wtorek, 16 grudnia 2014

Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Dec 15


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Dec 16, 2014 at 2:36 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Dec 15
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 15, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Best of Last Week – World record for tabletop accelerator, mystery of Earth's water source and roller coaster strokes
- 'Fibonacci quasiparticle' could form basis of future quantum computers
- Researchers find tidally distorted exoplanets may have unique signatures
- Migrating 'supraglacial' lakes could trigger future Greenland ice loss
- Fraud-proof credit cards possible with quantum physics
- Amazonian bird chicks mimic poisonous caterpillar to avoid detection
- Past global warming similar to today's: Size, duration were like modern climate shift, but in two pulses
- Molecular 'hats' allow in vivo activation of disguised signaling peptides
- Scientists observe the Earth grow a new layer under an Icelandic volcano
- Neuronal circuits filter out distractions in the brain
- Massive study provides first detailed look at how Greenland's ice is vanishing
- Researchers combine logic, memory to build a 'high-rise' chip
- Reshaping the horse through millennia
- Proteins drive cancer cells to change states
- Linguistic methods uncover sophisticated meanings, monkey dialects

Astronomy & Space news

Researchers find tidally distorted exoplanets may have unique signatures

Astronomers could soon be able to find rocky planets stretched out by the gravity of the stars they orbit, according to a group of researchers in the United States. The team, led by Prabal Saxena of George Mason University, describe how to detect these exotic worlds in a paper in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

MESSENGER data suggest recurring meteor shower on Mercury

The closest planet to the sun appears to get hit by a periodic meteor shower, possibly associated with a comet that produces multiple events annually on Earth.

Signs of ancient Mars lakes and quakes seen in new map

Long ago, in the largest canyon system in our solar system, vibrations from "marsquakes" shook soft sediments that had accumulated in Martian lakes.

MAVEN mission identifies links in chain leading to atmospheric loss

Early discoveries by NASA's newest Mars orbiter are starting to reveal key features about the loss of the planet's atmosphere to space over time.

Fermi brings deeper focus to thunderstorm gamma-rays

Each day, thunderstorms around the world produce about a thousand quick bursts of gamma rays, some of the highest-energy light naturally found on Earth. By merging records of events seen by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope with data from ground-based radar and lightning detectors, scientists have completed the most detailed analysis to date of the types of thunderstorms involved.

Potentially hazardous asteroid surprises astronomers

"Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour," could be still an actual description of our ability to predict asteroid threats to Earth. The sentence from the Bible (Matthew 25:13) sounds like a reminder of a vast number of more than 1,500 currently potentially hazardous objects, floating in space, meandering around in the Solar System. Some of them may be destined to pay our planet a close visit someday, unexpectedly, Chelyabinsk-style, as the one that hit Russia in February 2013, causing serious damages and injuring about 1,500 people. Who would have predicted that? Lately, one of the potentially hazardous asteroids, named 2014 UR116, created quite a buzz when various media reported that the 370 meters wide space rock may hit Earth. Its impact would cause an explosion 1,000 times greater than the Chelyabinsk meteor. But the discoverer of 2014 UR116, Vladimir Lipunov, a professor at Moscow State University, becalms the ! public. "This asteroid will not collide with Earth during the next 100 years," Lipunov told astrowatch.net.

Engineering students aim to generate first breathable air on Mars

A project by students from The University of Western Australia and Mars One astronaut candidate Josh Richards has reached the finals of an international competition to land vital experiments on the Red Planet.

Mars mission boost welcomed by scientists

University of Leicester scientists, who are closely involved in the European mission to Mars –ExoMars- have welcomed support from the Government for the project.

A watch for astronauts by ESA and Omega

Swiss watchmaker Omega has announced a new version of its historic space watch, tested and qualified with ESA's help and drawing on an invention of ESA astronaut Jean-François Clervoy.

NASA image: Super Guppy spends a restful night in the NASA Langley hangar

NASA's Super Guppy aircraft, designed to transport extremely large cargo, rests after making a special delivery to the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. The aircraft measures more than 48 feet to the top of its tail and has a wingspan of more than 156 feet with a 25-foot diameter cargo bay – the aircraft features a hinged nose that opens 110 degrees.

Medicine & Health news

Neuronal circuits filter out distractions in the brain

The next time you are in a crowded room, or a meeting, or even at the park with your kids, take a look around. How many people are on their phone? Distractions invade every aspect of our lives. Status updates, text messages, email notifications all threaten to steal our attention away from the moment. While we fight the urge to check the phone, our brains are making constant judgment calls about where to focus attention. The brain must continually filter important information from irrelevant interference.

Are you genetically predisposed to antisocial behavior?

Both positive and negative experiences influence how genetic variants affect the brain and thereby behaviour, according to a new study. "Evidence is accumulating to show that the effects of variants of many genes that are common in the population depend on environmental factors. Further, these genetic variants affect each other," explained Sheilagh Hodgins of the University of Montreal and its affiliated Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal. "We conducted a study to determine whether juvenile offending was associated with interactions between three common genetic variants and positive and negative experiences." Hodgins and her colleagues published the study on December 11, 2014 in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Neurotransmitter binding-site function revealed with unprecedented accuracy

What does it take for a drug molecule to turn on a protein? Sometimes nothing more than jostling a few atoms. New research from University at Buffalo scientists will help pharmacologists better understand how drugs work and how to make them more effective.

Brain stimulation may hold key to treating anxiety

Researchers at The University of Western Australia have found that that brain stimulation may help retrain unhelpful cognitive habits associated with anxiety and depression. The paper was published today in the international journal Biological Psychiatry.

Algorithm identifies networks of genetic changes across cancers

The algorithm, called Hotnet2, was used to analyze genetic data from 12 different types of cancer assembled as part of the pan-cancer project of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The research looked at somatic mutations—those that occur in cells during one's lifetime—and not genetic variants inherited from parents. The study identified 16 subnetworks of genes—several of which have not previously received much attention for their potential role in cancer—that are mutated with surprising frequency in the 3,281 samples in the dataset.

Discovery may hold clues to treatments that slow aging

In a study published today by Nature, researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center used a microscopic worm (C. elegans) to identify a new path that could lead to drugs to slow aging and the chronic diseases that often accompany it—and might even lead to better cosmetics.

Virtual bodyswapping diminishes people's negative biases about others

What if you could, for a moment, have the body of someone of a different race, age, or sex? Would that change the way you feel about yourself or the way that you stereotype different social groups? In a paper publishing online December 15 in the Cell Press journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, researchers explain how they have used the brain's ability to bring together information from different senses to make white people feel that they were inhabiting black bodies and adults feel like they had children's bodies. The results of such virtual bodyswapping experiments are remarkable and have important implications for approaching phenomena such as race and gender discrimination.

Complex interactions between proteins Rbm38 and p53 govern tumor suppression, aging

Scientists have long known the p53 protein suppresses tumors. However, a recent animal study by UC Davis researchers has uncovered a complicated relationship between p53 and another protein, Rbm38, highlighting how the body calibrates protein levels. Too much Rbm38 reduces p53 levels, increasing the risk of cancer. Too little Rbm38 allows p53 overexpression, causing premature aging. The study was published in the journal PNAS on Dec. 15.

'Darwinian' test uncovers an antidepressant's hidden toxicity

Because of undetected toxicity problems, about a third of prescription drugs approved in the U.S. are withdrawn from the market or require added warning labels limiting their use. An exceptionally sensitive toxicity test invented at the University of Utah could make it possible to uncover more of these dangerous side effects early in pharmaceutical development so that fewer patients are given unsafe drugs.

Proteins drive cancer cells to change states

A new study from MIT implicates a family of RNA-binding proteins in the regulation of cancer, particularly in a subtype of breast cancer. These proteins, known as Musashi proteins, can force cells into a state associated with increased proliferation.

Making sense through order

Cognitive scientists at the University of Rochester say they have an alternative to the standard explanation for why order matters when the human mind processes information. Instead of ignoring the order in which people receive information, they embrace it.

Cake or carrots? Timing may decide what you'll nosh on

When you open the refrigerator for a late-night snack, are you more likely to grab a slice of chocolate cake or a bag of carrot sticks? Your ability to exercise self-control—i.e., to settle for the carrots—may depend upon just how quickly your brain factors healthfulness into a decision, according to a recent study by Caltech neuroeconomists.

Long noncoding RNAs: A novel prognostic marker in older patients with acute leukemia

A new study led by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) describes a novel marker that might help doctors choose the least toxic, most effective treatment for many older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML occurs mainly in older patients and has a three-year survival rate of 5 to 15 percent.

People with low numeracy feel negative about taking part in bowel cancer screening

People who have problems with numbers may be more likely to feel negative about bowel cancer screening, including fearing an abnormal result, while some think the test is disgusting or embarrassing, according to a Cancer Research UK supported study published today in the Journal of Health Psychology.

Teen use of e-cigarettes growing; Hawaii use rates higher than in mainland

E-cigarette use among teenagers is growing in the U.S., and Hawaii teens take up e-cigarette use at higher rates than their mainland counterparts, a new study by University of Hawaii Cancer Center researchers has found.

Potential cure for hepatitis B enters phase 1/2a clinical trial

A new treatment developed by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers to promote the cure of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is now recruiting patients for a phase I/2a clinical trial.

Simple steps can safeguard against Ebola transmission through organ donation

While serious infections can be transmitted from donated organs, the risk of passing Ebola virus disease from an organ donor to a recipient is extremely small. In a new editorial published in the American Journal of Transplantation, experts explain how simple assessments of donors can help ensure that the organ supply is safe, while having little impact on the donor pool.

Medicare payment reform saves money, helps patients, study finds

Researchers have found evidence that Medicare reimbursement reform has reduced the incidence of easily preventable, hospital-acquired health problems.

FDA approves drug that extends survival in the most common type of lung cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new drug to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), offering patients new hope in fighting this difficult disease. Lung cancer is expected to lead to over 150,000 deaths in the United States this year alone, and NSCLC accounts for about 85 percent of all lung cancers.

Report shows challenges for working families in transition off of public benefits

Getting a better job or more hours at work should be a boon to low-income individuals who are trying to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. But sometimes, instead, their families suffer more just when they should begin to thrive.

Antibiotics resistance could kill 10m a year by 2050

A British government-commissioned review has found that resistance to antibiotics could account for 10 million deaths a year and hit global gross domestic product by 2.0 to 3.5 percent by 2050.

Researcher develops robotic surgery technique to treat previously inoperable head and neck cancer

In a groundbreaking new study, UCLA researchers have advanced a robotic surgical technique to successfully access a previously unreachable area of the head and neck.

New floor covering can lead to breathing problems in babies

New flooring in the living environment of pregnant women significantly increases the risk of infants to suffer from respiratory diseases in their first year of life. This is the result of a study carried out by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the "St Georg" Municipal Hospital, which demonstrates that exposure to volatile organic compounds in the months before and after birth induces breathing problems in early childhood . The scientists therefore recommend that redecoration should be avoided during pregnancy or in the first year of children's life. According to an article written by the scientists in the scientific journal Environment International this could prevent at a rough estimate around 20,000 cases per year of wheezing requiring medical treatment in infants in Germany alone.

Skipping meals increases children's obesity and cardio metabolic risk

Children who skip main meals are more likely to have excess body fat and an increased cardiometabolic risk already at the age of 6 to 8 years, according to a Finnish study. A higher consumption of sugary drinks, red meat and low-fat margarine and a lower consumption of vegetable oil are also related to a higher cardiometabolic risk. "The more of these factors are present, the higher the risk," says Ms Aino-Maija Eloranta, MHSc, who presented the results in her doctoral thesis at the University of Eastern Finland.

Lowering dietary fat intake reduces death rates in some women with breast cancer

Among early-stage breast cancer patients who reduced their dietary fat intake for five years following a diagnosis, after over 15 years follow-up, death rates from all causes were significantly reduced in those who had hormone-unrelated breast cancer, according to data from the Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) presented at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 9–13.

Researchers to present progression-free survival results

Results from the final analysis of progression-free survival, response rate, and safety for the randomized, phase III Breast Cancer Trials of Oral Everolimus-1 (BOLERO-1) are to be presented here at the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 9–13.

Blow to chest may trigger potentially dangerous heart rhythm

A hard hit to the chest can cause an irregular heartbeat that may lead to death even days after the impact, according to an upcoming article in the journal Pediatrics, based on a case involving a 16-year-old Hawai`i football player.  The case, and its diagnosis by a University of Hawai`i (UH) medical professor, likely will change the way physicians diagnose the potentially fatal complication, and suggests chest protection gear should be standard in sports.

If cells can't move, cancer can't grow

By blocking a widespread enzyme, Centenary researchers have shown they can slow down the movement of cells and potentially stop tumours from spreading and growing.

Learning from Brazil's success with milk banks

Maria Lima lovingly strokes her baby's chest as the infant sleeps in an incubator. Her child was born premature and won't be leaving the hospital soon.

Scientists' unique system of oral vaccine delivery to address global health threats

Scientists at The Forsyth Institute and Tufts University have succeeded in describing and validating a unique system of oral vaccine delivery using a common bacteria found in the mouth. Findings published today by Elsevier in Microbes and Infection identify Streptococcus mitis as a successful vector for oral mucosal immunization, and further research will determine its potential clinical use in tuberculosis vaccine development.

Risky driving linked to ADHD and drug use

Drivers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who use drugs or alcohol are more likely to take part in risk-taking behaviour, research has shown.

Immunologist explains why the flu shot might not be as effective this year

You may have heard that this year's flu shot is less effective than normal. That's a scary prospect heading into the heart of flu season. But what exactly does that mean? Why would vaccines vary in effectiveness from year to year? To find out, I asked San Diego State University immunologist Joy Phillips to give me the rundown on how epidemiologists prepare for the annual onslaught of the influenza virus.

Mice aid in age-related muscle wasting research

A review by a UWA scientist into therapies for age-related muscle wasting (sarcopenia) has called into question the suggested use of stem cell therapy as a potential treatment.

The psychology of conspiracy theories

What makes a person more likely to believe in or create conspiracy theories—and whether that is related to mental illness—is the subject of new research from Victoria University of Wellington.

Rare study of fake pot use among college students

A survey of more than 300 college students reveals that college students who use "fake weed" or synthetic THC are most likely to have tried the drug because they were curious.

Claims of a cure for cancer? Ask For Evidence

Did you hear the claim that sleeping naked can cut your risk of diabetes? Or have you read the advert on your Facebook page extolling the virtues of some new 'miracle cure'? What about the ads on the bus selling a 'superfood' supplement giving you more energy to face the day?

Researchers tackle one of the biggest questions in dementia research

Researchers in Southampton are tackling one of the biggest questions in dementia research; why might current approaches in Alzheimer's trials be failing? The new study is published in the Journal of Pathology and funded by Alzheimer's Research UK and the Medical Research Council.

Research into aggression reveals new insights

An international research consortium, including a biologist from Leicester, has heard that aggression in young male prisoners can be reduced by treating ADHD.

Signaling mechanism could be target for survival, growth of tumor cells in brain cancer

UT Southwestern Medical Center neurology researchers have identified an important cell signaling mechanism that plays an important role in brain cancer and may provide a new therapeutic target.

'Genome editing' could correct genetic mutations for future generations

Scientists at Indiana University and colleagues at Stanford and the University of Texas have demonstrated a technique for "editing" the genome in sperm-producing adult stem cells, a result with powerful potential for basic research and for gene therapy.

Parkinson's patients identify balance and anxiety among top 10 research priorities

Patients with Parkinson's, medics and carers have identified the top ten priorities for research into the management of the condition in a study by the University of East Anglia and Parkinson's UK.

Current practices in reporting on behavioural genetics can mislead the public

"Media reports about behavioural genetics unintentionally induce unfounded beliefs, therefore going against the educational purpose of scientific reporting," writes the University of Montreal's Alexandre Morin-Chassé, following his study of 1,500 Americans. "Among other things, we wanted to know if the public understood (or misunderstood) popular science articles about a new research field, genopolitics, and whether this popularization indeed helped people have an informed opinion on human genetics," Morin-Chassé explained.

Novel agent decreases neuropathic pain in patients with type 2 diabetes

Molecular Medicine, a peer-reviewed biomedical journal published by the Feinstein Institute Press, published the results of a new study reporting clinically significant pain reduction in type 2 diabetic patients. In an exploratory study conducted by Araim Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company developing novel treatments for chronic diseases, investigators also observed improvements in metabolic control in patients administered ARA 290. ARA 290 is a peptide engineered to activate the innate repair receptor, a receptor discovered by Araim scientists, which is only expressed following tissue damage or stress.

Neurons listen to glia cells

Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have discovered a new signal pathway in the brain that plays an important role in learning and the processing of sensory input. It was already known that distinct glial cells receive information from neurons. However, it was unknown that these same glial cells also transmit information to neurons. The glia release a specific protein fragment that influences neuronal cross-talk, most likely by binding to the synaptic contacts that neurons use for communication. Disruption of this information flow from the glia results in changes in the neural network, for example during learning processes.

War metaphors for cancer hurt certain prevention behaviors

It's not unusual for people to use war metaphors such as "fight" and "battle" when trying to motivate patients with cancer.

Faces that distract from actions

The sudden appearance of a face within our visual field can affect the motor action accompanying a gesture even if the face is totally unrelated to what we are doing and even if we try to ignore it. At one condition, though: the face must display an emotionally significant expression. A study conducted by scientists of the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste, and just published in Psychonomic Bullettin & Review, describes the phenomenon in detail.

Less than half of parents think their 18-year-olds can make a doctors appointment

Most parents agree their children should be ready to move out of the pediatrician's office into adult-focused care by age 18 - but just 30 percent actually make that transition by that age, according to the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.

Occasional heroin use may worsen HIV infection

Researchers at Yale and Boston University and their Russian collaborators have found that occasional heroin use by HIV-positive patients may be particularly harmful to the immune system and worsens HIV disease, compared to persistent or no heroin use.

Medication linked to fewer injuries in kids with ADHD

(HealthDay) —Taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might reduce the risk of young patients accidentally injuring themselves, new research suggests.

Vaccinating schoolkids cuts flu in communities: study

(HealthDay)—Giving flu shots to schoolchildren also protects others, a new study finds.

In nursing homes, statins often continued in advanced dementia

(HealthDay)—For nursing home (NH) residents with dementia taking statins, most continue statins with the progression to advanced dementia, according to research published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Gene-environment connection seen in peanut allergy study

(HealthDay)—Infants of a particular generation born in Australia to Asian-born parents appeared to have an increased risk of peanut allergy compared with those of Australian-born parents, according to research published in the December issue of Allergy.

Screening performance differs with distinct fecal test brands

(HealthDay)—Different brands of fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) with the same cutoff hemoglobin concentration perform differently in detection of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published in the December issue of Gastroenterology.

ICU diaries may aid survivors in recovery after discharge

(HealthDay)—Patient diaries kept during a hospital stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a critical illness may be used as a therapeutic tool to assist survivors in recovery after discharge, according to research published online Dec. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Cobalamin defects can explain neurologic regression in children

(HealthDay)—Cobalamin defects can account for neurologic regression in healthy children, according to a case report published online Dec. 15 in Pediatrics.

Webcast scheduled to discuss maintenance of certification

(HealthDay)—New data relating to Maintenance of Certification (MOC) will be discussed in a free webcast to be held Dec. 17 by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Pre-op opioid use tied to higher post-op dependence

(HealthDay)—Greater preoperative opioid use predicts increased immediate postoperative opioid demand and decreased incidence of postoperative opioid independence among spine surgery patients, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of Spine.

Fiber fermentation by-product may help prevent weight gain

(HealthDay)—Propionate, a fatty acid created when fiber ferments in the colon, appears to prevent weight gain and trim fat around the waist, according to research published online Dec. 10 in Gut. However, the chemical compound doesn't seem to help people lose pounds, and the preliminary study is so small that the findings could be misleading.

Researchers identify therapeutic strategy that may treat childhood neurological disorder

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a possible therapy to treat neurofibromatosis type 1 or NF1, a childhood neurological disease characterized by learning deficits and autism that is caused by inherited mutations in the gene encoding a protein called neurofibromin.

Tobacco cessation outreach to disadvantaged smokers

Although tobacco use in the United States has declined, substantial socioeconomic, racial and ethnic disparities in smoking prevalence remain, particularly among smokers of low socioeconomic (SES) status, who have more difficulty quitting. New research from Brigham and Women's Hospital has now identified effective ways to help this population quit smoking. These findings are published online in JAMA Internal Medicine on December 15, 2014.

Women's age at first menstrual cycle linked to heart disease risk

Women who had their first menstrual cycle at age 10 or younger, or age 17 or older, may be at higher risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and complications of high blood pressure, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

Most patients don't get counseling about sex after heart attack

Most patients don't receive counseling about resuming sexual activity after having a heart attack, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

Injuries from indoor tanning include burns, passing out, eye injuries

Skin burns, passing out and eye injuries were among the primary injuries incurred at indoor tanning sites and treated in emergency departments (EDs) at U.S. hospitals, according to a research letter published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Intravenous vs. oral antibiotics for serious bone infections in children

Children with osteomyelitis (a serious bacterial bone infection) who were discharged from the hospital to complete several weeks of outpatient antibiotic therapy with an oral medication did not have a higher rate of treatment failure than children who received their antibiotic therapy intravenously, according to a study published online by JAMA Pediatrics.

Feeling younger than actual age meant lower death rate for older people

Turns out, feeling younger than your actual age might be good for you.

Receptor may be key to treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Inhibiting a nuclear receptor in the gut could lead to a treatment for a liver disorder that affects almost 30 percent of the Western world's adult population, according to an international team of researchers.

A novel tool to study life-threatening arrhythmias: A genetically engineered pig

Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have developed the first large animal model of an inherited arrhythmic syndrome - an advance that will lead to a better understanding of the biologic mechanisms important in normal heart conduction and rhythm. The novel pig model points the way toward development of better treatments for inherited forms of life-threatening arrhythmias, which are a significant cause of sudden cardiac death.

Affordable Care Act increases reliance on emergency rooms, study finds

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may have provided health care insurance to an estimated 20 million Americans who lacked coverage, but it has not eased the demand on the nation's emergency departments. In fact, since the law's passage, reliance upon the nation's emergency rooms for non-emergency care has increased.

Psychologist links burnout and depression

Research by City College of New York psychology Professor Irvin Schonfeld in the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership suggests a strong connection between burnout and depression.

Patients don't understand risks of unnecessary antibiotics, study shows

Over prescription of antibiotics is a major factor driving one of the biggest public health concerns today: antibiotic resistance. In a first-of-its-kind study, research led by the George Washington University suggests that public health educational materials may not address the misconceptions that shape why patients expect antibiotics, driving doctors to prescribe them more. The research appeared in October in the journal Medical Decision Making.

Even expectant dads experience prenatal hormone changes

Researchers recently completed one of the most extensive investigations to date of prenatal hormones in first-time expectant couples. Women showed large prenatal increases in salivary testosterone, cortisol, estradiol, and progesterone, while men showed significant prenatal declines in testosterone and estradiol, but no detectable changes in cortisol or progesterone.

Non-Gluten proteins identified as targets of immune response to wheat in celiac disease

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have found that, in addition to gluten, the immune systems of patients with celiac disease react to specific types of non-gluten protein in wheat. The results were reported online in the Journal of Proteome Research.

Herceptin found to improve long-term survival of HER2-positive breast cancer patients

VCU Massey Cancer Center physician-researcher Charles E. Geyer, Jr., M.D., was the National Protocol Officer for one component of a large national study involving two National Cancer Institute (NCI)-supported clinical trials that demonstrated that trastuzumab significantly improves the long-term survival of HER-2 positive breast cancer patients. The combined study was designed to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of the drug trastuzumab, which is commonly known as Herceptin and is primarily used alongside chemotherapy to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. The combined study focused on both the overall survival rates of patients up to ten years post-treatment as well as the known and potentially harmful side effects to the cardiac system.

Shame on us: Paper provides first step in arriving at accepted definitions of basic emotions

Emotions are complicated and never more so than in the realm of the scientific, where commonly accepted definitions are lacking.

Indoor tanning injuries can require ER treatment

Indoor tanning injuries have declined but still sent more than 1,000 people to emergency rooms in recent years.

Crunch time again for health insurance sign-ups

President Barack Obama's push to cover America's uninsured faces another big test Monday.

Report highlights support for young people with learning disabilities and autism

A report highlighting how best to support young people with learning disabilities and autism as they make the transition into adulthood was launched this week at an event in the Senedd.

Researchers study whether medication will help patients with atrial fibrillation fare better after a stroke

The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is conducting a clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of a new rapid-onset anticoagulant medication known as Apixaban with the standard anticoagulant drug warfarin in stroke patients with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm.

Is technology the key to faster recovery?

Researchers from Flinders University and the Repatriation General Hospital are taking part in the world's largest trial looking at whether computer games, iPad apps and interactive games such as the Wii can help people recover from falls, strokes and brain injuries.

A two-minute delay in cutting the umbilical cord leads to better newborn developent

A study conducted by University of Granada scientists (from the Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Departments) and from the San Cecilio Clinical Hospital (Granada) has demonstrated that delaying the cutting of the umbilical cord in newborns by two minutes leads to a better development of the baby during the first days of life.

Justices reject Arizona bid over abortion drugs (Update)

The Supreme Court is refusing to allow Arizona to enforce stringent restrictions on drug-induced abortions while a challenge to those rules plays out in lower courts.

New colorectal cancer risk factor identified

Adiponectin, a collagen-like protein secreted by fat cells, derives from the ADIPOQ gene. Variations in this gene may increase risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers. A new study that links specific variations in the ADIPOQ gene to either higher or lower colorectal cancer risk is published in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers.

Aflibercept in diabetic macular oedema: Added benefit not proven

Since August 2014, aflibercept (trade name Eylea) has been available also for patients with visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DMO). The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy.

Ebola toll rises to more than 6,800: WHO

More than 6,800 people have now died from the Ebola virus, almost all of them in west Africa, the World Health Organization said Monday.

Can identifying mental illness stop terror attacks?

A radical Muslim killed a soldier outside Canada's Parliament. A right-wing extremist opened fire on buildings in Texas' capital and tried to burn down the Mexican Consulate. An Al-Qaida-inspired assailant hacked an off-duty soldier to death in London.

Targeting inflammatory pathway reduces Alzheimer's disease in mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is characterized by the formation of β-amyloid plaques throughout the brain. Proteins known as chemokines regulate inflammation and the immune response. In both patients with AD and mouse AD models, the chemokine CXCL10 is found in high concentrations in the brain and may contribute to AD.

Review highlights ways to prevent and manage jaw bone disease

A review of more than a decade's worth of research on osteonecrosis of the jaw—when the bone in the jaw is exposed and begins to starve from a lack of blood—points to an increased risk for patients taking certain drugs for osteoporosis, anticancer drugs or glucocorticoids, those undergoing dental surgery, and people with poor oral hygiene, chronic inflammation, diabetes, or ill-fitting dentures.

Mobility disabilities can contribute to complications during pregnancy

A new study indicates that women with mobility disabilities often experience problems during pregnancy related to their functional impairments.

New study reveals Montmorency tart cherry juice accelerated recovery after intense cycling

Cyclists who are preparing for race day may have a new sports drink to give them an edge in recovery: tart cherry juice. A new study published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism found that Montmorency tart cherry juice helped accelerate recovery, maintain muscle function and reduce certain markers of exercise-induced inflammation among a group of cyclists participating in a simulated road race.

Female sexual arousal: Facilitating pleasure and reproduction

Despite numerous studies, publications, and commentaries on human female sexual arousal and orgasm, there is still so much to study and understand about women's sexual pleasure.

Rekindling marriage after combat deployment

A new study offers strategies for rekindling marriage after a spouse returns home from combat with post-traumatic stress symptoms present in one or both of the spouses.

Appeals court upholds condom use in LA porn films

A Los Angeles County ordinance requiring actors in pornographic films to use condoms does not violate the porn industry's First Amendment rights of free expression, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.


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

Brak komentarzy: