From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 4, 2013 at 2:03 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Tuesday, Dec 3
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 3, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Scientists create candy that's good for teeth- Hubble traces subtle signals of water on hazy worlds
- Researchers calculate human trophic level for first time
- How hummingbirds evolved to fly at high altitude
- Tech reliant on finite metal sources
- 'Spooky action' builds a wormhole between 'entangled' quantum particles
- Can inhaled stem cells fix your brain?
- Startup rolls out earlybird offer for Copenhagen Wheel (w/ Video)
- Scientists discover new survival mechanism for stressed mitochondria
- Facebook delivers more news in News Feed
- Study finds 'Goldilocks' effect in snail populations
- Review: Moto G isn't the best, but decent for $179
- Remembrances of things past: Researchers discover nanoscale shape-memory oxide
- Molecular sensor detects early signs of multiple sclerosis
- Ex-NASA expert issues call for climate solutions
Astronomy & Space news
Chang'e lunar probe boasts innovative camera pointing system
Following the launch of Chang'e-3 lunar probe in Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, the Camera Pointing System jointly developed by researchers of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) is now getting closer for landing on the moon's surface.
After two delays, SpaceX counts down to satellite launch (Update)
Private US company SpaceX was Tuesday poised for a third attempt to launch its first commercial satellite, after repairs were made to the Falcon 9 rocket.
China space launch debris wrecks villagers' homes
Debris from the rocket carrying China's first moon rover plummeted to earth in a village more than a thousand kilometres from the launch site, crashing into two homes, a report said Tuesday.
Image: Titan's sunlit edge
(Phys.org) —The sunlit edge of Titan's south polar vortex stands out distinctly against the darkness of the moon's unilluminated hazy atmosphere. The Cassini spacecraft images of the vortex led scientists to conclude that its clouds form at a much higher altitude—where sunlight can still reach—than the surrounding haze.
An interstellar journey for CubeSats
In Greek mythology, Icarus was the impulsive son who ignored his father's warning about flying too close to the sun. But the students in the Drexel University chapter of Icarus Interstellar are much too dedicated to do anything that careless. Besides, they're aiming for a star located even farther away.
A new view of the energetic universe
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, sees the high-energy X-rays emitted by the densest, hottest regions of the universe. The brainchild of Fiona Harrison, Caltech's Benjamin M. Rosen Professor of Physics and Astronomy and NuSTAR's principal investigator, the phone-booth-sized NuSTAR was launched from beneath an airplane's wing, unfolding to the length of a school bus once in orbit. Professor Harrison will describe NuSTAR's unlikely journey and share some of its remarkable results at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, in Caltech's Beckman Auditorium. Admission is free.
Unprecedented sky survey maps galactic evolution
The ALHAMBRA project, led by researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía and in which the University of Valencia has participated, has identified and classified more than half a million galaxies, after seven years of close observation of the universe from the Observatory of Calar Alto (CAHA, Almería) and thanks to a technique that breaks the stars energy in their colours through astronomical filters.
Satellite launched aboard private SpaceX rocket
A new communications satellite that has both public and government applications has been launched into space aboard a private rocket.
How abundant are Super-Earths?
Our solar system hosts a cornucopia of worlds, from the hellfire of Venus to the frozen plains of Mars to the mighty winds of Uranus. In that range, the Earth stands alone, with no planet coming close to its life-friendly position near the Sun.
Comet ISON is confirmed dead after brush with Sun
A comet that grabbed attention worldwide for being likened to a massive snowball in space did not survive its brush with the Sun last week, NASA confirmed on Tuesday.
Laser communication mission targets 2017 launch
NASA's next laser communication mission recently passed a Preliminary Design Review (PDR), another major milestone towards the launch of the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) scheduled for 2017.
Hubble traces subtle signals of water on hazy worlds
(Phys.org) —Using the powerful eye of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, two teams of scientists have found faint signatures of water in the atmospheres of five distant planets.
Medicine & Health news
Disability, distress in RA patients cut in half over last 20 years
New research reveals that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) today have an easier time with daily living than patients diagnosed two decades ago. According to results of the study published in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), anxiety, depressed mood and physical disability have been cut in half over the last 20 years. Researchers believe a reduction in disease activity is partly responsible for this positive change.
International study finds heart disease similar in men and women
An analysis of data from an international multicenter study of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) reveals that men and women with mild coronary artery disease and similar cardiovascular risk profiles share similar prognoses. Results of the study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Breast tomosynthesis increases cancer detection and reduces recall rates
Researchers have found that digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) led to reduced recall rates and an increase in cancer detection in a large breast cancer screening program. The results of this study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Late treatment for many Philippine typhoon victims: WHO
Many people who suffered serious injuries when a super typhoon devastated the central Philippines have had to wait nearly a month for treatment, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
Microneedle vaccine patch for pregnant women
Researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology are investigating the benefits of a microneedle patch that will enable minimally trained personnel to deliver influenza and tetanus toxoid vaccines to the skin of pregnant women in developing countries.
A new way to battle HIV: 3 questions with Mark Williams
More than 35 million people around the world now live with HIV/AIDS. While drug discovery efforts to combat the disease have been successful, multiple treatments are required because the virus mutates and develops resistance to individual drugs. In fact, the HIV virus has evolved to evade the first line of defense—a protein called APOBEC3G, also known as A3G. Now, in a paper published last week in the journal Nature Chemistry, physics professor Mark Williams and his team present new research that elucidates a long-held paradox about these proteins that could transform HIV drug discovery.
A better model for brain death needed
Process variations related to brain death have far-reaching implications beyond delaying an official declaration of death, including added stress for the patient's family, missed opportunities for organ donation and increased costs of care, according to an article in the December issue of Critical Care Nurse (CCN).
UK review examines gender differences in COPD patients
A new study review authored by the University of Kentucky's Dr. David Mannino examines the gender differences in the prevalence, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and how this information may ultimately be used to identify areas for future work.
Does Facebook use affect body image in teen girls?
"Appearance exposure" on the Internet has been linked to body image disturbance among adolescent girls. A new study that links specific Facebook activities, but not overall Facebook use to body dissatisfaction and a drive for thinness in teen girls is published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
NSU researcher receives US Patent for developing fall prevention model
Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults, resulting in approximately $30 billion in direct medical costs per year.
Diversity initiatives do not increase representation of minorities on medical school faculty
From 2000 to 2010, the presence of a minority faculty development program at U.S. medical schools was not associated with greater underrepresented minority faculty representation, recruitment, or promotion, according to a study appearing in the December 4 issue of JAMA, a medical education theme issue.
New study on pediatric brain stem tumors
Children's National researcher, Javad Nazarian, PhD, authored a new study entitled, "Comparative Multidimensional Molecular Analyses of Pediatric Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Reveals Distinct Molecular Subtypes." The study found, for the first time, two distinct subtypes in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG). It was published online in Acta Neuropathologica, a leading journal on pathology and pathogenesis of neurological disease.
Obama comes out fighting on health care
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday tried to turn the focus away from the glitch-riven debut of his landmark health care law to its benefits, hoping to reverse a rough political run.
3D mammography increases cancer detection and reduces call-back rates, study finds
Compared to traditional mammography, 3D mammography—known as digital breast tomosynthesis—found 22 percent more breast cancers and led to fewer call backs in a large screening study at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), researchers reported today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Breast cancer risk related to changes in breast density as women age
Automated breast density measurement is predictive of breast cancer risk in younger women, and that risk may be related to the rate at which breast density changes in some women as they age, according to research being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
New research shows promise for possible HIV cure
Researchers have used radioimmunotherapy (RIT) to destroy remaining human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells in the blood samples of patients treated with antiretroviral therapy, offering the promise of a strategy for curing HIV infection. Results of the study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
Comorbidities, meds factor into recurrent syncope
(HealthDay)—Certain comorbidities, age, gender, and use of multiple medications that cause orthostatic hypotension are associated with increased risk of recurrent syncope, according to research published in the Nov. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Multiple-child pregnancies hike birth costs in the US
(HealthDay)—Compared with singleton births, delivery of multiple-child pregnancies substantially raises health care costs paid by insurers and patients in the United States, according to research published in the December issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Our pupils adjust as we imagine bright and dark scenes
Conjuring up a visual image in the mind—like a sunny day or a night sky—has a corresponding effect on the size of our pupils, as if we were actually seeing the image, according to new research.
Search for surrogates draws Chinese to US
For decades China has been a top destination for Americans seeking to adopt a child from abroad, but now its own citizens are making the reverse trek across the Pacific to fulfil their parental dreams—through surrogacy.
23andMe faces class action lawsuit in California
Genetic testing company 23andMe is facing a class action lawsuit alleging that the Silicon Valley startup misled customers about its test kit.
New deaths from MERS virus reported in the Gulf
Health authorities in the capital of the United Arab Emirates say a woman has died from a SARS-like virus that has been centered in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
UAE records first MERS death
A Jordanian expatriate has died in Abu Dhabi shortly after giving birth in the first recorded death from the MERS virus in the United Arab Emirates, health officials said.
Intense human settlement and forest disruption linked to virus outbreak
(Medical Xpress)—A new study in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine shows that the deadly Nipah virus in Bangladesh is infecting people only in areas with significant deforestation and high population density. Although the virus is spread by a common fruit bat, villages with fairly intact forest did not get Nipah virus infections.
Implantable medical device for epilepsy
(Medical Xpress)—Physicians at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) Strong Epilepsy Center were involved in the recent approval of a new treatment for epilepsy. The implantable medical device – called the Responsive Neurostimulator System (RNS) – monitors brain activity and can detect and counteract seizures.
Increased anal cancer risk from HIV plus HPV dual infection
(Medical Xpress)—Human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer in women, is also known to cause anal cancer in both women and men. Now, a study led by researchers at the UCLA School of Nursing has found that older HIV-positive men who have sex with men are at higher risk of becoming infected with the HPVs that most often cause anal cancer.
How nudity affects perceptions
When meeting someone for the first time, your impression of that person may be different if you meet that person at a formal dinner party, a cocktail party, or a pool party. These settings typically influence how the person dresses and how much skin they expose. Whether you consciously pay attention to a person's exposed skin or not, focusing on their body may have unintended consequences.
Hip problems a growing problem among young, active
Hip pain is no longer reserved for older adults. More and more young, active people are developing this problem, which often requires surgery to repair.
Two ways to battle the holiday bulge
Though the Thanksgiving feast and leftovers are behind you, the holiday eating season has just begun. On average, Americans gain one or two pounds this time of year. Though that might not sound like much, the annual weight gain adds up from year to year and can lead to significant gains as time goes by.
Exercise spawns creative thinking
People who exercise regularly are better at creative thinking. This is the outcome of research by Leiden cognitive psychologist Lorenza Colato. She published an article on this subject in the scientific magazine Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Cannabis compounds may limit stroke damage
(Medical Xpress)—Chemical compounds found in cannabis may help to reduce brain damage following a stroke, new research has revealed.
Tourette Syndrome in secondary schools
Secondary school can be a stressful enough time for any teenager, but for those living with Tourette Syndrome (TS) their neurological condition can present a whole new set of challenges.
Biological vaccine for human leishmaniasis
A research executed in the Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY) has successfully proved, in test animals, the effectiveness of a vaccine that immunizes the organism against leishmaniasis, an ailment transmitted through insects very similar to mosquitos and mainly presents symptoms in the skin, liver or spleen.
Study finds benefit to rapid drug licensing
(Medical Xpress)—Paying too much heed to possible risks when licensing a medication can lead to a pharmaceutical of great benefit to patients either not being licensed or else having its use restricted. For this reason, medications of great benefit to patients should also be licensed when there is still some uncertainty about the risks. Furthermore, it would be advisable to involve patients much more closely in the decision-making process. These are the main findings of a current study by the European Medicines Agency with co-first time author Brigitte Blöchl-Daum of the University Department of Clinical Pharmacology at the MedUni Vienna.
Sports concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy
It's been widely reported that football and other contact sports increase the risk of a debilitating neurological condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Building a better sports bra
One of the most important articles of clothing in women's wardrobes and its contents are receiving a Kansas State University researcher's undivided attention.
Protein folding becomes cancer treatment target
(Medical Xpress)—A molecule that helps cancer cells to keep dividing could be a promising target for new treatments, according to research published in the journal Oncogene.
Hong Kong to quarantine 17 people over bird flu case
Hong Kong will quarantine 17 people after the city confirmed its first human case of the deadly H7N9 bird flu, officials said Tuesday.
Melanoma risk linked with IVF treatment and birth
An investigation into the association between IVF treatment and melanoma found women who had IVF treatment and gave birth to one or two children had an increased rate of invasive melanoma compared with those who did not have children.
Study shows connection between diet and regulation of inflammation
Most people know that high cholesterol levels increase their risk for cardiovascular disease, but attention has recently turned to another chemical in the body, C-reactive protein, that may be an even better predictor of heart attack and stroke risk.
Diverticulosis is much less risky than previously thought, researchers find
People who have diverticulosis, or pouches in the lining of the colon, often worry that they will eventually develop a painful and sometimes serious condition called diverticulitis, as previous research has shown that one in four, or up to 25 percent, of those with the condition will.
Tuberculosis: Nature has a double-duty antibiotic up her sleeve
Technology has made it possible to synthesize increasingly targeted drugs. But scientists still have much to learn from Mother Nature. Pyridomycin, a substance produced by non-pathogenic soil bacteria, has been found to be a potent antibiotic against a related strain of bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The EPFL scientists who discovered this unexpected property now have a better understanding of how the molecule functions. Its complex three-dimensional structure allows it to act simultaneously on two parts of a key enzyme in the tuberculosis bacillus, and in doing so, dramatically reduce the risk that the bacteria will develop multiple resistances.
Neurofeedback tunes key brain networks, improving subjective well-being in PTSD
Pioneering research conducted at Western University (London, Canada) points to a promising avenue for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): utilising neurofeedback training to alter the plasticity of brain networks linked to the condition.
Obesity, smoking increase risk after immediate breast reconstruction with implants
New research findings published in the December issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons confirm that factors such as smoking and obesity increase the odds of early implant loss in women who undergo mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with implants. Additionally, the study authors propose a unique risk-scoring tool that allows surgeons to better counsel patients preoperatively about their predicted risk for complications.
Researchers turn current sound-localization theories 'on their ear'
The ability to localize the source of sound is important for navigating the world and for listening in noisy environments like restaurants, an action that is particularly difficult for elderly or hearing impaired people. Having two ears allows animals to localize the source of a sound. For example, barn owls can snatch their prey in complete darkness by relying on sound alone. It has been known for a long time that this ability depends on tiny differences in the sounds that arrive at each ear, including differences in the time of arrival: in humans, for example, sound will arrive at the ear closer to the source up to half a millisecond earlier than it arrives at the other ear. These differences are called interaural time differences. However, the way that the brain processes this information to figure out where the sound came from has been the source of much debate.
Circulating tumor cells in blood can predict a patient's response to chemotherapy
Scientists from Granada have demonstrated, for the first time, that detecting circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in blood and studying the presence of certain genetic markers in them is a technique that allows specialists to predict, with great precision, the response that advanced-cancer patients will have to chemotherapy, as well as the associated secondary effects they may suffer. The key lies in identifying specific proteins in these cells, which make them particularly sensitive to specific drugs.
Talk therapy may reverse biological changes in PTSD patients
A new paper published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) not only reduces symptoms but also affects the underlying biology of this disorder.
Have researchers found a new treatment for sepsis?
Sepsis, or septicaemia, is a devastating disease that is difficult to diagnose early and for which treatment options are limited. The number of deaths from sepsis exceeds those from lung cancer, and from breast and bowel cancer combined.
Protein in prostate biopsies signals increased cancer risk
Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College have shown that the presence of a particular protein in biopsied prostate tissue substantially increases the likelihood that cancer will develop in that organ. The discovery will likely help physicians decide how closely to monitor men potentially at risk for the cancer—among the most confusing and controversial dilemmas in health care.
1950s pandemic influenza virus remains a health threat, particularly to those under 50
December 3, 2013) St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have evidence that descendants of the H2N2 avian influenza A virus that killed millions worldwide in the 1950s still pose a threat to human health, particularly to those under 50. The research has been published in an advance online edition of the Journal of Virology.
Alzheimer's risk gene may begin to affect brains as early as childhood
People who carry a high-risk gene for Alzheimer's disease show changes in their brains beginning in childhood, decades before the illness appears, new research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) suggests.
New compound for slowing the aging process can lead to novel treatments for brain diseases
A successful joint collaboration between researchers at the Hebrew university of Jerusalem and the startup company TyrNovo may lead to a potential treatment of brain diseases. The researchers found that TyrNovo's novel and unique compound, named NT219, selectively inhibits the process of aging in order to protect the brain from neurodegenerative diseases, without affecting lifespan. This is a first and important step towards the development of future drugs for the treatment of various neurodegenerative maladies.
Higher case load lowers cost of repairing bones that protect eye
Adding to evidence that "high-volume" specialty care in busy teaching hospitals leads to efficiencies unavailable in community hospitals, a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers finds that patients undergoing repair of traumatic eye socket injuries at its busy academic medical center fared just as well at far less cost than those treated at all other Maryland hospitals.
Fear of being single leads people to settle for less in relationships
Fear of being single is a meaningful predictor of settling for less in relationships among both men and women, a new University of Toronto (U of T) study has found. The results are published in the December edition of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
New classification system for cardiomyopathy
Leading cardiologists at The Mount Sinai Hospital have contributed to the development of a new classification system called MOGE(S) for cardiomyopathies, the diseases of the heart muscle which can lead to heart enlargement and heart failure.
Moral outrage may influence jurors' emotions in age of video
Think about the last time you were morally outraged. Chances are you felt angry, but did you also feel disgust?
HIV-1 movement across genital tract cells surprisingly enhanced by usurping antibody response
Infectious disease researchers have identified a novel mechanism wherein HIV-1 may facilitate its own transmission by usurping the antibody response directed against itself. These results have important implications for HIV vaccine development and for understanding the earliest events in HIV transmission.
New study examines methods to reduce acute care costs without sacrificing quality
The acute care system, which includes urgent care and retail clinics, emergency departments, hospitals, and doctors' offices, reflects the best and worst in American medicine. While acting as a safety net for the under- and uninsured, the system is also fragmented, disconnected, and costly.
Improving patient continuity of care in hospitals linked with reduction in medical errors
Implementation of a multifaceted program to improve patient handoffs (change in staff caring for a patient) among physicians-in-training residents at a children's hospital was associated with a reduction in medical errors and preventable adverse events, according to a study appearing in the December 4 issue of JAMA, a medical education theme issue.
Study examines incidence, trend of substance use disorder among medical residents
Among anesthesiology residents entering primary training from 1975 to 2009, 0.86 percent had a confirmed substance use disorder during training, with the incidence of this disorder increasing over the study period and the risk of relapse high, according to a study appearing in the December 4 issue of JAMA, a medical education theme issue.
Effect on exam scores of attending clinical and tutorial-based activities by medical students
Among fourth-year medical students completing an 8-week obstetrics/gynecology clinical rotation, there was a positive association between attendance at clinical and tutorial-based activities and overall examination scores, according to a study appearing in the December 4 issue of JAMA, a medical education theme issue.
Simulation-based communication training does not improve quality of end-of-life care
Among internal medicine and nurse practitioner trainees, simulation-based communication skills training compared with usual education did not improve quality of communication about end-of-life care or quality of end-of-life care but was associated with a small increase in patients' symptoms of depression, according to a study appearing in the December 4 issue of JAMA, a medical education theme issue.
Half of trial results in ClinicalTrials.gov not published
Half of trials with results posted in ClinicalTrials.gov database have not been published in a journal, and for some that have, the database contains more information.
Malaria treatment could improve in children
An analysis of patients from across the malaria endemic world suggests that a key antimalarial treatment could be improved by better dosing in young children.
Sounding tall: Listeners can distinguish the voices of tall versus short people
Our voice can reveal a lot about us: our age, our gender, and now – it seems – our height as well. A new study by researchers at Washington University, UCLA, and Indiana University found that listeners can accurately determine the relative heights of speakers just by listening to them talk. The key clue may be contained in a particular type of sound produced in the lower airways of the lungs, known as a subglottal resonance.
Toxigenic C. difficile resides harmlessly in infants, poses risk to adults
Infants and toddlers frequently carry toxigenic Clostridium difficile, usually with no harm to themselves, but can serve as a reservoir and spread the bacteria to adults in whom it can cause severe disease, according to a study by a team of Swedish researchers published ahead of print in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
Dispelling an urban legend, new study shows who uses emergency departments frequently
While it has often been said that the most frequent users of overburdened hospital emergency departments are mentally ill substance abusers, a study out today (Dec. 3) by researchers from NYU Wagner and the University of California, San Francisco, has found that this belief is unfounded – an "urban legend."
Ecstasy use on rise again among U.S. teens
(HealthDay)—The number of U.S. teens who wind up in the emergency room after taking the club drug Ecstasy has more than doubled in recent years, raising concerns that the hallucinogen is back in vogue, federal officials report.
US stroke deaths fell 30 percent over past decade
(HealthDay)—Stroke deaths in the United States have been dropping for more than 100 years and have declined 30 percent in the past 11 years, a new report reveals.
Central adiposity may blunt metabolism, worsen weight gain
(HealthDay)—In those with body mass index (BMI) greater than 29 kg/m2, awake and fed thermogenesis is reduced, and this change in energy balance predicts future weight gain, according to research published in the December issue of Diabetes.
Fragility impacts quality of life in heart failure
(HealthDay)—For patients with heart failure, fragility is associated with the perception of quality of life, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Universal transvaginal ultrasound found cost-effective
(HealthDay)—Under most assumptions, universal transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) is more cost-effective than an initial transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) screening for measuring cervical length and identifying women at increased risk of preterm birth, according to research published in the December issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
FDA warns of problems with Philips heart devices
Federal health regulators are warning the public not to use certain defibrillators recalled by Philips Healthcare because the heart-shocking devices may fail to operate in emergency situations.
Mice research brings male contraceptive pill closer
A contraceptive pill for men has moved one step closer after Australian researchers successfully made male mice infertile, according to a study published Tuesday.
Researchers discover early step in blood stem cell development
(Medical Xpress)—University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) researchers have discovered a very early regulatory event that controls the production of blood stem cells and the adult blood system.
New gene variant discovered for ALS
(Medical Xpress)—Research led by King's College London has identified a new genetic variant, located on chromosome 17, associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) – the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND).
First real-time flu forecast successful
Scientists were able to reliably predict the timing of the 2012-2013 influenza season up to nine weeks in advance of its peak. The first large-scale demonstration of the flu forecasting system by scientists at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health was carried out in 108 cities across the United States.
Scientists discover new survival mechanism for stressed mitochondria
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have discovered a natural mechanism that cells use to protect mitochondria, the tiny but essential "power plants" that provide chemical energy for cells throughout the body. Damage to mitochondria is thought to be a significant factor in common neurodegenerative disorders, cancer and even the aging process. The TSRI researchers' discovery could lead to new methods for protecting mitochondria from such damage, thereby improving human health.
Molecular sensor detects early signs of multiple sclerosis
For some, the disease multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks its victims slowly and progressively over a period of many years. For others, it strikes without warning in fits and starts. But all patients share one thing in common: the disease had long been present in their nervous systems, hiding under the radar from even the most sophisticated detection methods. But now, scientists at the Gladstone Institutes have devised a new molecular sensor that can detect MS at its earliest stages—even before the onset of physical signs.
Gene therapy bolsters enzyme activity to combat Alzheimer's disease in mice
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified an enzyme that can halt or possibly even reverse the build-up of toxic protein fragments known as plaques in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease. The research appeared in a recent edition of the scientific journal Nature Communications.
Screeners miss the really rare stuff: Commonly found objects may be crowding out identification of the unusual items
A smartphone app that turns gamers into airport baggage screeners is showing that finding weapons and other illegal items isn't all that easy, even when you're looking for them.
Scientists create candy that's good for teeth
(Medical Xpress)—Dentists warn us that too many sweets can cause cavities. In fact, it's not candy, but bacteria on the tooth surface that cause tooth decay. If you reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria, the number of cavities should decrease. Christine Lang of the Berlin biotech firm ORGANOBALANCE and her colleagues have developed a candy that can do this. This candy contains dead bacteria that bind to the bacteria most likely to cause cavities. Subjects who ate the candy had reduced levels of "bad" bacteria in their mouths. The research appears in Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins.
Can inhaled stem cells fix your brain?
(Medical Xpress)—In certain neurosurgical procedures, like fixing pituitary glands, surgeons can remove a tumor through the nose with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. It turns out, that passing things in the other direction—into the brain through an intranasal route—has many advantages too. Everything from drugs, proteins, and gene vectors, to stem cells, can now by administered in this way. The major question for today, is not so much what do these agents do, but where do they go once they are inside? StemGenex, a La Jolla-based company, has recently announced their new hopes for a treatment which could potentially address several neurological diseases. They are now offering a therapy for patients with multiple sclerosis in based on the intranasal delivery of mesenchymal stem cells.
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