From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 18, 2013 at 2:03 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Tuesday, Dec 17
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 17, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Some Polynesian islanders combined binary and decimal math- Rainforest rodents risk their lives to eat
- Study challenges long-held hypothesis that iron promotes atherosclerosis
- Rock points to potential diamond haul in Antarctica
- New algorithm uses subtle changes to make a face more memorable without changing a person's overall appearance
- Uranium (IV) found to be mobile in a natural wetland
- RS Puppis puts on a spectacular light show
- Targeted synthesis of natural products with light
- Study of Idaho canyons suggests they were the result of massive flooding not erosion
- Traffic jams lend insight into emperor penguin huddle
- World experiences hottest November in 134 years
- Under fire Obama meets Internet chieftains over spying
- NASA rolls out rocket for Thursday's ISS cargo launch
- MU researchers develop advanced 3-D 'force microscope'
- A roly-poly pika gathers much moss
Astronomy & Space news
Asia's year in space triggers applause but also worry
The past 12 months will be remembered as the year when Asia's economic powerhouses barged their way into the elite club of spacefarers.
First detection of a predicted unseen exoplanet
A team of European astronomers, including EXOEarths member Alexandre Santerne (CAUP), used the SOPHIE spectrograph at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence (France), to confirm the presence of Kepler-88 c, an unseen planet that was previously predicted thanks to the gravitational perturbation it caused on its transiting brother planet, Kepler-88 b.
New galactic animals on display at Spitzer's Citizen Science Zoo
Since 2010, about 50,000 volunteers have taken to their computers to help astronomers catalog star-blown bubbles captured in images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Their efforts resulted in several scientific papers, and a deeper understanding of our Milky Way galaxy and its frothy star-forming clouds.
Satellite failures threaten hurricane forecasts, Senate panel is told
There's a storm brewing in the world of U.S. weather forecasting, and - much like the hurricanes that meteorologists are trained to predict - there's not much anyone can do about it.
Important space weather instrument cleared for installation onto GOES-R spacecraft
The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R known as GOES-R Series Program completed its next instrument, SUVI or the Solar Ultra-Violet Imager, which is now ready for integration onto the GOES-R spacecraft.
Massive stars mark out Milky Way's 'missing' arms
A 12-year study of massive stars has reaffirmed that our Galaxy has four spiral arms, following years of debate sparked by images taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope that only showed two arms.
Billion-dollar 'discovery machine' set for launch
Europe on Thursday will place a billion-dollar bet on a space telescope designed to provide the biggest and most detailed 3-D map of the Milky Way.
Organics preserved in ancient meteorite-formed glass
Scientists have found organics from Earth's swamp trapped inside of glass created by a meteor impact almost a million years ago. The tiny pockets, only micrometers across, contain material such as cellulose and proteins. Though the impact glass was found on Earth, scientists say that similar samples could have been thrown into space by this or other blasts, allowing organics to be transported from one planet to another.
New pulsar systems suggest that nature is more creative than previously thought
Two astronomers from Bonn have proposed a new path for the formation of a newly discovered class of millisecond pulsars with similar orbital periods and eccentricities. In the scenario of Paulo Freire and Thomas Tauris, a massive white dwarf star accretes matter and angular momentum from a normal companion star and grows beyond the critical Chandrasekhar mass limit. However, it does not collapse immediately into a neutron star because it is rotating very fast and is thus sustained by centrifugal forces.
Dawn creates guide to Vesta's hidden attractions
(Phys.org) —Some beauty is revealed only at a second glance. When viewed with the human eye, the giant asteroid Vesta, which was the object of scrutiny by the Dawn spacecraft from 2011 to 2012, is quite unspectacular color-wise. Vesta looks grayish, pitted by a variety of large and small craters.
RS Puppis puts on a spectacular light show
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has observed the variable star RS Puppis over a period of five weeks, showing the star growing brighter and dimmer as it pulsates. These pulsations have created a stunning example of a phenomenon known as a light echo, where light appears to reverberate through the murky environment around the star.
NASA rolls out rocket for Thursday's ISS cargo launch
With the space station cooling system hobbled and a commercial cargo launch waiting in the wings, NASA Tuesday prepared all options but said no decision had yet been made on whether spacewalk repairs would be needed.
Medicine & Health news
Pain drugs used in prostate gland removal linked to cancer outcome, study finds
The methods used to anesthetize prostate cancer patients and control pain when their prostate glands are surgically removed for adenocarcinoma may affect their long-term cancer outcomes, a study led by Mayo Clinic has found. Opioids, painkillers commonly given during and after surgery, may suppress the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells. The research suggests that supplementing general anesthesia with a spinal or epidural painkiller before a radical prostatectomy reduces a patient's need for opioids after surgery, and this finding was associated with a lower risk of cancer recurrence. The findings are published online in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.
Contrast agent linked with brain abnormalities on MRI
For the first time, researchers have confirmed an association between a common magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent and abnormalities on brain MRI, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology. The new study raises the possibility that a toxic component of the contrast agent may remain in the body long after administration.
NIH, NFL team up to take on concussion research
(HealthDay)—The U.S. National Institutes of Health is teaming up with the National Football League on research into the long-term effects of repeated head injuries and improving concussion diagnosis.
Determinants of patient loyalty to provider identified
(HealthDay)—Determinants of patient loyalty have been identified and include confidence in care provider and coordination of care, according to a report published by Press Ganey.
Need for dementia caregivers grows as boomers age
World leaders set a goal for a cure or treatment for dementia by 2025 at the recent G8 summit in London.
GSK to scrap individual sales targets (Update 2)
British drug company GlaxoSmithKline said Tuesday it would stop paying doctors to promote its products at speaking engagements and scrap individual sales targets, months after its ethics were challenged by a bribery scandal in China.
How to Lose Weight in a Healthy Way
Losing weight tends to be a popular New Year's resolution or goal. But there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to go about achieving that goal. The University of Alabama's Sheena Quizon Gregg shares a few tips on how shake loose those extra pounds in a healthy way.
Immigration reform key to protect women from violence
Comprehensive immigration reform that includes a clear path to citizenship could drastically reduce violence against women and girls in the United States and across the world, according to a new policy brief released today by the George Washington University Global Women's Institute (GWI) and We Belong Together.
The plight of the modern coalminer
Open-pit coalminers face a unique set of occupational hazards. The dozers, dump trucks, and shovels they operate stand five or six stories tall and often sport tires two or three times their height.
Pupils ditch chairs to stand at desks for healthier learning option
A Melbourne school is taking a stand against childhood obesity and idleness by offering the world's first standing classroom, which may also improve learning.
Making dementia friendly neighbourhoods
A European team of experts led by The University of Manchester will explore, investigate and evaluate the role of the neighbourhood in the everyday lives of people with dementia and their families in a new research project announced during the G8 dementia summit today (11 December).
Tips to survive the holiday season without packing on the pounds
Special family meals, holiday buffets and free drinks can be open invitations for disaster for the more than 50 percent of Americans who are struggling with their weight and dieting.
Use biologic agents to induce remission in patients with moderately severe Crohn's disease
The anti-TNF-α biologic agents, such as infliximab or adalimumab, are recommended to induce remission in patients with moderately severe Crohn's disease , according to a new guideline from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). Additionally, the guidelines recommend against using thiopurines or methotrexate alone to induce remission in these patients. The new guideline1 and accompanying technical review2 have been published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the AGA Institute. The AGA Clinical Decision Support Tool, based on the guideline, can be reviewed at http://gastro.org/crohnsdecisiontool.
AAOS approves AUC for non-arthroplasty treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors recently approved an AUC to help physicians treat patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. OA is a slowly progressing and degenerative disease that causes the joint cartilage to wear away.
Poor health of Irish immigrants in England may be linked to childhood abuse, study finds
The generally poor health of Irish immigrants to England during most of the 20th century was not caused primarily by difficulties of assimilation or tensions between the two nations, but by the abuse Irish expatriates suffered as children in their homeland, according to a new study.
Brazil doctors do cesarean on woman not pregnant
Officials in southeastern Brazil say doctors performed a cesarean section on a 37-year-old woman only to discover that she wasn't pregnant.
Radiation therapy to treat uterine cancer linked with increased risk of bladder cancer later in life
Radiation therapy used to treat uterine cancer may increase a patient's risk of developing bladder cancer. That is the conclusion of a recent study published in BJU International. The findings indicate the importance of monitoring patients for potential signs of bladder cancer to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.
Performance-enhancing drug use more prevalent than Type 1 diabetes or HIV infection
A new Scientific Statement issued today by The Endocrine Society represents a comprehensive evaluation of available information on the prevalence and medical consequences of the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The statement highlights the clinical pharmacology, adverse effects and detection of many substances often classified as PEDs, identifies gaps in knowledge and aims to focus the attention of the medical community and policymakers on PED use as an important public health problem.
Researchers identify technique to reduce childrens' post-op pain after high-risk surgery
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's), one of the nation's 50 best children's hospitals, have identified a new technique that will significantly decrease pain for children following high-risk urology surgeries. Findings of the pain management technique were published in the December 2013 online issue of the Journal of Pediatric Urology.
New hypertension guidelines offer practical, clinical information for doctors and patients around the globe
High blood pressure affects approximately one in three adults in the Americas, Europe, some Asian countries and Australia, and one billion people worldwide. Because of this epidemic, The American Society of Hypertension, Inc. (ASH) and the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) are pleased to announce the creation of first-of-their-kind guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Hypertension: "Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in the Community." These are the first guidelines to be usable for medical practitioners in any socioeconomic environment around the globe, from those countries with state-of-the-art equipment to those that lack basic resources. And, most importantly, they are designed with guidance that is easy to implement for doctors and healthcare professionals in even the most impoverished areas.
Two in three 13-year-old girls afraid of gaining weight
Six in ten 13-year-old girls, compared to four in 10 boys the same age, are afraid of gaining weight or getting fat according to new research on eating disorders from the UCL Institute of Child Health (UK) in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK).
The Liverpool Care Pathway has been made a scapegoat, says palliative care consultant
Claud Regnard, FRCP, a palliative care consultant, has called the demise of the Liverpool Care Pathway a "tragedy" and compared it to banning the Highway Code because of bad drivers in a paper for the journal Age and Ageing, published online today (Tuesday).
Research shows a genetic overlap in schizophrenia and cognitive ability
Investigators at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered for the first time, direct evidence of a genetic overlap between schizophrenia and general cognitive ability. The findings are published online in Molecular Psychiatry.
MRSA strain gained dominance with help from skin bacteria
Scientists believe they have an explanation for how the most common strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) rapidly rose to prominence. Research published in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, suggests that the strain recently acquired a number of genes from common skin bacteria that allow it to grow and thrive on the skin where other strains of MRSA cannot.
Brain chemical ratios help predict developmental delays in preterm infants
Researchers have identified a potential biomarker for predicting whether a premature infant is at high risk for motor development problems, according to a study published online in the journal Radiology.
Medicare's graduate medical education spending imbalanced
(HealthDay)—There is an "imbalance" in how Medicare distributes its $10 billion a year for graduate medical education (GME), according to a study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
Prophylactic progestin cuts odds of recurrent preterm birth
(HealthDay)—Progestin prophylaxis and accelerated access to the first clinic visit decrease the odds of spontaneous preterm birth among women with a history of preterm birth, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Word of mouth still tops ways people find physicians
(HealthDay)—Roughly three-quarters of young adults use personal recommendations to select a physician, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Bills for SGR repeal pass senate, house committees
(HealthDay)—The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and the U.S. Senate Finance Committee have passed their versions of the bill to repeal Medicare's failed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Self-worth boosts ability to overcome poverty
For people in poverty, remembering better times – such as past success – improves brain functioning by several IQ points and increases their willingness to seek help from crucial aid services, a new study finds.
Chinese man's leg proves handy solution after arm severed
Doctors in China kept a man's severed hand alive for a month by attaching it to his leg, before restoring it to its usual position, a report said Tuesday.
Junk food can harm memory in a week
(Medical Xpress)—Even a short-term diet of junk food can have a detrimental effect on the brain's cognitive ability, according to UNSW research.
Study: Pay kids to eat fruits, veggies with school lunch
The good news: Research suggests that a new federal rule has prompted the nation's schools to serve an extra $5.4 million worth of fruits and vegetables each day.
Childhood bullying shown to increase likelihood of psychotic experiences in later life
(Medical Xpress)—New research has shown that being exposed to bullying during childhood will lead to an increased risk of psychotic experiences in adulthood, regardless of whether they are victims or perpetrators.
Children are collateral victims when mom serves time, academic finds
John was 15 when Rutgers academic Jane Siegel encountered him for the first time. His mother was in prison – a chronic thief and drug addict, she had been arrested 31 times and convicted 15 times.
One in six men and women feel that their health affects their sex life
A new study, published in The Lancet as part of the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal), systematically assesses the association between individuals' general health and their sex lives, finding that close to one in six (17%) of men and women in Britain say that their health affects their sex life. This proportion rises to three fifths (60%) among men and women who say they are in bad health.
New games added to The Great Brain Experiment
Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging at UCL have found that by using a mobile app, it is possible to gather, on a large scale, the type of information that can traditionally only be gleaned from lab experiments.
A new look at the development of minority children
A new University of Maryland-led study challenges the assumption that minority and immigrant children are most often disadvantaged or at-risk. The study, led by Dr. Natasha Cabrera, an associate professor in the College of Education's Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, also sheds light on the strengths and assets that ethnic and racial minority families bring to raising healthy, well-adjusted children.
Mole crowdsourcing: There could be an app for that
Have you ever had a strange mole on your body and wondered if it was skin cancer? The best move is to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist, but many wait without realizing they could be dealing with melanoma.
Stem cell research uncovers importance of cell cycle
(Medical Xpress)—One of the biggest problems in stem cell research may not be a problem at all. Scientists have worried for years that stem cells grown in their labs were made up of many different kinds of cells, making them useless for stem cell therapies, but new research from the University of Georgia suggests they're not different cells, some are just more mature than others.
Flinders road-tests new anti-snore pillow
Sleep researchers from Flinders University and the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health are road-testing a new pillow that could help alleviate snoring for back sleepers.
Study indicates oral garlic not useful in treating vaginal thrush
(Medical Xpress)—In a world-first study, led by the University of Melbourne and the Royal Women's Hospital, researchers have found garlic does not significantly reduce vaginal candida (thrush).
'Chemobrain' linked to disrupted brain networks
(Medical Xpress)—For some cancer patients, the mental fogginess that develops with chemotherapy lingers long after treatment ends. Now research in breast cancer patients may offer an explanation.
Study: Confusion surrounds added vs. natural sugar in drinks
(Medical Xpress)—Consumers who are more concerned about what types of sugars are in their drinks will likely choose a less-sweetened beverage, although most people don't know the difference between natural and added sugars, a new University of Florida study shows.
Smoking changes our genes
(Medical Xpress)—The fact that smoking means a considerable health risk is nowadays commonly accepted. New research findings from Uppsala University and Uppsala Clinical Research Center show that smoking alters several genes that can be associated with health problems for smokers, such as increased risk for cancer and diabetes.
Children's sleep patterns tracked for the first time by researchers
Sleep patterns of children and how many hours may be optimal for their health and wellbeing has been tracked and recorded for the first time by researchers at the Institute.
UK cardiovascular risk reduction study recognized by American Heart Association
Self-care interventions that overcome environmental and personal barriers to reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors could be successful in rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged areas of the country and possibly other communities at high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Kentucky.
Two insecticides a risk for human nervous system: EU
The EU warned Tuesday that two widely used insecticides, one of which has been implicated in catastrophic bee population decline, may pose a risk to human health by harming brain development.
Research backs risk-reduction surgery for ovarian cancer
A study by Manchester scientists backs preventative surgery to improve survival for women who are at greater risk of getting ovarian cancer and suggests it appears helpful for women at risk of getting breast cancer because of genetic faults.
Zombie virus research could make vaccines last longer, be more available, save billions of dollars
Researchers at Portland State University (PSU) have found a way to preserve viruses in a glassy, dissolvable substance – a technique that could extend the shelf life of vaccines and allow for storage at room temperatures.
Musical brain-reading sheds light on neural processing of music
Finnish and Danish researchers have developed a new method that performs decoding, or brain-reading, during continuous listening to real music. Based on recorded brain responses, the method predicts how certain features related to tone color and rhythm of the music change over time, and recognizes which piece of music is being listened to. The method also allows pinpointing the areas in the brain that are most crucial for the processing of music. The study was published in the journal NeuroImage.
Speaking languages has 'positive effect' on children
New research on schoolchildren shows the more languages they speak, the better they can speak them.
New molecular targets identified in some hard-to-treat melanomas
Two novel BRAF fusions were identified in melanomas previously considered to be negative for molecular targets, and melanomas with these fusions were found to be potentially sensitive to anticancer drugs called MEK inhibitors, according to a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
New role for glial cells during neuroinflammation
Astroglial cells in the adult brain play fundamental roles in supporting neuronal functioning and in regulating brain energy balance. A new study now has identified key regulators that allow astrocytes to keep their mitochondrial network functional during neuroinflammation, a condition commonly associated to a variety of brain diseases.
Stress before and at Christmas tends to be positive for most people
One week before Christmas a MedUni Vienna recreation researcher gives the all-clear: from a psychological point of view the stress before and at Christmas tends to be positive for most people. And the time around Christmas can be made even more pleasant with simple tricks.
Study confirms fibroblast growth factor receptors as targets for pancreatic cancer treatment
Proteins called fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have been implicated in the development of pancreatic cancer, which remains difficult to treat. Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) have now confirmed that FGFRs can be used as treatment targets in preclinical studies, and have identified certain molecular characteristics that could be useful in developing personalized treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer. Study results have been published online first in the British Journal of Cancer.
Discovery of 'teen gene' could hold promise for combating severe mental illnesses
As many parents of mentally ill adults will confirm anecdotally, the first symptoms of "something not quite right" with their children begin to appear during the teen years. It is known that during this teenaged phase of brain development, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, depression and drug addiction.
Duration of diabetes and advancing age independently predict diabetes complications, risk of death
The duration of diabetes and advancing age independently predict diabetes severity and risk of death in older adults with type 2 diabetes according to a study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and the University of Chicago currently published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Hippocampal volume loss in depression reflects glial loss
Depression has been associated with reduced volume of the hippocampus in magnetic resonance imaging studies in humans. A new study just published in Biological Psychiatry now clarifies the cellular basis of these volumetric changes, which have been unclear until now.
Researchers explain why some wound infections become chronic
Chronic wounds affect an estimated 6.5 million Americans at an annual cost of about $25 billion. Further, foot blisters and other diabetic ulcers or sores account for the vast majority of foot and leg amputations in the United States today.
Overworked cellular machines may explain Gaucher disease link to Parkinson's disease
Scientists have identified the biological pathway that explains Gaucher disease (GD) patients' higher risk for developing Parkinson's disease (PD), according to research to be presented Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the American Society for Cell Biology annual meeting in New Orleans.
Injured nerves regrow when fidgetin enzyme is suppressed
Suppressing the enzyme fidgetin promotes the re-growth of experimentally injured nerve cells and their connections, according to research with laboratory rats that will be presented Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) annual meeting in New Orleans.
Changes in proteins may predict ALS progression
Measuring changes in certain proteins—called biomarkers—in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may better predict the progression of the disease, according to scientists at Penn State College of Medicine.
Researchers discover mechanism controlling the development of myelodysplastic
Researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center have discovered a control mechanism that can trigger the development of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of blood cancers. This finding may lead to therapies capable of preventing the progression of these diseases.
Overspent this Christmas? Blame the ostrich problem
It's the festive season, time for eating, drinking and being merry, and any thoughts of reaching goals like losing weight or keeping on top of finances go out of the window.
New gene mutation will help better diagnosis of myopathy
A new gene mutation which will help doctors give a more accurate diagnosis of a particular type of brain and muscle disease in children has been discovered for the first time by University of Leeds experts.
FDA warns of dangerous erections from ADHD drugs
The Food and Drug Administration is warning that a stimulant used in treatments for the childhood condition attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder can trigger painful, long-lasting erections in rare cases.
Deadly MERS virus detected in camels
(HealthDay)—Scientists say they have the first definitive proof that a deadly respiratory virus in the Middle East infects camels in addition to humans.
Almost 15 percent of Americans still uninsured, report finds
(HealthDay)—As the final phase of the Affordable Care Act, sometimes called "Obamacare," begins, a new report shows that more than 45 million Americans still don't have health insurance.
Post-op hematoma incidence similar for decompression types
(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing decompression for degenerative stenosis, the incidence of epidural hematoma is similar for different surgical approaches; however, there is a tendency toward increased postoperative hematoma in approaches with greater bony decompression area, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques.
Physicians conclude multivitamins should not be used
(HealthDay)—Multivitamins do not prevent chronic disease and should not be used by well-nourished adults, according to an editorial published in the Dec. 17 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Many physicians will stop practicing due to ACA
(HealthDay)—About half of physicians say that they plan to practice medicine for a shorter time or leave as soon as feasibly possible due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to an article published Nov. 29 in Medical Economics.
Exposure to pertussis common in peds health care workers
(HealthDay)—Health care workers are frequently exposed to pertussis in a pediatric health care setting, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in Pediatrics.
Oral multivitamin, multimineral safe, not effective after MI
(HealthDay)—For older patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI), a high-dose oral multivitamin and multimineral mixture is safe, but does not significantly reduce cardiovascular events, according to a study published in the Dec. 17 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Screening tools ID postnatal depression in teen moms
(HealthDay)—For adolescent mothers, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and two subscales are accurate for identifying postnatal depression, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in Pediatrics.
Flame retardants might pose risks for gymnasts, researchers suggest
As girls, a group of 11 collegiate gymnasts spent many hours each week perfecting their sport in gyms with pits filled with foam blocks for protection. Now young women, they agreed to be tested in a new study that found that the flame retardants in the blocks can break down in dust and end up in gymnasts' bodies.
Simulators like a 3-D video game for surgeons
Simulators aren't just for pilots anymore. In complex cases ranging from enlarged prostates to brain tumors, physicians at the University of Minnesota are using virtual-reality simulators more and more to perfect their surgical techniques. And, in what may be the most significant change in surgical training since the early 1900s, they are working with local medical device companies to develop new generations of software to train the next generation of medical students.
Study finds known lung cancer oncogenes ALK and ROS1 also drive colorectal cancer
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published online ahead of print in the journal Molecular Cancer Research shows that ALK and ROS1 gene rearrangements known to drive subsets of lung cancer are also present in some colorectal cancers. These results imply that drugs used to target ALK and ROS1 in lung cancer may also have applications in this subset of colorectal cancer patients.
Medical communication companies receive substantial support from drug and device companies
Eighteen medical communication companies (MCCs) received about $100 million from 13 pharmaceutical and one device company that released data in 2010, and all or most of the 18 MCCs were for profit, conducted continuing medical education programs, and tracked website behavior, with some 3rd party information sharing, according to a study appearing in the December 18 issue of JAMA.
Study assesses amount, patterns of sedentary behavior of older women
Among 7,000 older women who wore an accelerometer to measure their movement, about two-thirds of their waking time was spent in sedentary behavior, most of which occurred in periods of less than 30 minutes, according to a study appearing in the December 18 issue of JAMA.
Nonsurgical treatment of periodontitis for persons with diabetes does not improve glycemic control
For persons with type 2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis, nonsurgical periodontal treatment did not result in improved glycemic control, according to a study appearing in the December 18 issue of JAMA.
Much room for improvement in access to preventive dental care in US
The uptake rate of preventative dental care increased over a ten-year period in the United States, but there remains a large disparity among ethnic groups, reports one of the largest and most comprehensive studies on the subject, published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Public Health.
Non-specialist psychosocial interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders
Many children with intellectual disability or lower functioning autism spectrum disorders, particularly those in low and middle income countries, do not receive psychosocial treatment interventions for their condition. If non-specialists were able to deliver such care, more children may be able to receive treatment. In this week's PLOS Medicine, Brian Reichow (Yale Child Study Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, US) and colleagues from the World Health Organization conducted a systematic review of studies of non-specialist psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents with intellectual disability or lower functioning autism spectrum disorders. In a search of several international databases for studies published through June 2013, the authors found 34 articles describing 29 studies (including 15 randomized controlled trials) involving 1,305 participants that met their inclusion criteria. The studies evaluated behavior analytic techniques, cognitive rehabilitation, training, and support, and parent training interventions.
Will stem cell therapy help cure spinal cord injury?
A systematic survey of the scientific literature shows that stem cell therapy can have a statistically significant impact on animal models of spinal cord injury, and points the way for future studies.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away: 150 year old proverb stands the test of time, say researchers
Prescribing an apple a day to all adults aged 50 and over would prevent or delay around 8,500 vascular deaths such as heart attacks and strokes every year in the UK – similar to giving statins to everyone over 50 years who is not already taking them - according to a study in the Christmas edition of the BMJ.
Pfizer, Teva reach deal to allow generic Viagra
Pfizer says it reached a settlement with Teva Pharmaceuticals that allows the generic drugmaker to launch a copycat version of its popular erectile dysfunction drug Viagra in 2017.
Muscle-invasive and non-muscle invasive bladder cancers arise from different stem cells
Bladder cancer will kill upward of 170,000 people worldwide this year, but bladder cancer isn't fatal in the bladder. Instead, in order to be fatal the disease must metastasize to faraway sites. The question has been this: does localized, non-muscle invasive (NMI) bladder cancer eventually become the more dangerous, muscle-invasive (MI) form of the disease, or are NMI and MI bladder cancers genetically distinct from the start?
TV ads nutritionally unhealthy for kids, study finds
The nutritional value of food and drinks advertised on children's television programs is worse than food shown in ads during general air time, according to University of Illinois at Chicago researchers.
Atrial fibrillation is a growing global health concern
Atrial fibrillation, long considered the most common condition leading to an irregular heartbeat, is a growing and serious global health problem, according to the first study ever to estimate the condition's worldwide prevalence, death rates and societal costs.
Epidemic of Escherichia coli infections traced to one strain of bacteria
In the past decade, a single strain of Escherichia coli, or E. coli, has become the main cause of bacterial infections in women and the elderly by invading the bladder and kidneys, according to a study published today in the American Society for Microbiology's open access journal mBio.
Study confirms a gene linked to Asperger Syndrome and empathy
(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have confirmed that variations in a particular gene play a key role in the autism spectrum condition known as Asperger Syndrome. They have also found that variations in the same gene are also linked to differences in empathy levels in the general population.
New genetic analysis method holds promise for understanding causes of disease
(Medical Xpress)—University of Michigan School of Public Health researchers have developed a new method for identifying rare gene variants, which scientists now believe are more informative for human disease studies than the common variants extensively researched over the past few years.
The brain's data compression mechanisms: Neurons subtract images and use the differences
that's the information volume transmitted every second with every quick eye movement from the eye to the cerebrum. Researchers from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and the University of Osnabrück describe the way those data are processed by the primary visual cortex, the entry point for the visual information into the brain, in the journal Cerebral Cortex. Deploying novel optical imaging methods, they demonstrated that the brain does not always transmit the entire image information. Rather, it uses the differences between current and previously viewed images.
Study challenges long-held hypothesis that iron promotes atherosclerosis
A UCLA research team has found no evidence of an association between iron levels in the body and the risk of atherosclerosis, the hardening and narrowing of the arteries that leads to cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 killer in the U.S.
Silencing synapses: Hope for a pharmacological solution to cocaine addiction
Imagine kicking a cocaine addiction by simply popping a pill that alters the way your brain processes chemical addiction. New research from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that a method of biologically manipulating certain neurocircuits could lead to a pharmacological approach that would weaken post-withdrawal cocaine cravings. The findings have been published in Nature Neuroscience.
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