From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 1:28 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Wednesday, Mar 12
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
COMSOL Multiphysics 4.4 Product Booklet now available online.
See how engineers, scientists, and researchers have improved their designs by adding multiphysics simulation to their workflow in this free resource: http://goo.gl/iImvFY
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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 12, 2014:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Good vibes: A way to make better catalysts for meds, industry and materials- Quantum physics secures new cryptography scheme
- What happened when? How the brain stores memories by time
- 'Ultracold' molecules promising for quantum computing, simulation
- Researchers combine graphene and copper in hopes of shrinking electronics
- Largest yellow hypergiant star spotted
- Researchers discover evidence in bones that shows ancient sloths returned to the sea
- Building new drugs just got easier
- Water-rich gem points to vast 'oceans' beneath the Earth
- Johns Hopkins researchers interact with industrial robots (w/ video)
- First thin films of spin ice reveal cold secrets
- Researchers reconstruct a cheese recipe from the Early Bronze Age
- Quantum chaos in ultracold gas discovered
- Rethinking genetic links to obesity: IRX3 is likely the 'fat gene'
- Surface characteristics influence cellular growth on semiconductor material
Astronomy & Space news
Researchers achieve breakthrough in robotics for space exploration
In a breakthrough that will help make it possible for astronauts and robots to work together in deep space, researchers at the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Advanced Technology Center (ATC), working with NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station, have demonstrated coordinated control of robots in space by astronauts in space and operators on the ground. The breakthrough is the first-ever demonstration of such collaborative tele-operations. The maneuvers create new opportunities to extend the reach of human and robotic missions in Earth orbit and beyond.
Video: Morpheus flies higher and farther than ever
NASA's Project Morpheus nailed it again today with yet another successful free flight of their prototype lander, soaring higher, faster, and farther than ever before! Go Morpheus!
NASA Mars orbiter safe after unplanned computer swap
(Phys.org) —NASA's long-lived Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter put itself into a precautionary safe standby mode March 9 after an unscheduled swap from one main computer to another. The mission's ground team has begun restoring the spacecraft to full operations.
Largest yellow hypergiant star spotted
ESO's Very Large Telescope has revealed the largest yellow star—and one of the 10 largest stars found so far. This hypergiant has been found to measure more than 1,300 times the diameter of the Sun, and to be part of a double star system, with the second component so close that it is in contact with the main star. Observations spanning over 60 years also indicate that this remarkable object is changing very rapidly.
Medicine & Health news
Experts urge Chancellor to 'crack down on cheap drink' in next week's budget
Experts are today urging the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to 'stand by the government's commitment to crack down on cheap drink' by retaining the alcohol duty escalator in next week's budget.
Infection is the leading cause of failed prosthetic knee joints
The number of total knee replacement (TKR) procedures continues to climb, as does the number of revision total knee replacement (RTKR) surgeries. In the study, "The Epidemiology of Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty in the United States," presented today at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to evaluate the cause of knee failure for 301,718 revision RTKR surgeries performed between 2005 and 2010.
Reproductive rights in spain and around the world
On International Women's Day, March 8, there were women's rights demonstrations in Spain, where the government has announced a plan to outlaw nearly all abortions. Bayla Ostrach, a Ph.D. candidate in applied medical anthropology, has researched access to abortion in that nation. She discussed with Christine Buckley of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences the unfolding events and their global significance.
Sipping a soft drink is much more harmful for your teeth than gulping it
When you are in a bar enjoying a soft drink, don't talk with friends, but drink as fast as you can. This may not be the best thing for your social life, but for your teeth it certainly is. This is one of the things Olga Ilie of the faculty of Applied Sciences discovered. Next month she will defend her thesis 'Numerical studies of dental plaque and caries formation'.
Project launched to cut 'hidden' salt in foods
Current research shows reducing our current salt intake to six grams per day could prevent nearly six per cent of strokes. But the onus is as much on food manufacturers, as well as consumers, to be less heavy-handed with the salt. And that is precisely what the PROCURED project seeks to achieve.
Learning to read and write is a triumph of education over evolution
Our little Susie turned five today. On the one hand she seems so grown up to us, with insightful conversations and an independent spirit. On the other hand it is astonishing to think about how much more she needs to learn and develop over the next ten to 20 years – physically, emotionally, socially and academically.
Survey reveals plight of LGBT elderly in care homes
Despite changes in social attitudes, many older LGBT people feel unable to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity to staff according to a new survey of care home staff.
One in ten adolescents in Northern Ireland self-harm
New research has found that one in ten adolescents in Northern Ireland self-harm and that past exposure to the Northern Ireland conflict and social media are new associated risk factors.
Patients are loyal to their doctors, despite performance scores
Many health insurers now rank their physicians into tiers based on quality and cost and provide financial incentives to members for choosing a doctor in a higher tier. These tiered networks are designed to promote competition and quality improvement among providers.
Majority of transgender patients report negative experiences in emergency departments
A new study out of Western University (London, Canada) has found the majority of transgender patients have had a negative experience when it comes to receiving emergency department (ED) care. The findings, by first author Greta Bauer, PhD, is in press at the Annals of Emergency Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and is now posted online.
Stem cells inside sutures could improve healing in Achilles tendon injuries
Researchers have found that sutures embedded with stem cells led to quicker and stronger healing of Achilles tendon tears than traditional sutures, according to a new study published in the March 2014 issue of Foot & Ankle International.
Pfizer stock trades halted over drug patent ruling
A U.S. court on Wednesday invalidated the key patent for one of Pfizer's most lucrative medicines, potentially opening the door for cheaper generic versions 18 months sooner than expected and cutting into the drugmaker's profit.
Liver transplant may arrest neurological damage in a rare and progressive form of autism
A patient with a rare metabolic disease that causes liver failure and autistic behavior experienced significant improvements in both her physical and mental health after receiving a liver transplant, according to a new case report published in the American Journal of Transplantation. The report's findings suggest an unexpected link between metabolic conditions and some forms of autism, and they point to the importance of a healthy liver for normal brain function.
Back surgery offers long-term societal benefits, according to new study
Annually, more than 10 million people experience back pain in the United States. More than 200,000 of these patients undergo surgery to alleviate pain due to a herniated disc. Surgery to remove the disc has been found to be an effective way to improve these patients' quality of life in cases where conservative treatment is ineffective, but until now, little was known about the societal benefits of surgery and workplace productivity in particular. A new study uncovered that the estimated average annual earnings of working patients who undergo surgery are $47,619, compared to $45,694 for those with non-surgical treatments. Therefore, the annual earnings are increased by $1,925 for those patients receiving surgery. Additionally, patients who undergo surgery miss three fewer days of work each year as compared to patients who elect for nonsurgical treatment.
New prognostic test for breast cancer could improve patient treatment
A study by researchers in Nottingham has developed a new clinical test for breast cancer which aims to improve patient treatment.
A tailor made molecule against malaria
The malaria parasite is particularly pernicious since it is built to develop resistance to treatments. The lack of new therapeutic approaches also contributes to the persistence of this global scourge. A study led by Didier Picard, professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, describes a new class of molecules targeting the two problems at the same time.
Chronic pain research delves into the brain
(Medical Xpress)—University of Adelaide researchers say new insights into how the human brain responds to chronic pain could eventually lead to improved treatments for patients.
Research reveals surprising results about kids' capacity for scientific literacy
(Medical Xpress)—It turns out kids can understand complex scientific concepts – like natural selection – far beyond what anyone would have expected.
Financial incentives could help people make healthier life choices
(Medical Xpress)—People may be more likely to adopt healthy behaviours if offered small financial incentives, the largest study of its kind has concluded.
Women urged to recognise the signs of ovarian cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Feeling bloated most days for three weeks or more is the focus of a new Be Clear on Cancer campaign being launched by Public Health England in the North West.
Fighting Vitamin A Deficiency
(Medical Xpress)—Rutgers scientists believe that they have found a way to fight vitamin A deficiency – a discovery they hope could be the answer to a global health problem linked to blindness, impaired immune systems, birth defects. Vitamin A causes the deaths of millions of people every year, many of them children. The World Health Organization estimates that hundreds of millions of individuals are vitamin A deficient, especially in the developing world.
Breast cancer gene protects against obesity, diabetes
(Medical Xpress)—The gene known to be associated with breast cancer susceptibility, BRCA 1, plays a critical role in the normal metabolic function of skeletal muscle, according to a new study led by University of Maryland School of Public Health researchers. Dr. Espen Spangenburg, associate professor of kinesiology, and his laboratory team are the first to identify that the BRCA1 protein is expressed in the skeletal muscle of both mice and humans, and that it plays a key role in fat storage, insulin response and mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle cells. The research is published in the Journal of Lipid Research.
Hormone action likely culprit of hypoglycemia after gastric bypass surgery
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have discovered that blocking the action of one of the gut hormones can correct post-meal hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in gastric bypass patients.
Men's immunity could be key to new malaria drugs
(Medical Xpress)—A University of Alberta researcher's discovery about how malaria affects men could mean the difference between life and death for pregnant women in Colombia.
New and extremely promising antibiotic for tuberculosis
Even though tuberculosis kills more than 1.5 million people every year, the market is not cost-effective for pharmaceutical companies. So EPFL is setting up a foundation to release an antibiotic developed in its own laboratories under EU funding.
Study questions accepted treatment for prostate cancer
(Medical Xpress)—Contrary to the standard approach to treating metastatic prostate cancer, direct treatment of the primary tumor appears to prolong survival significantly, a new study by researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Norfolk's Eastern Virginia Medical School suggests. The surprising findings have prompted the researchers to launch clinical trials that could upend the accepted treatment of the disease.
Levels of key brain chemicals predict children's reading ability
(Medical Xpress)—Reading-impaired young children have higher levels of the metabolites glutamate and choline in their brains, and these higher levels continue to be indicative of difficulties in developing typical reading and language skills, a Yale study has found. The study appears in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Targeted treatment of back pain sees 50% drop in work absence
(Medical Xpress)—Stratified or targeted care of back pain implemented by family doctors leads to 'significant' improvements for patients and a 50% reduction in work absence – without an increase in healthcare costs – according to new research.
Proposed changes in nutrition labels align better with the way we really eat
The Food and Drug Administration unveiled its proposal for a new Nutrition Facts label on Feb. 27, the first revamp of the back-of-the-box listing since it was introduced 20 years ago. The agency said the label redesign—which features bolder calorie totals, a listing for added sugars and information on vitamin D and potassium—reflects current science on what nutrients Americans are potentially lacking in their diets and what things (sugar, calories) they are getting too much of. It also takes into account the amount we tend to eat, which is larger portion sizes than in the 1970s and 1980s. Thus a 20-ounce bottle of soda will no longer be considered two and a half servings, at least according to the label.
Study finds link between deprivation and not reading
The nationwide study, commissioned by Booktrust, reveals worrying indications that the UK is divided into two nations.
Researchers uncover a hormone that plays a vital role in heart development
Hormones—regulatory biochemicals produced by the body—were first identified over 100 years ago. Since then, improvements in researchers' understanding of the key role that hormones play as chemical messengers in processes such as growth, metabolism and reproduction have enabled some of the most significant medical advances in the twentieth century. The discovery of insulin, for example, led to the first effective treatment for diabetes, and the identification of other hormones, such as cortisol, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, has resulted in unprecedented advances in human fertility and healthcare.
Type 1 diabetes: Gut microbiota networks may influence autoimmune processes
The interactions of the gut microbiota in children with typical diabetes autoantibodies differ from that in healthy children. The fact that these differences already exist before antibodies are detectable in the blood adds to the growing evidence that microbial DNA, the so-called microbiome, may be involved in the development of autoimmune processes. Scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum München have published their findings in the specialist journal Diabetes.
Healthcare providers driving rising Caesarean rates
(Medical Xpress)—Where a woman gives birth - in a public or private hospital - is a key determinant of whether she has a Caesarean section or not, according to findings from three consecutives surveys of more than 14,000 women who had recently given birth in Queensland.
Free online software helps speed up genetic discoveries
DNA microarray analysis, a high-speed method by which the expression of thousands of genes can be analyzed simultaneously, was invented in the late 1980s and developed in the 1990s. Genetic researchers used a glass slide with tiny dots of copies of DNA to test match genes they were trying to identify. Because the array of dots was so small, it was called a "microarray." There is a strong correlation between the field of molecular biology and medical research, and microarray technology is used routinely in the area of cancer research and other epidemiology studies. Many research groups apply it to detect genetic variations between biological samples and information about aberrant gene expression levels can be used in what is called "personalized medicine." This includes customized approaches to medical care, including finding new drugs for gene targets where diseases have genetic causes and potential cures are based on an individual's aberrant gene's signal.
Research shows smoking harms your chances of recovering from fractures
Bone healing cells in non-smokers are of a better quality, more active and quicker at dividing than those of smokers, according to new research.
Superior visual thinking may be key to independence for high schoolers with autism
Researchers at UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) and UNC's School of Education report that teaching independence to adolescents with autism can provide a crucial boost to their chances for success after high school.
The immune system's redesigned role in fighting cancerous tumors
Researchers in the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute eradicated solid tumors in laboratory mice using a novel combination of two targeted agents. These two synergistic therapies stimulate an immune response, ultimately allowing solid tumors to act as their own cancer-fighting vaccine.
Imbalanced hearing is more than a mild disability
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received a five-year, $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the effects of asymmetric hearing loss in adults and children.
Device firms adjust to increased payment disclosure
Mark DuVal's law firm has been busy teaching medical device and drug makers how to obey the Physician Payments Sunshine Act.
Researchers slow pancreatic cancer growth by blocking key enzyme
A research team from Imperial College London has shown that blocking the function of an enzyme known as Hhat slows the growth and spread of pancreatic cancer, by preventing a protein called Hedgehog from stimulating nearby normal cells to help the cancer.
Financial Incentives to Improve Quality Skating to the Puck or Avoiding the Penalty Box?
(Medical Xpress)—In a Viewpoint published in the March issue of JAMA, Researcher Jeremiah Brown of The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice and colleagues, Hal Sox and David Goodman, question whether the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' use of financial penalties is the right tack for changing the behavior of hospitals.
Study finds texting program good option for teen girls' health
Megan Ranney, M.D., M.P.H., an emergency medicine attending physician at Hasbro Children's Hospital, recently led a study that found a text-message program may be an effective violence prevention tool for at-risk teen girls. The study has been published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Wishing to be another gender: Links to ADHD and autism spectrum disorders
Children and teenagers with an autism spectrum disorder or those who have attention deficit and hyperactivity problems are much more likely to wish to be another gender. So says John Strang of the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, USA, leader of the first study to compare the occurrence of such gender identity issues among children and adolescents with and without specific neurodevelopmental disorders. The paper is published in Springer's journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.
Nicotine withdrawal weakens brain connections tied to self-control over cigarette cravings
People who try to quit smoking often say that kicking the habit makes the voice inside telling them to light up even louder, but why people succumb to those cravings so often has never been fully understood. Now, a new brain imaging study in this week's JAMA Psychiatry from scientists in Penn Medicine and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Intramural Research Program shows how smokers suffering from nicotine withdrawal may have more trouble shifting from a key brain network—known as default mode, when people are in a so-called "introspective" or "self-referential" state— and into a control network, the so-called executive control network, that could help exert more conscious, self-control over cravings and to focus on quitting for good.
Meta-analysis: Any blood pressure reading above normal may increase risk of stroke
Anyone with blood pressure that's higher than the optimal 120/80 mmHg may be more likely to have a stroke, according to a new meta-analysis published in the March 12, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Gestational diabetes may raise risk for heart disease in midlife
Pregnant women may face an increased risk of early heart disease when they develop gestational diabetes, according to research in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Doctors issue new treatment guidelines for skin abscesses caused by MRSA
It has been more than 10 years since the clinical battle began with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and doctors are still grappling with how to diagnose, treat and prevent this virulent form of staph infection, which is immune to many antibiotics.
Estradiol preserves key brain regions in postmenopausal women at risk for dementia
When initiated soon after menopause, hormone therapy with estradiol prevented degeneration in key brain regions of women who were at heightened dementia risk, according to a new study led by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers.
Review of home care visits for the elderly finds there is 'no proven benefit'
In what's thought to be the biggest review of academic literature into whether home care visits provide benefits for the elderly, researchers conclude there is 'no consistent evidence' to show they lead to the elderly living longer or having more independent lives than those without any visits. Researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Oxford analysed 64 randomised controlled trials (RCTs), mainly in the United States, Canada and the UK. They say that they cannot rule out the possibility that some programmes involving home care visits may be effective, but neither is there significant evidence of benefit. In the journal, PLOS ONE, the authors conclude therefore that they cannot support government policies that make home care visits widely available to the elderly.
Large waist linked to poor health, even among those in healthy body mass index ranges
Having a big belly has consequences beyond trouble squeezing into your pants. It's detrimental to your health, even if you have a healthy body mass index (BMI), a new international collaborative study led by a Mayo Clinic researcher found. Men and women with large waist circumferences were more likely to die younger, and were more likely to die from illnesses such as heart disease, respiratory problems, and cancer after accounting for body mass index, smoking, alcohol use and physical activity. The study is published in the March edition of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Two definitions for chronic multisymptom illness afflicting Gulf War vets should guide treatment
Two existing definitions of chronic multisymptom illness (CMI)—one by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and another from a study of Kansas Gulf War veterans—should be used by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to guide research and treatment of Gulf War veterans, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Determining which definition to use in different circumstances should be based on specific needs. Furthermore, the term "Gulf War illness" should replace "chronic multisymptom illness" to reflect the group in which the illness manifests and the group's distinctive experiences, said the committee that wrote the report.
Transition to ICD-10 may cause information, financial losses for providers
Health providers may experience information and financial loss during the mandated conversion from the current International Classification of Diseases to its new and improved version, report researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Bacterium and fungus team up to cause virulent tooth decay in toddlers
Early childhood caries, a highly aggressive and painful form of tooth decay that frequently occurs in preschool children, especially from backgrounds of poverty, may result from a nefarious partnership between a bacterium and a fungus, according to a paper published ahead of print in the journal Infection and Immunity.
Boosting self-esteem prevents health problems for seniors
The importance of boosting self-esteem is normally associated with the trials and tribulations of adolescence. But new research from Concordia University shows that it's even more important for older adults to maintain and improve upon those confidence levels as they enter their twilight years. That's because boosting self-esteem can help buffer potential health threats typically associated with the transition into older adulthood.
Protein from meat, fish may help men age well
(HealthDay)—Older men may gain a boost physically, mentally and socially if they eat a diet rich in meat and fish, according to a new study from Japan.
About one-quarter of patients with MCI progress to dementia
(HealthDay)—About 22 percent of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progress to dementia within three years, and depression symptoms modify the prognosis, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Prehospital stroke alerts speed door-to-CT times
(HealthDay)—Emergency medical services (EMS) prenotification regarding the arrival of patients who have had a stroke allows patients to bypass the emergency department and undergo computed tomography (CT) in a timely manner, according to a study published in the March issue of Neurosurgery.
TV viewing time linked to sleep duration in children
(HealthDay)—For children, television viewing time is inversely associated with sleep duration, according to a study published online March 10 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Resistant strain of head lice prevalent in North America
(HealthDay)—Widespread use of pyrethrins- or pyrethroid-based products appears to have resulted in selection pressure for a highly-resistant strain of human head lice in North America, according to research published in the March issue of the Journal of Medical Entomology.
More lumbar Sx complications at teaching hospitals
(HealthDay)—Patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery at teaching hospitals incur longer hospitalizations and have more postoperative complications compared to those treated at nonteaching hospitals, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of Spine.
Info, motivation, behavioral skill affect med adherence
(HealthDay)—Patients' adherence-related information, motivation, and behavioral skills (IMB) are important targets for interventions promoting adherence to diabetes medications, according to a study published online March 5 in Diabetes Care.
FDA experts debate timing of pap test
(HealthDay)—The Pap test has been a routine gynecological procedure for generations of American women. But on Wednesday, a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel is considering whether to delay the Pap test and use an HPV test as a first step in cervical cancer screening.
Scientists discover epigenetic mechanism that could affect risk of obesity-related disease
In one of the largest epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) to date, published in The Lancet, scientists have identified a new epigenetic mechanism that may play a role in mediating some of the harmful effects of becoming overweight, such as diabetes.
Study suggests new rehabilitation methods for amputees and stroke patients
When use of a dominant hand is lost by amputation or stroke, a patient is forced to compensate by using the nondominant hand exclusively for precision tasks like writing or drawing. Presently, the behavioral and neurological effects of chronic, forced use of the nondominant hand are largely understudied and unknown. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have shed light on ways in which a patient compensates when losing a dominant hand and suggest new and improved rehabilitation techniques for those suffering from amputation or stroke.
Sound trumps meaning in first language learning
A new study reveals that four-to-seven-year-old children rely on the sounds of new nouns more than on their meaning when assigning them to noun classes, even though the meaning is more predictive of noun class in the adult language. This finding reveals that children's sensitivity to their linguistic environment does not line up with objective measures of informativity, highlighting the active role that children play in selecting the data from which they learn language.
Safety checklists for surgery may not lower deaths, complications
(HealthDay)—Surgical safety checklists have been hailed as powerful tools that help reduce deaths and complications, but these lists may not be all they're cracked up to be, Canadian researchers report.
Experimental drug may boost leukemia survival, without chemo
(HealthDay)—An experimental drug may extend the lives of people with certain hard-to-treat forms of leukemia and lymphoma—without the need for traditional chemotherapy, according to two studies released Wednesday.
Study finds Pfizer vaccine cuts pneumonia in elderly
Pfizer Inc. says its blockbuster vaccine against pneumonia, blood and other infections met its goal of preventing illness in vulnerable elderly patients in a huge study required by U.S. regulators.
'Intelligent people are more likely to trust others'
(Medical Xpress)—Intelligent people are more likely to trust others, while those who score lower on measures of intelligence are less likely to do so, says a new study.
Play it again, Sam: How the brain recognizes familiar music
Research from McGill University reveals that the brain's motor network helps people remember and recognize music that they have performed in the past better than music they have only heard. A recent study by Prof. Caroline Palmer of the Department of Psychology sheds new light on how humans perceive and produce sounds, and may pave the way for investigations into whether motor learning could improve or protect memory or cognitive impairment in aging populations. The research is published in the journal Cerebral Cortex.
Study findings suggest orange light causes people to be more alert
(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers in Belgium has found that people exposed to orange light exhibit greater brain activity than those exposed to blue light. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes how they studied brain activity in volunteers undergoing fMRI scanning while different colored lights were shined into their eyes and how it showed that orange light might have an impact on the circadian rhythm.
Newly diagnosed Crohn's disease patients show imbalance in intestinal microbial population
A multi-institutional study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Broad Institute has identified how the intestinal microbial population of newly diagnosed Crohn's disease patients differs from that of individuals free of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In their paper in the March 12 issue of Cell Host and Microbe, the researchers report that Crohn's patients showed increased levels of harmful bacteria and reduced levels of the beneficial bacteria usually found in a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
Build me a face in 3D: British man's life 'transformed'
A British man who suffered horrific facial injuries in a motorbike accident has had pioneering surgery to rebuild his face using 3D printed parts.
Blocking microRNA miR-25 halts progression of heart failure, improves cardiac function
A team of cardiovascular researchers from Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham), the Cardiovascular Research Center at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the University of California, San Diego have identified a small but powerful new player in the onset and progression of heart failure. Their findings, published in the journal Nature on March 12, also show how they successfully blocked the newly discovered culprit to halt the debilitating and chronic life-threatening condition in its tracks.
Relationship between gut bacteria, blood cell development helps immune system fight infection
The human relationship with microbial life is complicated. At almost any supermarket, you can pick up both antibacterial soap and probiotic yogurt during the same shopping trip. Although there are types of bacteria that can make us sick, Caltech professor of biology and biological engineering Sarkis Mazmanian and his team are most interested in the thousands of other bacteria—many already living inside our bodies—that actually keep us healthy. His past work in mice has shown that restoring populations of beneficial bacteria can help alleviate the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and even autism. Now, he and his team have found that these good bugs might also prepare the immune cells in our blood to fight infections from harmful bacteria.
Vaginal gel might prevent HIV hours after exposure
(HealthDay)—A new vaginal gel has the potential to protect women from HIV, even if it is applied several hours after sex, animal research suggests.
Stressful experiences have big, immediate effects on children's health
(Medical Xpress)—Science has shown that children who experience stressful events are more likely to face poor health outcomes as adults, but new research shows the effects may show up much sooner—in fact, almost immediately.
Researchers find reason why many vein grafts fail
(Medical Xpress)—National Institutes of Health researchers have identified a biological pathway that contributes to the high rate of vein graft failure following bypass surgery. Using mouse models of bypass surgery, they showed that excess signaling via the Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-Beta) family causes the inner walls of the vein become too thick, slowing down or sometimes even blocking the blood flow that the graft was intended to restore. Inhibition of the TGF-B signaling pathway reduced overgrowth in the grafted veins.
Rethinking genetic links to obesity: IRX3 is likely the 'fat gene'
Mutations within the gene FTO have been implicated as the strongest genetic determinant of obesity risk in humans, but the mechanism behind this link remained unknown. Now, an international team of scientists has discovered that the obesity-associated elements within FTO interact with IRX3, a distant gene on the genome that appears to be the functional obesity gene. The FTO gene itself appears to have only a peripheral effect on obesity. The study appears online March 12 in Nature.
What happened when? How the brain stores memories by time
(Medical Xpress)—Before I left the house this morning, I let the cat out and started the dishwasher. Or was that yesterday? Very often, our memories must distinguish not just what happened and where, but when an event occurred—and what came before and after. New research from the University of California, Davis, Center for Neuroscience shows that a part of the brain called the hippocampus stores memories by their "temporal context"—what happened before, and what came after.
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