From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 2:01 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Thursday, Jun 13
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 13, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- What is the best way to measure a researcher's scientific impact?- Salty foods taste good? Study identifies mechanisms underlying salt-mediated behaviors in fruit flies
- Putting flesh on the bones of ancient fish: Synchrotron X-rays reconstruct soft tissue on 380 million year old fish
- US court says human genes cannot be patented (Update 4)
- Research finds how diving mammals evolved underwater endurance
- Nanoparticle opens the door to clean-energy alternatives
- Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries
- Cosmic giants shed new light on dark matter
- Exoplanet formation surprise: Evidence of farthest planet forming from its star
- Researchers unravel genetics of dyslexia and language impairment
- Researchers succeed in programming blood forming stem cells
- Scientists reconstruct the genome of medieval strains of the pathogen responsible for leprosy
- Context crucial when it comes to mutations in genetic evolution, study reports
- New 31-km-long International Linear Collider ready for construction
- Satellite data will be essential to future of groundwater, flood and drought management
Space & Earth news
Swept away: Beach erosion continues to be huge problem for Texas
The five-year anniversary of Hurricane Ike is still several months away, but the effects of what the historic storm did to the Texas coastline have been relentless, especially when it comes to beach erosion in and around the Galveston area where parts of the island lost more than 100 feet of shoreline, says a Texas A&M University at Galveston professor.
SMOS maps record soil water before flood
As parts of central Europe are battling with the most extensive floods in centuries, forecasters are hoping that ESA's SMOS satellite will help to improve the accuracy of flood prediction in the future.
Diplomatic push mooted for Russia's climate deadlock
Europe on Thursday mooted a diplomatic push to persuade Russia to stop blocking a UN-appointed body tasked with laying vital groundwork for a global pact on climate change.
Is UN negotiating an unattainable climate goal?
As UN negotiators roll up their sleeves for the last push towards a universal climate deal, many fear their end-goal of halting global warming at two degrees Celsius is moving out of reach.
Bringing water to the Sinai?
According to a new study co-authored by CAS researchers, the traces of an ancient watershed in the Sinai Desert may hold clues to making sustainable agriculture possible in one of the driest places on earth. Farouk El-Baz, research professor and director of BU's Center for Remote Sensing, and Mostafa AbuBakr, a visiting scholar at the Center, were part of an international team of scientists who used advanced space-borne radar to reveal how water flowed through the Wadi El-Arish in less arid times—about five to ten thousand years ago. That discovery opens the possibility of capturing water from seasonal downpours by channeling it to the Wadi's central basin. Their findings appear in the April 2013 edition of the journal Geomorphology.
Researcher studies indoor air particles and their movement
Most people worry about the quality of the air they breathe outdoors, while giving little thought to the contaminants that may be circulating in their own homes.
NSF makes public plan to guide development of its largest Antarctic research station
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a master plan for updating its largest Antarctic research station, McMurdo, on Ross Island, that will, among other goals, increase energy efficiency, along with logistical and resource efficiency.
Researchers hope to shed light on dark lightning radiation
Scientists now know that thunderstorms, working as powerful natural terrestrial particle accelerators, produce intense flashes of ionizing radiation called "dark lightning." To further their understanding of this phenomena, researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory's Space Science Division are making precise observations of these flashes from space and running detailed simulations to understand the nature of dark lightning and to quantify the radiation exposure it may present to the crew and passengers of aircraft.
US forest management policy must evolve to meet bioenergy targets
(Phys.org) —In order to keep pace with the burgeoning demand for renewable energy, forest management policy in the U.S. must change to address environmental sustainability issues, according to an article by a University of Illinois expert in bioenergy law.
Powerful quake hits off Indonesia's coast
A powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia's main island of Java late Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt hundreds of kilometers away in the capital, Jakarta, but there were no immediate reports of damage.
Astronomers use precision pulsar positions to break record
An international team of scientists led by astronomer Adam Deller (ASTRON) have used the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) to set a new distance accuracy record, pegging a pulsar called PSR J2222-0137 at 871.4 light-years from Earth. They did this by observing the object over a two-year period to detect its parallax, the slight shift in apparent position against background objects when viewed from opposite ends of Earth's orbit around the Sun.
China astronauts enter space module (Update)
Three Chinese astronauts Thursday entered a space module after carrying out a successful docking manoeuvre, state media said, two days after the launch of the country's longest manned space mission.
Chandra turns up black hole bonanza in galaxy next door
(Phys.org) —Using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have discovered an unprecedented bonanza of black holes in the Andromeda Galaxy, one of the nearest galaxies to the Milky Way.
Lab study indicates feldspar dominates ice nucleation in clouds with mix of water and ice
(Phys.org) —A team of researchers at Britain's Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds, with assistance from Australian Matthew Woodhouse of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization has found that feldspar minerals play a far larger role in ice formation in clouds than has been realized. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes their lab studies that revealed the important nature of feldspar in ice nucleation in clouds.
Warm ocean drives most Antarctic ice shelf loss, research shows
Ocean waters melting the undersides of Antarctic ice shelves, not icebergs calving into the sea, are responsible for most of the continent's ice loss, a study by UC Irvine and others has found.
Satellite data will be essential to future of groundwater, flood and drought management
New satellite imagery reveals that several areas across the United States are all but certain to suffer water-related catastrophes, including extreme flooding, drought and groundwater depletion.
Cosmic giants shed new light on dark matter
(Phys.org) —Astronomers at the University of Birmingham (UK), Academica Sinica in Taiwan, and the Kavli Institute of Physics and Mathematics of the Universe in Japan, have found new evidence that the mysterious dark matter that pervades our universe behaves as predicted by the 'cold dark matter' theory known as 'CDM'.
Exoplanet formation surprise: Evidence of farthest planet forming from its star
A team of researchers has discovered evidence that an extrasolar planet may be forming quite far from its star—- about twice the distance Pluto is from our Sun. The planet lies inside a dusty, gaseous disk around a small red dwarf TW Hydrae, which is only about 55 percent of the mass of the Sun. The discovery adds to the ever-increasing variety of planetary systems in the Milky Way. The research is published in the Astrophysical Journal.
Medicine & Health news
50 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients discontinue medication within the first two years
Data presented at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, show that up to one-third of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients discontinue or change therapy within the first year of treatment.
Depression indicators predict work disabilty more than disease activity or response to therapy
Data presented today at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrate that indicators of depression are stronger predictors of work disability in early arthritis than disease activity or response to therapy.
Canakinumab allows discontinuation of corticosteroids in patients with SJIA
Study findings first presented today at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrate the efficacy of canakinumab at tapering corticosteroid (CS) use in patients with SJIA.
Childbirth increases risk of ACPA-negative rheumatoid arthritis
Epidemiological data presented today at EULAR 2013, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrate that pregnancy carried to childbirth (parity) increases the risk of ACPA-negative* rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Austerity cuts to Spanish healthcare system are 'putting lives at risk'
A series of austerity reforms made by the Spanish government could lead to the effective dismantling of large parts of the country's healthcare system, with potentially detrimental effects on the health of the Spanish people, according to new research published in BMJ.
New discoveries pave the way for early screening of liver cancer patients for targeted therapy
Latest research findings by scientists at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) could enable early screening of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a major form of liver cancer, for more aggressive treatment to improve survival rate. The researchers have also proposed a way to inactivate SALL4 - a stem cell gene - to kill HCC cells and block tumour formation.
A bright IDEA to improve dementia care
A new free to use website has been launched at The University of Nottingham to improve care for people with dementia.
Prying open the black box of the brain
The human brain is the most complex biological structure on Earth. It has about 100 billion neurons—each of which has thousands of connections to other neurons.
Researchers investigating the mystery of a tiny 'sin'
When a strain of bacteria invades a human body, the immune system responds by generating antibodies to neutralize the threat. However, during subsequent infections by a similar bacterium, the immune system has a tendency to fall back on its memory, generating the same old antibodies again, even if they're not up to the task of the fighting the new invaders.
Researchers find low level of patient involvement in medical decision-making in Peru
Mayo Clinic and Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University researchers have partnered on a study showing that Peruvian physicians rarely sought to involve their patients in shared decision-making regarding medical care. This was true for physicians at public and private clinics. The findings are being discussed in Lima, Peru, at ISDM 2013, an international conference on globalizing shared decision-making held from June 16-19. (Follow the proceedings and participate in discussion at ISDM 2013.)
Certain environmental factors impact alcohol problems more for European than African-American women
An early age at first drink (AFD) is associated with a greater risk for subsequent alcohol use disorders (AUDs). While African Americans (AAs) generally report an older AFD and fewer alcohol-related problems than European Americans (EAs), few studies have explored the association between AFD and problem drinking across ethnicity. A new study looks at the influences of genetics versus the environment on AFD and problem drinking among AA and EA women, finding that environmental factors shared by family members, such as parenting and school influences, play a larger role in the development of alcohol-related problems in EA than AA young women.
Arizona Senate passes budget, Medicaid growth
(AP)—The Arizona Senate has passed an $8.8 billion budget that includes expanded Medicaid access and marks a huge political victory for Republican Gov. Jan Brewer.
Lilly stops mid-stage Alzheimer's drug study (Update)
Eli Lilly and Co. said Thursday that it stopped a mid-stage clinical trial of an experimental Alzheimer's disease drug because of potential side effects on patients' livers.
Doubling of deaths among sick mums-to-be amid poor evidence on drug safety in pregnancy
The lack of hard data on the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of drugs in pregnancy has hindered the treatment of pregnant women, contributing to a doubling of deaths amongst mums-to-be with an underlying health problem over the past 20 years, argues an editorial in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB).
Free bus travel for teens curbs road traffic injuries and benefits environment
Free bus travel for teens helps curb road traffic injuries and benefits the environment, reveal the results of an analysis of the free bus scheme in London, published online in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Every 10 tobacco ad sightings boost teens' risk of starting to smoke by almost 40 percent
Tobacco ads really do persuade teens to take up smoking, with every 10 sightings boosting the risk by almost 40 percent, reveals research published in the online only journal BMJ Open.
Body dysmorphic disorder puts ugly in the brain of the beholder
When people think of mental problems related to body image, often the first thing that comes to mind is the thin figure associated with anorexia. Body dysmorphic disorder is less well known, but has around five times the prevalence of anorexia (about 2 per cent of the population), and a high level of psychological impairment.
Using gene therapy to tackle complex brain disease
Substantial progress has been made in the development of treatments for a particular brain disease, thanks in part to an EU-funded project. The X-ALD project focused on achieving a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms leading to 'X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy', a disorder which results in the accumulation of long chain fatty acids in tissues throughout the body but especially in the central nervous system.
Study results reinforce importance of helmet use
Bicycle helmets certified to Australia's national standard significantly reduce the causes of head, skull and brain injury - linear and angular head accelerations, and the impact force of a crash - a new laboratory study has found.
Cheaper drugs produce same benefits for rheumatoid arthritis, study finds
James O'Dell, M.D., chief of the Veterans Administration Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System's Omaha medical center and the UNMC divisions of rheumatology and immunology, is the primary author of a study that has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
'Nuff said: Humans get the gist of complex sounds
New research by neuroscientists at UC Berkeley, suggests that the human brain is not detail-oriented, but opts for the big picture when it comes to hearing.
Research suggests short and frequent exercise key to feeling full
(Medical Xpress)—Short bouts of intermittent exercise throughout the day may be better than one vigorous workout in convincing your brain that you are full.
First major study of suicide motivations to advance prevention
A University of British Columbia study sheds important new light on why people attempt suicide and provides the first scientifically tested measure for evaluating the motivations for suicide.
Literacy, not income, key to improving public health in India
Pro-market policies for developing countries have long been based on the belief that increasing average income is key to improving public health and societal well-being.
Volunteering reduces risk of hypertension in older adults, research shows
It turns out that helping others can also help you protect yourself from high blood pressure.
Researchers gain new molecular-level understanding of the brain's recovery after stroke
A specific MicroRNA, a short set of RNA (ribonuclease) sequences, naturally packaged into minute (50 nanometers) lipid containers called exosomes, are released by stem cells after a stroke and contribute to better neurological recovery according to a new animal study by Henry Ford Hospital researchers.
After an ACL tear: Research opens door to new treatments to improve recovery for athletes
Striking the likes of Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose, L.A. Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez, tears in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are one of the most rampant and serious knee injuries among athletes.
Study finds brain-imaging technique can help diagnose movement disorders
A new University of Florida study suggests a promising brain-imaging technique has the potential to improve diagnoses for the millions of people with movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
Newly identified markers may predict who will respond to breast cancer prevention therapy
Genetic variations, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in or near the genes ZNF423 and CTSO were associated with breast cancer risk among women who underwent prevention therapy with tamoxifen and raloxifene, according to data published in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Helping to restore balance after inner ear disorder
Many disorders of the inner hear which affect both hearing and balance can be hugely debilitating and are currently largely incurable. Cochlear implants have been used for many years to replace lost hearing resulting from inner ear damage. However, to date, there has not been an analogous treatment for balance disorders resulting from inner ear disease. One potential new treatment is an implantable vestibular prosthesis which would directly activate the vestibular nerve by electrical stimulation. This prosthetic treatment is tested in a new study by Christopher Phillips and his colleagues from the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. Their findings are published in the Springer journal Experimental Brain Research.
Researchers develop a protein to protect and restore nerve cell communications
(Medical Xpress)—A structure called "the microtubule network" is a crucial part of our nervous system. It acts as a transportation system within nerve cells, carrying essential proteins and enabling cell-to-cell communications. But in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, ALS, and Parkinson's, this network breaks down, hindering motor abilities and cognitive function.
Study points to role of nervous system in arthritis
Arthritis is a debilitating disorder affecting one in 10 Canadians, with pain caused by inflammation and damage to joints.
Use of EHRs can enhance doc-patient communication
(HealthDay)—Electronic health records (EHRs) can be used during clinical encounters to enhance the physician-patient relationship, encouraging communication during the clinical encounter, according to a viewpoint published in the June 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Fertility preservation guidelines for cancer patients reviewed
(HealthDay)—No major, substantive revisions were necessary, but clarifications were added to update the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines on fertility preservation for children and adults with cancer, according to a report published online May 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Protein protects against breast cancer recurrence in animal model
According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 40,000 women in the United States will succumb to breast cancer this year. Most of these women will die not from the primary tumor but rather tumor recurrence – the reappearance of the disease following treatment.
Researcher finds association between finasteride and decreased levels of alcohol consumption
Researcher Michael S. Irwig, M.D., F.A.C.E., assistant professor of medicine at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) and director of the Center for Andrology at The GW Medical Faculty Associates, found that men who used the medication finasteride (Propecia) and developed persistent sexual side effects, are also drinking less alcohol than before.
Culprit implicated in neurodegenerative diseases also critical for normal cells
The propensity of proteins to stick together in large clumps—termed "protein aggregation"—is the culprit behind a variety of conditions including Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and mad cow diseases. With this notoriety, protein aggregation is considered to be a bad accident of nature that happens when protein structure is mismanaged. But new research published online on June 13th in the Cell Press journal Developmental Cell shows that, when kept in balance, protein aggregation has beneficial functions that allow cells to organize themselves in both time and space. The findings will be valuable as researchers design treatments for diseases that involve this process.
Tobacco laws for youth may reduce adult smoking
States that want to reduce rates of adult smoking may consider implementing stringent tobacco restrictions on teens, suggests a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Scent of melanoma: New research may lead to early non-invasive detection and diagnosis
According to new research from the Monell Center and collaborating institutions, odors from human skin cells can be used to identify melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. In addition to detecting a unique odor signature associated with melanoma cells, the researchers also demonstrated that a nanotechnology-based sensor could reliably differentiate melanoma cells from normal skin cells. The findings suggest that non-invasive odor analysis may be a valuable technique in the detection and early diagnosis of human melanoma.
US warns of cyber attacks on medical devices
US authorities on Thursday warned makers of medical devices and hospital networks to step up efforts to guard against potential cyber attacks.
Mutations in COQ2 linked to multiple-system atrophy
(HealthDay)—Functionally impaired variants in the COQ2 gene, which encodes the enzyme parahydroxybenzoate-polyprenyl transferase, have been identified in multiplex families with multiple-system atrophy and in patients with sporadic disease, according to a study published online June 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Exercise improves metabolic syndrome post-menopause
(HealthDay)—Exercise training is associated with improvements in components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among postmenopausal women, according to a study published in the June 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Fusion rate up for lumbar spinal stenosis, 2004 to 2009
(HealthDay)—For patients hospitalized for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), the rate of fusions significantly increased and the rate of decompressions significantly decreased from 2004 to 2009 in the United States, according to a study published in the May 15 issue of Spine.
Laparoscopies up for ventral hernia repair in obese patients
(HealthDay)—In obese patients, there has been a significant increase in the use of laparoscopic ventral hernia repairs (VHRs), which are associated with a lower complication rate and shorter median length of hospital stay compared with open surgeries, according to research published online June 12 in JAMA Surgery.
Xgeva approved for rare, non-malignant tumor
(HealthDay)—Xgeva (denosumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat giant cell tumor of the bone (GCTB), a rare tumor that's most often non-cancerous.
On-demand inhalation effective in bronchiolitis
(HealthDay)—In infants with acute bronchiolitis, on-demand inhalation of either adrenaline or saline are effective in shortening hospital stays and reducing the need for supportive treatment, compared with fixed-schedule inhalation, according to a study published in the June 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Church-based diet, physical activity program effective
(HealthDay)—For rural African-Americans, church-based diet and physical interventions may be effective for improving healthy lifestyle choices, according to a study published June 6 in Preventing Chronic Disease.
Cervical disc-level canal diameter predicts spinal injury
(HealthDay)—Disc-level canal diameter determined from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can identify patients at risk for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) after minor trauma, according to a study published in the June issue of The Spine Journal.
Universal paid sick leave reduces spread of flu, according to simulation
Allowing all employees access to paid sick days would reduce influenza infections in the workplace, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health modeling experts.
Could novel drug target autism and fetal alcohol disorder?
In a surprising new finding, a Northwestern Medicine study has found a common molecular vulnerability in autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Both disorders have symptoms of social impairment and originate during brain development in utero.
Depression in postmenopausal women may increase diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk
Postmenopausal women who use antidepressant medication or suffer from depression might be more likely to have a higher body mass index (BMI), larger waist circumference and inflammation—all associated with increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a study led by University of Massachusetts Medical School investigator Yunsheng Ma, PhD, MD, MPH, and published in the June 13 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Finasteride, medication for male pattern hair loss, may also decrease drinking
Finasteride is a synthetic drug for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (MPHL) and an enlarged prostate. The side effects of finasteride for treatment of these two conditions can include increased rates of sexual dysfunction, such as low libido and erectile dysfunction; in fact, some men who have discontinued the medication continue to experience persistent sexual side effects. Building on the discovery that finasteride has also been shown to reduce alcohol intake and suppress alcohol preference in mice, a new study has found that a majority of men with finasteride-related sexual side effects noticed a decrease in their alcohol consumption.
Chronic drinking and exposure to particulate matter dramatically decreases lung function
Alveolar macrophage (AM) function plays a critical role in protecting the lungs from particulate matter inhalation by removing particulates from the airway and secreting elements that facilitate airway repair. Chronic drinking causes persistent oxidative stress in the lungs, leading to impaired AM function as well as immune responses. A rodent study has found that chronic drinking, when coupled with particulate matter (PM) exposure, dramatically increases lung dysfunction compared to alcohol intake or PM exposure alone.
Metabolic molecule drives growth of aggressive brain cancer
(Medical Xpress)—A 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) has identified an abnormal metabolic pathway that drives cancer-cell growth in a particular glioblastoma subtype. The finding might lead to new therapies for a subset of patients with glioblastoma, the most common and lethal form of brain cancer.
Farmworkers feel the heat even when they leave the fields
Hot weather may be the work environment for the 1.4 million farmworkers in the United States who harvest crops, but new research shows that these workers continue to experience excessive heat and humidity even after leaving the fields.
Experts propose restoring invisible and abandoned trials 'to correct the scientific record'
Experts are today calling for all unpublished and misreported trials to be published or formally corrected within the next year to ensure doctors and patients rely on complete and accurate information to make decisions about treatments.
Testing method promising for spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis
(Medical Xpress)—A medical test previously developed to measure a toxin found in tobacco smokers has been adapted to measure the same toxin in people suffering from spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis, offering a potential tool to reduce symptoms.
PCA3 assay ups predictive accuracy for repeat biopsy
(HealthDay)—For men with at least one prior negative biopsy, urinary PCA3 scores, together with serum prostate-specific antigen and other clinical information, improve the prediction accuracy for repeat biopsy outcome, according to a study published in the July issue of The Journal of Urology.
New fluorescent protein from eel revolutionizes key clinical assay
Many scientists dream of making a single discovery that provides fundamental insight into nature, may be used to help save human lives, and can assist in the preservation of an endangered species. In new research reported in the journal Cell, a Japanese team is on the verge of accomplishing this nearly impossible feat.
Researchers exploit cancer's faulty defence mechanism
Researchers in Germany have found a new way to exploit the differences between cancer cells and normal cells that could lead to new treatments.
Sleep mechanism identified that plays role in emotional memory
(Medical Xpress)—Sleep researchers from University of California campuses in Riverside and San Diego have identified the sleep mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate emotional memory and found that a popular prescription sleep aid heightens the recollection of and response to negative memories.
Gene offers an athlete's heart without the exercise
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have found that a single gene poses a double threat to disease: Not only does it inhibit the growth and spread of breast tumors, but it also makes hearts healthier.
Researchers succeed in programming blood forming stem cells
By transferring four genes into mouse fibroblast cells, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have produced cells that resemble hematopoietic stem cells, which produce millions of new blood cells in the human body every day. These findings provide a platform for future development of patient-specific stem/progenitor cells, and more differentiated blood products, for cell-replacement therapy.
Researchers unravel genetics of dyslexia and language impairment
A new study of the genetic origins of dyslexia and other learning disabilities could allow for earlier diagnoses and more successful interventions, according to researchers at Yale School of Medicine. Many students now are not diagnosed until high school, at which point treatments are less effective.
Major hurdle cleared to diabetes transplants
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a way to trigger reproduction in the laboratory of clusters of human cells that make insulin, potentially removing a significant obstacle to transplanting the cells as a treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes.
Deep brain stimulation studied as last-ditch obesity treatment
(HealthDay)—For the first time, researchers have shown that implanting electrodes in the brain's "feeding center" can be safely done—in a bid to develop a new treatment option for severely obese people who fail to shed pounds even after weight-loss surgery.
US court says human genes cannot be patented (Update 4)
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously threw out attempts to patent human genes, siding with advocates who say the multibillion-dollar biotechnology industry should not have exclusive control over genetic information found inside the human body.
Salty foods taste good? Study identifies mechanisms underlying salt-mediated behaviors in fruit flies
Next time you see a fruit fly in your kitchen, don't swat it. That fly could have a major impact on our progress in deciphering sensory biology and animal behavior, including someday providing a better understanding of the human brain.
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