From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 19, 2013 at 2:20 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Wednesday, Dec 18
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
3D Printing: Material Matters: http://goo.gl/UvW92y
3D printing is an innovative and continuously advancing technology. Check out this blog post from COMSOL to learn about the latest breakthrough developments in multi-material 3D printing: http://goo.gl/UvW92y
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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 18, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Maxwell's demon can use quantum information to generate work- Researchers design first battery-powered invisibility cloak
- Powerful ancient explosions explain new class of supernovae
- Neanderthal genome shows early human interbreeding, inbreeding
- Scientists solve a decades-old mystery in the Earth's upper atmosphere
- Immune avoidance mechanism could lead to treatments for deadly mosquito-borne viruses
- Oil- and metal-munching microbes dominate deep sandstone formations
- Brain area attacked by Alzheimer's links learning and rewards
- Tropical forests mitigate extreme weather events
- Research duo develop a means for people to conceptualize polarized light
- UCLA researcher highlights advances in nanotechnology's fight against cancer
- Newly identified immune receptor may activate B cells in autoimmunity
- Diamonds in Earth's oldest zircons are nothing but laboratory contamination
- New study reveals the biomechanics of how marine snail larvae swim
- Text message using vodka: Molecular communication can aid communication underground, underwater or inside the body
Astronomy & Space news
Heidelberg astronomers develop software for the Gaia satellite
Heidelberg scientists have developed highly complex software for the Gaia astrometry satellite. Daily for five years, the software will track in detail the correct functioning of all on-board systems as well as the quality of the raw scientific data. Experts from the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut at the Centre for Astronomy of Heidelberg University developed the software. The launch of Gaia will take place on 19 December 2013 at the spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana. From a distance of 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, the satellite will map the stars of our Milky Way with unprecedented precision.
Image: Alexander Gerst spacesuit check at NASA
ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst tests a spacesuit at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA. This is the first time Alex donned a replica of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit as used on the International Space Station.
Brazil, China to make new satellite launch in 2014
Brazil and China will launch a new joint environmental monitoring satellite next year to replace one which failed to enter orbit earlier this month, Communications Minister Paulo Bernardo said Tuesday.
U-M space weather model picked to improve US warning system
A University of Michigan space weather model beat out four other contenders for a spot in the national Space Weather Prediction Center's forecasting toolbox.
Image: Prometheus sculpts Saturn's F ring
Saturn's moons create art on the canvas of Saturn's rings with gravity as their tool. Here Prometheus is seen sculpting the F ring while Daphnis (too small to discern in this image) raises waves on the edges of the Keeler gap.
JPL to test new supersonic decelerator technology
(Phys.org) —A giant crane will tower above NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., shooting out of a hilly mesa like an oversized erector set, ready to help test components of NASA's Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project. The goal of the challenging technology, led by JPL, is to enable a future mission to Mars or other planetary bodies that uses heavier spacecraft and lands them at locations that were previously not achievable.
Find black holes while you're on the bus
'Radio Galaxy Zoo', launching today, is a new 'citizen science' project that lets anyone become a cosmic explorer.
For China, moon voyage signals something greater
In a darkened auditorium some 250 young Chinese sat spellbound in a projector's otherworldly blue glow, listening to the father of China's lunar programme chart their country's once and future voyages in the final frontier.
Mission control ready for Gaia launch
(Phys.org) —Shortly after a powerful Soyuz launcher lofts Gaia, ESA's new star mapper, into space on Thursday, teams on the ground will establish initial radio contact. Even then, tension will run high in ESA's mission control as Gaia must still perform a critical automatic sequence.
How to find the rarest of the rare in southern skies
University of Arizona computer scientists are teaming up with astronomers at the National Optical Astronomical Observatory to develop a computer program that will sort through the millions of objects detected by the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope and create a list of priorities for astronomers to investigate. The project has recently received a three-year INSPIRE grant, worth more than $700,000, from the National Science Foundation.
NASA engineers crush fuel tank to build better rockets
(Phys.org) —NASA completed a series of high-tech can-crushing tests last week as an enormous fuel tank crumbled under the pressure of almost a million pounds of force, all in the name of building lighter, more affordable rockets.
It's all in your head: NASA investigates techniques for measuring intracranial pressure
Do you ever turn your world upside down by standing on your head? After a few minutes you might feel some pressure in your face and around your skull. This is because headstands invert the body's blood flow, pushing more blood toward your head.
Final James Webb Space Telescope mirrors arrive at NASA
The final three of 18 primary mirrors for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope arrived at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., for integration prior to a scheduled launch in 2018.
NASA rigs up snorkel in spacesuit after risky water leak
Snorkels in space? NASA dreamed up the idea as a quick fix to a dangerous spacesuit problem so astronauts can step out to repair an equipment breakdown at the International Space Station.
NASA orders urgent spacewalk repairs at station
NASA has ordered up a series of urgent spacewalks to fix a broken cooling line at the International Space Station, a massive repair job that could stretch to Christmas Day.
J075141 and J174140: Doubling down with rare white dwarf systems
In the middle of the twentieth century, an unusual star was spotted in the constellation of Canes Venatici (Latin for "hunting dogs"). Years later, astronomers determined that this object, dubbed AM Canum Venaticorum (or, AM CVn, for short), was, in fact, two stars. These stars revolve around each other every 18 minutes, and are predicted to generate gravitational waves—ripples in space-time predicted by Einstein.
Companion's comets the key to curious exoplanet system?
(Phys.org) —The nearby star Fomalhaut A hosts the most famous planetary system outside our own Solar System, containing both an exoplanet and a spectacular ring of comets. Today, an international team of astronomers announced a new discovery with the Herschel Space Observatory that has made this system even more intriguing; the least massive star of the three in the Fomalhaut system, Fomalhaut C, has now been found to host its own comet belt. The researchers published their results today in a letter to the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Scientists solve a decades-old mystery in the Earth's upper atmosphere
New research published in the journal Nature resolves decades of scientific controversy over the origin of the extremely energetic particles known as ultra-relativistic electrons in the Earth's near-space environment and is likely to influence our understanding of planetary magnetospheres throughout the universe.
Powerful ancient explosions explain new class of supernovae
Astronomers affiliated with the Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS) have discovered two of the brightest and most distant supernovae ever recorded, 10 billion light-years away and a hundred times more luminous than a normal supernova. Their findings appear in the Dec. 20 issue of the Astrophysical Journal.
Medicine & Health news
Fight against malaria slows, fewer nets given out
Global efforts to curb malaria are stalling after a drop in funds to buy bed nets, according to the latest report Wednesday from the World Health Organization.
US plans 'Silver Alert' to find missing seniors
Capitalizing on the success of urgent "Amber Alert" bulletins that help authorities find missing children, US lawmakers introduced a similar program for the elderly Tuesday that they hope to implement across America.
States to get Medicaid cases from federal website
Federal officials are working to send states the applications of Medicaid-eligible people who sought health insurance through the troubled new federally run marketplace.
Japan to seek criminal prosecution of Novartis
Japan's health ministry intends to file a criminal complaint against the local arm of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis over alleged fabrication of drugs data, a report said Wednesday.
Dialysis is no laughing matter; however researchers are now asking if it should be
For 11,000 Australians kidney dialysis is not something to laugh about. However a good chuckle might well be the best thing for them.
3Qs: New ways to treat injuries like Gronk's
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski tore both his articular cartilage and medial cartilage ligaments in a game two weeks ago after a defender's jarring hit to his leg. The current recovery period for ligament tears is often more than a year, so the injury has ended his 2013 season and could possibly affect his availability next season. But new research from Northeastern professor Thomas Webster, chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering and an expert in nanomedicine, could change that for future athletes.
Health-related gifts to show elderly relatives that you care
For the 133 million Americans living with chronic conditions, the best holiday gift is something that will make navigating a daily routine easier. There are almost 40 million people age 65 and older, making up almost 13 percent of the population.
Why Irish nurses are 'kinder' when caring for the mentally ill
A leading mental health expert says the nationalities and culture of nurses profoundly affects their attitudes to disturbed patients.
Medical device advice: Digital thermometers and home blood-pressure machines
With cold and flu season in full swing, digital thermometers are a convenience for many families, but an internal medicine physician in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine says they are not for everyone.
Men in Crete live six years longer than men in Zutphen
Men in the Dutch city of Zutphen in the Netherlands live six years shorter than their peers on the Greek island of Crete. This has been shown by the Seven Countries Study, which involved middle-aged men from Crete and Zutphen. The study began in 1960 and followed the men for 50 years. The difference in lifespan can be attributed to the differences in diet and lifestyle between the two groups. The results were presented on 5 December by Prof. Daan Kromhout of Wageningen University at a United Nations symposium in New York on the traditional Cretan diet and healthy ageing.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reinforces importance of food, not supplements
While dietary supplements can help some people meet their nutrition needs, eating a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods is the best way for most people to obtain the nutrients they need to be healthy and reduce their risk of chronic disease, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Biological effects of the popular artificial sweetener Sucralose
The artificial sweetener Sucralose is a biologically active compound according to an extensive review published by Taylor & Francis in the recent issue of Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews. "Sucralose, A Synthetic Organochlorine Sweetener: Overview Of Biological Issues" authored by Susan S. Schiffman, PhD, an internationally known sweetener researcher and Kristina I. Rother, MD, MHSc, of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), summarizes the biological properties of sucralose based on hundreds of archival, peer-reviewed scientific journal publications. Some of the biological effects of sucralose described by Schiffman and Rother include:
Flusurvey: Preliminary findings released
Preliminary results from the first month of the Flusurvey run by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine indicate that flu is yet to take hold of the UK, with just 6,000 cases per 100,000 people reported, compared to 12,000 cases per 100,000 people for the same period in 2012.
Suggested ban on trans fat begs the question: Are substitutes any healthier?
Health advocates cheered last month's U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposal to ban partially hydrogenated oils—which contain trans fats that increase the risk of heart disease—but some wonder whether the substitutes for these fats will be any healthier. An article in Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, investigates the matter.
Vemurafenib: Result unchanged despite new data
Pursuant to the Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) reassessed vemurafenib (trade name: Zelboraf), a drug for the treatment of adults with a certain type of advanced melanoma. The reason for this was that the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) had limited its decision on the first assessment to one year. This obliged the drug manufacturer to submit a second dossier.
The Association for Molecular Pathology releases position statement on LDTs
The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) released a special article in the January 2014 issue of the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics titled "Revisiting Oversight and Regulation of Molecular-Based Laboratory-Developed Tests"(LDTs). The article was authored by the Laboratory Developed Tests Working Group of the AMP Professional Relations Committee. "The article serves as a re-affirmation of AMP's continued assertion that the CLIA program, in combination with laboratory accreditation programs and professional certification, provides a rigorous and flexible framework for ensuring high quality laboratory testing in the United States," said Elaine Lyon, PhD, AMP President.
UTHealth program results in happier patients, lower costs in esophageal surgery
A new program designed to increase the overall satisfaction of patients undergoing esophageal surgery has resulted in lower patient costs and reduced times on both the operating table and in the hospital.
Insurers extend premium deadline
The health insurance industry says consumers will get an extra 10 days to pay their first month's premium under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
Ex-Microsoft executive to take over overhaul of health care website
Kurt DelBene, who relinquished his post as president of Microsoft Office in July amid a corporate shake-up, is starting a short-term gig Wednesday - as chief fixer for the troubled federal health insurance website.
Fatigue, a common side effect of breast cancer treatment, evaluated in novel patient study
Although the prevalence and impact of cancer-related fatigue has been well established, very little is known about its predictors, mechanisms for development, and persistence post-treatment. A new research study at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, in partnership with UCLA, is aimed at identifying breast cancer patients most susceptible to post-treatment fatigue by measuring biological, behavioral and social risk factors.
Sporting success does affect birth rates
Births in a Catalan region of Spain increased by 16% nine months after FC Barcelona won three major football trophies in 2009, finds a study in the Christmas edition of the BMJ.
Are we hard-wired to follow celebrity medical advice?
A paper published in the Christmas edition of the BMJ asks why so many people follow medical advice from celebrities when so much of it is ill-informed and some of it is potentially harmful.
Experts discover whether it's better to be right or be happy
Doctors see many couples who lead unnecessarily stressful lives by wanting to be right rather than happy. But is it better to be right or to be happy?
Freezing semen doubles the chances of fatherhood for men after treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma
Men with Hodgkin lymphoma who want to become fathers after their cancer treatment have greatly increased chances of doing so if they have frozen and stored semen samples beforehand, according to research published online today (Wednesday) in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction.
Marijuana consumption in Washington state is higher than previously estimated, study finds
Marijuana consumption in Washington state is about twice as large as previously estimated, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
Scientists: Mosquito virus spreads to Americas
A nasty virus first detected in Africa that is spread to people by the bite of infected mosquitoes is being locally transmitted in the Americas for the first time on the tiny French Caribbean dependency of St. Martin, health officials said Tuesday.
Residents of poorer nations find greater meaning in life
While residents of wealthy nations tend to have greater life satisfaction, new research shows that those living in poorer nations report having greater meaning in life.
Survey: US teens using synthetic drugs less often
Fewer teens are trying fake marijuana known by such names as K2 and Spice, apparently getting the message that these cheap new drugs are highly dangerous, according to the government's annual survey on drug use.
China says woman died from bird flu new to humans
Chinese authorities said Wednesday that a 73-year-old Chinese woman died after being infected with a bird flu strain that had sickened a human for the first time, a development that the World Health Organization called "worrisome."
Mass shootings will not substantially decrease with more armed guards or background checks
With the one-year anniversary of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, many are left with questions about what leads to this and similar tragedies throughout the U.S. While some have theorized about the common personality traits of mass murderers, the frequency of these incidents, and the policy that can stop them, such speculation has led to many myths and misconceptions. New research published in Homicide Studies finds that public policy based on these myths has a limited possibility of decreasing the rate of mass murders and that more drastic measures should be taken to have real success.
Cancer death rates drop by 20 per cent over 20 years
The death rate from cancer has dropped by more than a fifth since the 1990s according to the latest Cancer Research UK analysis released today (Wednesday).
Study provides new insights into cause of human neurodegenerative disease
A recent study led by scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) opens a possible new route for treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a devastating disease that is the most common genetic cause of infant death and also affects young adults. As there is currently no known cure for SMA, the new discovery gives a strong boost to the fight against SMA.
Man power lost as obesity grows, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—As men get fatter their bones and muscles get weaker, a Deakin University study has found.
Personalizing cancer treatments for the youngest of patients
The aim of personalizing cancer treatments by targeting genomic mutations in the cancer has seen rapid advances in recent years. Many of these targeted cancer therapies, however, have been more frequently identified for adult patients. Recognizing a need to further explore genomic profiling in pediatric malignancies, the Hugs for Brady Foundation has committed $300,000 to the precision medicine initiative at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Debate continues on impact of artificial sweeteners
New research from the University of Adelaide has added to the debate about how our bodies respond to artificial sweeteners and whether they are good, bad or have no effect on us.
Recovered bulimics poor at perceiving bodies' internal messages, study finds
(Medical Xpress)—Women who have recovered from bulimia nervosa have a difficult time perceiving their own heartbeat, according to a new study led by a researcher at the School of Medicine.
Lifestyle holds key to predicting women's brain health
Australian researchers have identified lifestyle factors that impair women's brain performance as early as age 45.
Minorities and poor more likely to suffer from restless sleep and chronic diseases
Poor people and minorities appear to disproportionately suffer from problems with sleep and chronic disease, but the two do not appear to be directly linked, finds a new study in Ethnicity & Disease.
Buck teeth: Correct them once in early adolescence
Children with prominent front teeth, colloquially known as buck teeth, often require orthodontic work to straighten their teeth and improve both their bite and appearance. This can be done in one stage during early adolescence (age 10 to 16) or two stages with the first stage between age 7 and 11 and the second in early adolescence. A new Cochrane review finds few benefits to the two-stage correction.
Holiday season triggers allergies
Getting out the boxes of holiday decorations from years gone by is a time-honored tradition. But in addition to stirring up memories, it also stirs up allergies.
Brainy biomechanics for safer brain surgery
(Medical Xpress)—Patients undergoing brain surgery are likely to benefit from a new technique that can help neurosurgeons predict how the brain will move during operations.
Diet quality links old and young
Understanding how dietary habits are connected through the generations could have valuable benefits for community health, a new study shows.
Recurrent brain cancers follow distinctive genetic paths
(Medical Xpress)—Brain tumors known as low-grade gliomas can be treated with surgery, sometimes in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, with some patients living for decades after treatment. But because these tumors infiltrate normal brain tissue, it is difficult to remove them completely, and more often than not, gliomas recur at the same site in the brain, in some cases many years after surgery.
Southampton researchers help develop smart bra to measure mood to prevent over-eating
M.C. Schraefel, a professor in computer science and human performance design from the University of Southampton has helped to design a smart bra that can detect changes in mood, with the hope of preventing emotionally-triggered overeating in women.
3D technology from the film industry improve rehabilitation for stroke patients
Researchers in Gothenburg have been using 3D technology from the film industry to analyze the everyday movements of stroke patients. The results, which are reported in a doctoral thesis at the Sahlgrenska Academy, indicate that computerized motion analysis increases our knowledge of how stroke patients can improve their ability to move through rehabilitation.
Naming tests: A study on dyslexic versus average children
In an article by Zoccolotti, De Luca, Lami et al, published in Child Neuropsychology, Rapid Automized Naming (RAN) tests were conducted on 43 average children and 25 with developmental dyslexia. The task involved naming colours, digits, pictures words and word lists displayed multiple times and in discrete form. Participants' response times and error rates were recorded. Dyslexic children not only have trouble identifying strings of letters, but also programming eye movements and synchronizing speech output. Thus reading is a multiple component task presenting difficulty for dyslexic children. During the article the authors outline the results of the tests and analyse reasons for the differences between the two groups.
Computer-controlled table could direct radiotherapy to tumours while sparing vital organs
Swivelling patients around on a computer-controlled, rotating table could deliver high doses of radiotherapy to tumours more quickly than current methods, while sparing vulnerable organs such as the heart, brain, eyes and bowel.
EU set to regulate e-cigarettes, discourage smoking
European Union states and lawmakers agreed on Wednesday to regulate the booming e-cigarette market and discourage smoking by increasing the size of health warnings on packets.
EU wants cloned meat off the table (Update)
The European Commission said Wednesday it would ban meat from cloned animals but stopped short of imposing restrictions on produce from the offspring of such animals, a hugely sensitive issue.
Higher blood pressure threshold OK in older adults (Update)
Many older adults with high blood pressure can be treated less aggressively, which could mean taking fewer pills to get it under control, according to new treatment guidelines from a U.S. expert panel. But not all experts are on board with the advice—including the government agency that appointed the group.
New guidelines for management of high blood pressure released
A new guideline for the management of high blood pressure, developed by an expert panel and containing nine recommendations and a treatment algorithm (flow chart) to help doctors treat patients with hypertension, was published online by JAMA.
Leading health care executives optimistic about health care reform, survey shows
Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of the nation's leading health care executives say they believe the health care system will be somewhat or significantly better by 2020 than it is today as a result of national health care reform. Additionally, 93 percent believe that the quality of care provided by their own hospital or health system will improve during that time period. The results of the survey, which will be published today on the Health Affairs Blog, by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, show a strong divergence from the opinions of many politicians and commentators, as well as the general public.
Liver cells benefit from mesenchymal stem cell co-culture prior to transplantation
Hepatocyte (liver cell) transplantation is becoming an accepted therapy for acute liver failure, either for liver regeneration or as a bridge to liver transplantation. However, maintaining the viability and functional aspects of hepatocytes has been a concern even with successful freezing (cryopreservation). In an effort to improve both the viability and function of cryopreserved hepatocytes prior to transplantation, researchers at Kings College Hospital, London, have co-cultured hepatocytes along with human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from umbilical cord or fat tissues and found that the co-culturing confers improved hepatocyte survival and function.
Preferable treatment for MS found in allogenic bone marrow stem cells
Multiple sclerosis (MS), an inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting more than one million people worldwide, is caused by an immune reaction to myelin proteins, the proteins that help form the myelin insulating substance around nerves. Demyelination and MS are a consequence of this immune reaction. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been considered as an important source for cell therapy for autoimmune diseases such as MS because of their immunosuppressive properties.
44 percent of adults worry e-cigarettes will encourage kids to start smoking tobacco
Adults nationwide are concerned about the use of e-cigarettes by children and teens, with 44 percent indicating worries that the devices will encourage kids to use tobacco products, according to a new poll from the University of Michigan.
HPV home tests could identify cancer risk
HPV self-testing is as effective as tests done by doctors, according to a Lund University study. Simple HPV home tests could therefore complement existing screening programmes, and identify more women at risk for cervical cancer.
Kids grasp large numbers remarkably young
Children as young as 3 understand multi-digit numbers more than previously believed and may be ready for more direct math instruction when they enter school, according to research led by a Michigan State University education scholar.
Diet rich in tomatoes may lower breast cancer risk
A tomato-rich diet may help protect at-risk postmenopausal women from breast cancer, according to new research accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Obese children have higher stress hormone levels than normal-weight peers
Obese children naturally produce higher levels of a key stress hormone than their normal weight peers, according to new research accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Researchers identify genetic marker of resistance to key malaria drug
An international team of researchers has discovered a way to identify, at a molecular level, malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum parasites that are resistant to artemisinin, the key drug for treating this disease. The research team, which included scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, published their findings today in the journal Nature.
Animal vaccine study yields insights that may advance HIV vaccine research
A vaccine study in monkeys designed to identify measurable signs that the animals were protected from infection by SIV, the monkey version of HIV, as well as the mechanism of such protection has yielded numerous insights that may advance HIV vaccine research. Seven laboratories collaborated on the research led by Mario Roederer, Ph.D., and John R. Mascola, M.D., at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Total smoking bans work best
Completely banning tobacco use inside the home – or more broadly in the whole city – measurably boosts the odds of smokers either cutting back or quitting entirely, report University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers in the current online issue of Preventive Medicine.
Janet Rowley, cancer genetics pioneer, dies at 88
Dr. Janet Rowley, a pioneer in cancer genetics research, has died at age 88.
CDC issues travel health advisory for St. Martin
U.S. health authorities have issued a travel advisory for the French Caribbean dependency of St. Martin because of a mosquito-borne viral disease that is apparently being spread locally at the start of the winter tourist season.
New anti-HIV drug target identified
University of Minnesota researchers have discovered a first-of-its-kind series of compounds possessing anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity. The compounds present a new target for potential HIV drug development and future treatment options.
Stress reaction gene linked to death, heart attacks
A genetic trait known to make some people especially sensitive to stress also appears to be responsible for a 38 percent increased risk of heart attack or death in patients with heart disease, scientists at Duke Medicine report.
No link between HIV-prevention pill Truvada and increased sexual risk behavior
In 2012 the HIV antiretroviral drug Truvada became the first and only medication approved by the FDA for HIV prevention. Led by Gladstone Institutes' Investigator Robert Grant, MD, MPH, this research was hailed as an important step towards reducing the worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic. Now, a new study provides further proof that regular Truvada use can reduce one's risk for contracting HIV—without increasing sexual risk behavior.
Foreign-educated nurses report unequal treatment in US workplace
Forty percent of foreign-educated nurses working in U.S. hospitals and other health care facilities say their wages, benefits or shift assignments are inferior compared to their American colleagues, according to a study published today by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS). The findings, which appear in the January issue of the American Journal of Nursing, suggest that nurses recruited by staffing agencies and from poor countries are especially vulnerable to potentially discriminatory treatment.
Life expectancy increases among treated HIV-positive individuals in US and Canada
A 20-year-old HIV-positive adult on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the U.S. or Canada may be expected to live into their early 70's, a life expectancy approaching that of the general population, according to results published December 18, 2013, in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Hasina Samji and colleagues from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) and the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD).
Heart disease linked with dementia in older postmenopausal women
Heart disease may put older postmenopausal women at higher risk for decreased brain function such as dementia, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association.
Heart disease and stroke continue to threaten US health
Heart disease and stroke remain two of the top killers of Americans and pose a significant threat to millions of others, according to the American Heart Association's Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update 2014, published in its journal Circulation.
With the surgical robot, similar outcomes at a higher cost
In a study of national data on colon surgery, Johns Hopkins researchers found that while patients who undergo either minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or the high-tech robotic approach have similar outcomes, robotic surgery is significantly more expensive.
Markers of inflammation in the blood linked to aggressive behaviors
People with intermittent explosive disorder—a psychiatric illness characterized by impulsivity, hostility and recurrent aggressive outbursts—have elevated levels of two markers of systemic inflammation in their blood, according to a study involving nearly 200 subjects.
Modest weight loss may reduce heart disease, diabetes risks in middle-aged women
Modest weight loss over 2 years in overweight or obese, middle-aged women may reduce risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Deep brain stimulation may help with driving for people with Parkinson's disease
Deep brain stimulation may have a beneficial effect on driving ability for people with Parkinson's disease, according to a new study published in the December 18, 2013, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Deep brain stimulation uses a surgical implant similar to a pacemaker to send electrical impulses to the brain.
Review finds weight-loss surgery safe and effective
(HealthDay)—A new review finds that weight-loss surgery helps very obese patients drop pounds and improve their overall health, even if there is some risk for complications.
CDC highlights achievements of 2013, goals for 2014
(HealthDay)—The top five gains made in improving health security at home and around the world in 2013, and the top five areas for improvement in 2014 have been highlighted in an end-of-year report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Anoro ellipta approved for COPD
(HealthDay)—A new inhaled drug to treat a serious lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Minimally invasive treatment temporarily improves acne
(HealthDay)—A single facial fractional radiofrequency microneedle (FRM) treatment temporarily reduces sebum secretion and reduces acne severity, according to a study published in the December issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
Web-based tool cuts cancer symptom distress
(HealthDay)—A web-based, self-report assessment and educational intervention is beneficial for reducing symptom distress during cancer therapy, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Stem cells offer clues to reversing receding hairlines
Regenerative medicine may offer ways to banish baldness that don't involve toupees. The lab of USC scientist Krzysztof Kobielak, MD, PhD has published a trio of papers in the journals Stem Cells and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that describe some of the factors that determine when hair grows, when it stops growing and when it falls out.
Spain to ban e-cigarettes in hospitals, schools
Spain will ban electronic cigarettes from public places like hospitals and schools because of their possible health risks, the government said Wednesday.
Cells from the eye are inkjet printed for the first time
A group of researchers from the UK have used inkjet printing technology to successfully print cells taken from the eye for the very first time.
Going against the flow: Halting atherosclerosis by targeting micro RNA
Researchers at Emory and Georgia Tech have developed a potential treatment for atherosclerosis that targets a master controller of the process.
Brain area attacked by Alzheimer's links learning and rewards
One of the first areas of the brain to be attacked by Alzheimer's disease is more active when the brain isn't working very hard, and quiets down during the brain's peak performance.
Immune avoidance mechanism could lead to treatments for deadly mosquito-borne viruses
A mosquito-borne virus that kills about half of the people it infects uses a never-before-documented mechanism to "hijack" one of the cellular regulatory systems of its hosts to suppress immunity, according to University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research scientists. The discovery, which will be published in the journal Nature and is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), could aid in the development of vaccines and treatments for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), a rare but deadly disease that is found primarily in the Atlantic and Gulf States. It also may be useful in efforts to inhibit other diseases, such as West Nile virus, dengue, rhinovirus and SARS.
Newly identified immune receptor may activate B cells in autoimmunity
A newly identified immune protein influences each person's response to vaccines and risk for autoimmune diseases like lupus and multiple sclerosis, according to a study published today by researchers from the School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The protein, called a receptor and part of signaling pathways, also provides a new target for personalized therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases.
New insights into sleeping disorder narcolepsy
(HealthDay)—A new study has uncovered evidence that most cases of narcolepsy are caused by a misguided immune system attack—something that has been long suspected but unproven.
Role for sugar uptake in breast cancer revealed
Metabolism was lost in the shadows of cancer research for decades but has recently been reclaiming some of the spotlight. Now, Mina Bissell, Distinguished Scientist with Berkeley Lab's Life Sciences Division and a leading authority on breast cancer, has shown that aerobic glycolysis - glucose metabolism in the presence of oxygen – is not the consequence of the cancerous activity of malignant cells but is itself a cancerous event.
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