne and Orygen Youth Health Research Centre is the first to discover that the brain develops differently in adolescents who experience depression. These brain changes also represent possible risk factors for developing depression during teenage years.
Deadly diarrhea caused by wastewater on crops
Researchers have identified that the use of wastewater to irrigate vegetable crops, which is common across developing countries, may significantly contribute to deadly health risks such as rotavirus, a major cause of diarrheal diseases.
Plant extract hope for infant motor neurone therapy
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry have been part of an international team led by the University of Edinburgh, who have identified that a chemical found in plants could reduce the symptoms of a rare muscle disease that leaves children with little or no control of their movements.
Mum's genes work with baby's to prevent obesity
It's long been known that babies who have a low birth weight have an increased risk of diabetes and obesity in later life. This developmental programming can be influenced by environmental factors, but little is known about how genetics play a role in this process.
Gender is important in relation to thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm condition, and gender is an independent risk factor for thromboembolism (especially stroke). The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for this increased risk of thromboembolism in women are not well understood.
Novel breast reconstruction surgery reduces opioid painkiller use, hospital stays
A new approach to breast reconstruction surgery aimed at helping patients' bodies get back to normal more quickly cut their postoperative opioid painkiller use in half and meant a day less in the hospital on average, a Mayo Clinic study found. The method includes new pain control techniques, preventive anti-nausea treatment and getting women eating and walking soon after free flap breast reconstruction surgery. It has proved so effective, it is now being used across plastic surgery at Mayo Clinic. The findings are being presented at the Plastic Surgery Research Council annual meeting March 7-9 in New York.
Reliable pretreatment information assists prostate cancer patients in decision-making
Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer need to assimilate information rapidly in order to weigh the treatment options and make informed decisions. Although patients consult a variety of information sources, outcome information that is specific to the treating physician leads to greater patient satisfaction following treatment, according to a new study published in The Journal of Urology.
Alcohol may ease the nerves that cause atrial fibrillation
(Medical Xpress)—Doctors in the U.S. and Japan have devised a way to treat atrial fibrillation by adding a little alcohol to minimally invasive therapies that target a cluster of misbehaving nerves known to trigger arrhythmia. In the most recent Journal of the American College of Cardiology (online before print), the researchers say the new therapy may dull or stop the transmission of electrical impulses that cause atrial fibrillation.
Dental age method could help refugee identity
A dental age estimation method developed by Norwegian scientists in the mid-1990s has been put to the test by a University of WA PhD candidate to see how reliable and applicable it is.
New research points to talking-therapy treatments to manage osteoarthritis pain
New research points to talking-therapy treatments to manage osteoarthritis pain
Metabolic profiling of liver cells suggests new treatments for cirrhosis patients
(Medical Xpress)—In a new study that could help doctors extend the lives of patients awaiting liver transplants, a Rice University-led team of researchers examined the metabolic breakdown that takes place in liver cells during late-stage cirrhosis and found clues that suggest new treatments to delay liver failure.
Family and socio-economic resources prevent suicide more effectively together
(Medical Xpress)—Family support and socio-economic resources (such as education and employment) may be more likely to prevent suicide when a person has both, according to new research from Rice University.
"Spring forward" time change can wreak havoc on circadian cycle
This weekend, we turn our clocks forward an hour.
Simple blood test could improve treatment for deadly childhood cancer
(Medical Xpress)—A simple blood test could pinpoint which children are unlikely to respond to treatment for a particularly aggressive form of neuroblastoma, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology today.
New kind of scan finds cancer's sleeper cells
Researchers have developed a new imaging technique that lights up cancer's sleeper cells, warning patients and doctors of a potential relapse according to a study published in Cancer Research today.
Self-employed men have higher levels of testosterone, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—An abundance of the sex hormone testosterone is associated with being self-employed, a study from the University of Birmingham, University of Surrey and the University of Adelaide study has found.
Commercial schemes are key to weight loss success, study finds
Public health authorities should consider commissioning a range of commercial weight loss programmes to help in the fight against obesity, University of Birmingham researchers have found.
B-cells aggravate autoimmune diseases
Scientists in Freiburg may have discovered a fundamental aggravating factor in autoimmune diseases. If B-lymphocytes lack the protein PTP1B, the cells will become hyperactive for stimulatory signals and can thus promote an autoimmune attack. This study offers an additional explanation to how B-cells regulate an immune response.
Allergy to moistened wipes rising
More and more people are developing an itchy, painful rash in an effort to stay clean. A dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center says a preservative in many types of pre-moistened wipes is linked to a dramatic rise in allergic reactions.
Electronic devices could be a detriment to spatial cognition
What do a commuter taking a detour on the way to work and a youngster fashioning a bird out of a sheet of brightly colored paper have in common? They're both depending on spatial cognition to complete a task.
New means of ranking the effectiveness of a range of current dyslexia interventions
How can we best treat dyslexia? A new meta-analysis of published data, carried out by researchers at LMU, now provides a means of ranking the effectiveness of a range of current interventions.
Breast cancer 'clearance' techniques suggested
AN investigation into the methods of checking that breast cancer is completely removed during surgery, has found some methods aren't affective at eliminating the need for a second surgery.
Hungry for 'likes': Anxiety over Facebook photos linked to eating disorders
Facebook has become a global phenomenon and an active space for social comparison. With the increase in technology use, there is a positive correlation with decreased body image in young women. In a study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, 960 female college students were evaluated on the time they spend on social media sites, how important "likes" are, and whether or not they untag photos of themselves.
Quality of life improves with minimally invasive surgery for low back pain
Beaumont research findings published in the February online issue of Spine shows that patients who have a low back surgery called minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, end up better off in many ways than patients who have more invasive surgery to alleviate debilitating pain.
High consumption of fish oil may benefit cardiovascular health
Eating fish in amounts comparable to those of people living in Japan seems to impart a protective factor that wards off heart disease, according to an international study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.
New online care from dietitians helps control weight
A rich chocolate cake is tempting you, but where is a dietitian when you need one?
Long-term study confirms success of method for detecting spread of deadly skin cancer
Research at UCLA on a technique for detecting the earliest spread of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has confirmed that the procedure significantly prolongs patients' survival rates compared with traditional "watch and wait" techniques.
Researchers find promising results with local hyperthermia of tumors
A combination of iron-oxide nanoparticles and an alternating magnetic field, which together generate heat, have activated an immune system response to tumors in mice according to an accepted manuscript by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Center researchers in the journal Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine released online on February 24, 2014.
Youngest kindergarteners most likely to be held back, study finds
For some parents, the decision of when to enroll their children into kindergarten can result in costly consequences such as another year of daycare expenses. In general, children must be five years old to be eligible to be enrolled in kindergarten. However, the developmental differences between a young kindergartener who barely qualifies for the state-mandated age cutoff date compared to a child who is almost year older, may have implications. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that the youngest kindergartners are about five times more likely to be retained, or held back, compared to the oldest students, resulting in higher costs for parents and school districts.
HPV vaccine provides significant protection against cervical abnormalities
The HPV vaccine offers significant protection against cervical abnormalities in young women, suggests a paper published in BMJ today.
Scientists identify protein linked to most common movement disorder
A team of researchers from Université Laval and CHU de Québec identified unusually high levels of a certain protein in the brains of people suffering from essential tremor (ET), a movement disorder that affects 4% of the adult population. The discovery, the details of which were published in the most recent edition of the journal Movement Disorders, could lead to an effective treatment for this neurological condition, which is 10 times more prevalent than Parkinson's disease.
Study tests range of electrical frequencies that help heal chronic wounds
Naturally occurring electricity in our cells is key to how our bodies function, and that includes the healing of wounds.
New constipation treatment under study for Parkinson's patients
Georgia Regents Medical Center is among about a dozen centers nationally exploring the potential of a new drug that may offer relief to people with Parkinson's who have failed standard approaches to treating constipation.
New therapy helps to improve audio and visual perception in stroke patients
A stroke can cause permanent damage to important parts of the brain, with the result that many stroke survivors require lifelong care and support. 'It is not uncommon for stroke patients to suffer from an awareness deficit or a reduced response to stimuli on one side of their body. This condition, known as hemispatial neglect, can mean that patients are unable to properly perceive people, images or sounds on that side,' explains Professor Georg Kerkhoff from the Department of Clinical Neuropsychology at Saarland University. 'These phenomena tend to be observed when the right side of the brain is damaged, in which case, the left side of the body is affected.' Another factor that complicates the situation is that patients are often unable to correctly assess their own state of health or even deny that they have a deficit in this area. Experts refer to this aspect of hemispatial neglect as patient unawareness. 'This lack of awareness reduces the chances of therapeutic success! and makes treatment more difficult,' says Kerkhoff. 'So far there have only been limited therapeutic options for this group of patients.'
Study finds experiences of racism associated with weight gain in African American women
A recent analysis conducted by investigators from the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University has found that frequent experiences of racism were associated with a higher risk of obesity among African American women. The findings, which currently appear online in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found the relationship between racism and obesity was strongest among women who reported consistently high experiences of racism over a 12-year period. The research was based on data from the Black Women's Health Study, a longitudinal study that enrolled 59,000 African-American women in 1995 and has followed them continually.
Two studies advance HIV prevention options for women
Two early clinical studies of novel HIV prevention products for women—the first combination antiretroviral (ARV) vaginal ring and a vaginal film—show the products to be safe and open the door to product improvements that could expand options for women-initiated prevention tools. The results of both studies were presented today at the 21st Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI).
Children with ADHD have higher risk of teenage obesity and physical inactivity
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to become obese and sedentary teenagers, according to new research.
Rats, frosting helping find genetic causes of binge-eating
Two strains of rats, cans of vanilla frosting and a theory have helped MSU professor of psychology Kelly Klump take one step closer to finding the genetic causes, and eventually a treatment, for binge eating.
Research team identifies new genetic syndrome
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a new genetic syndrome characterized by a constellation of health problems, including severe allergy, immune deficiency, autoimmunity and motor and neurocognitive impairment. The researchers, led by scientists at the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), observed that the syndrome's diverse symptoms are the result of mutations in a single gene associated with sugar metabolism. They plan to evaluate certain types of sugars as a potential treatment for people with this rare genetic condition in an upcoming clinical trial.
Drinking buddies deny copying alcoholic drink orders
People who copy their friend's drinking behaviour will deny that their decision has been influenced, researchers at the University of Liverpool have shown.
Silk-based surgical implants could offer a better way to repair broken bones
When a person suffers a broken bone, treatment calls for the surgeon to insert screws and plates to help bond the broken sections and enable the fracture to heal. These "fixation devices" are usually made of metal alloys.
Alzheimer's in a dish: Stem cells from patients offer model and drug-discovery platform for early-onset form of disease
Harvard stem cell scientists have successfully converted skins cells from patients with early-onset Alzheimer's into the types of neurons that are affected by the disease, making it possible for the first time to study this leading form of dementia in living human cells. This may also make it possible to develop therapies far more quickly and accurately than before.
'Gaydar' revisited: New insight into how women perceive emotions, thoughts, personality, and sexual orientation
A recent study sheds new light on the phenomenon known as "gaydar," or the ability to determine another person's sexual orientation.
Prevalence of allergies the same, regardless of where you live
In the largest, most comprehensive, nationwide study to examine the prevalence of allergies from early childhood to old age, scientists from the National Institutes of Health report that allergy prevalence is the same across different regions of the United States, except in children 5 years and younger.
Hong Kong reports sixth H7N9 bird flu case
Hong Kong confirmed Tuesday a new human case of the deadly H7N9 avian flu found in an 18-month-old girl, the sixth case to be discovered in the city.
Studies show big promise for HIV prevention drug
Exciting research suggests that a shot every one to three months may someday give an alternative to the daily pills that some people take now to cut their risk of getting HIV.
Mistakes may be common in prescribing antibiotics in US
More than one third of antibiotics prescribed in hospitals might be unnecessary and could be fueling drug resistance, US health authorities said Tuesday.
US home births continued steady increase in 2012: CDC
(HealthDay)—The percentage of U.S. women choosing to give birth at home or in a birthing center rather than a hospital has grown by 56 percent in less than a decade, according to a new government report.
Study quantifies prevalence of chronic HCV infection
(HealthDay)—The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is about 1 percent, with 2.7 million U.S. residents estimated as having chronic HCV infection, according to a study published in the March 4 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Nurses can perform colonoscopies as well as docs
(HealthDay)—Colonoscopy quality and safety are comparable for nurse and physician endoscopy trainees, according to a study published in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Study examines gap in federal oversight of clinical trials
An analysis of nearly 24,000 active human research clinical trials found that between 5 percent and 16 percent fall into a regulatory gap and are not covered by two major federal regulations, according to a study in the March 5 issue of JAMA. These trials studied interventions other than drugs or devices (e.g., behavioral, surgical).
What bat brains might tell us about human brains
Could a new finding in bats help unlock a mystery about the human brain? Likely so, say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center who have shown that a small region within the amygdala, an almond-shaped structure in the brains of all mammals, is responsible for producing emotional calls and sounds. They say this discovery might be key to locating a similar center in human brains.
Does palliative chemotherapy palliate?
Terminal cancer patients who receive chemotherapy in the last months of their lives are less likely to die where they want and are more likely to undergo invasive medical procedures than those who do not receive chemotherapy, according to research in this week's BMJ. The findings underscore a disconnect between the type of care many cancer patients say they want and the kind they receive, and highlight the need for clearer and more balanced discussion of the harms and benefits of palliative chemotherapy at the end of life by doctors, patients and families, the study authors say.
Moving out of high poverty appears to affect the mental health of boys, girls differently
For families who moved out of high-poverty neighborhoods, boys experienced an increase and girls a decrease in rates of depression and conduct disorder, according to a study in the March 5 issue of JAMA.
Opening a casino linked with lower rate of overweight children in that community
The opening or expansion of a casino in a community is associated with increased family income, decreased poverty rates and a decreased risk of childhood overweight or obesity, according to a study in the March 5 issue of JAMA.
Young children form first impressions from faces
Just like adults, children as young as 3 tend to judge an individual's character traits, such as trustworthiness and competence, simply by looking at the person's face, new research shows. And they show remarkable consensus in the judgments they make, the findings suggest.
Common cancers evade detection by silencing parts of immune system cells
Johns Hopkins researchers say they have identified a set of genes that appear to predict which tumors can evade detection by the body's immune system, a step that may enable them to eventually target only the patients most likely to respond best to a new class of treatment.
Investigational drug may increase survival for some patients with advanced melanoma
An experimental drug aimed at restoring the immune system's ability to spot and attack cancer halted cancer progression or shrank tumors in patients with advanced melanoma, according to a multisite, early-phase clinical trial at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and 11 other institutions. All patients had experienced disease progression despite prior systemic therapies, and most had received two or more prior treatments.
Cholesterol study suggests new diagnostic, treatment approach for prostate cancer
Researchers have discovered a link between prostate cancer aggressiveness and the accumulation of a compound produced when cholesterol is metabolized in cells, findings that could bring new diagnostic and treatment methods. Findings also suggest that a class of drugs previously developed to treat atherosclerosis might be repurposed for treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
Imprint of chemotherapy linked to inflammation in breast cancer survivors
Many breast cancer survivors experience fatigue and other debilitating symptoms that persist months to years after their course of treatment has ended.
Meditation: A stress reliever, but not a cure-all, study finds
A new study finds that research on mindfulness meditation has yielded moderate evidence that the practice can reduce anxiety, depressive symptoms and pain, but little to no evidence that it can reduce substance abuse or improve mood, sleep or weight control. And no evidence was found that meditation programs were better than drugs, exercise or other behavioral therapies at addressing issues of mental health.
Researchers find protein 'switch' central to heart cell division
In a study that began in a pair of infant siblings with a rare heart defect, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have identified a key molecular switch that regulates heart cell division and normally turns the process off around the time of birth. Their research, they report, could advance efforts to turn the process back on and regenerate heart tissue damaged by heart attacks or disease.
Study shows male hormones play an important role in female fertility
(Medical Xpress)—Several fertility clinics across the country are beginning to administer testosterone, either through a patch or a gel on the skin, to increase the number of eggs produced by certain women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Women are also purchasing the over-the-counter supplement DHEA, which is converted by the body into testosterone, to boost their chances of pregnancy with IVF.
Cigarette smoking may cause physical changes in brains of young smokers, study shows
(Medical Xpress)—The young, it turns out, smoke more than any other age group in America. Unfortunately, the period of life ranging from late adolescence to early adulthood is also a time when the brain is still developing.
Study results confirm BMI is a direct cause of Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure
(Medical Xpress)—Using new genetic evidence, an international team of scientists led by experts at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has found that an increased body mass index (BMI) raised the risk for both type 2 diabetes and higher blood pressure. The results add to mounting evidence about the risks of obesity and are of major importance for the obesity pandemic that is affecting the United States – where two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese – and other countries.
Scientists gain a clear picture of E1 protein
(Medical Xpress)—The heart's cellular blueprint has been the subject of scientific debate for decades, with no component causing more trouble the KCNE1.
Stem cell advance yields mature heart muscle cells
(Medical Xpress)—A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has induced human embryonic stem cells (hESC) to differentiate toward pure-population, mature heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes. A substrate patterned with a precisely sized series of channels played a critical role in the advance.
Blocking immune signaling stalls inflammation and insulin resistance tied to obesity
Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have found that blocking the action of a key signaling molecule in the immune system known as Netrin-1 stalls chronic inflammation and insulin resistance tied to obesity and often derived from fatty diets.
Yeast model reveals Alzheimer's drug candidate and its mechanism of action
Using a yeast model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Whitehead Institute researchers have identified a drug that reduces levels of the toxic protein fragment amyloid-β (Aβ) and prevents at least some of the cellular damage caused when Aβ accumulates in the brains of AD patients.
Novel drug treatment protects primates from deadly Marburg virus
For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the effectiveness of a small-molecule drug in protecting nonhuman primates from the lethal Marburg virus. Their work, published online in the journal Nature, is the result of a continuing collaboration between Army scientists and industry partners that also shows promise for treating a broad range of other viral diseases.
Researchers discover a link between sharp vision and the brain's processing speed
Middle-aged adults who suddenly need reading glasses, patients with traumatic brain injuries, and people with visual disorders such as "lazy eye" may have one thing in common—"visual crowding," an inability to recognize individual items surrounded by multiple objects. Visual crowding makes it impossible to read, as single letters within words are rendered illegible. And basic cognitive functions such as facial recognition can also be significantly hampered. Scientists and clinicians currently attribute crowding to a disorder in peripheral vision.
New evidence confirms link between IQ and brain cortex
Rate of change in the thickness of the brain's cortex is an important factor associated with a person's change in IQ, according to a collaborative study by scientists in five countries including researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro, at McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre. The study has potentially wide-ranging implications for the pedagogical world and for judicial cases in which the defendant's IQ score could play a role in determining the severity of the sentence.
Motion-sensing cells in the eye let the brain 'know' about directional changes
How do we "know" from the movements of speeding car in our field of view if it's coming straight toward us or more likely to move to the right or left?
Meat and cheese may be as bad for you as smoking
That chicken wing you're eating could be as deadly as a cigarette. In a new study that tracked a large sample of adults for nearly two decades, researchers have found that eating a diet rich in animal proteins during middle age makes you four times more likely to die of cancer than someone with a low-protein diet—a mortality risk factor comparable to smoking.
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