Fwd: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Feb 24

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 2:41 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Feb 24
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 24, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Global warming contrarian researcher investigated for not revealing funding sources
- Belgian groups deem Facebook's updated terms of service agreement unlawful in Europe
- CT scan taken of mummified remains in statue
- Data-driven audience targeting expands to drone tests in LA
- Micro-5: Gut reactions in space
- Ocean acidification slows algae growth in the Southern Ocean
- Flex Logix looking to make processor chips more programmable
- Massive amounts of Saharan dust fertilize the Amazon rainforest
- Ultra-thin nanowires can trap electron 'twisters' that disrupt superconductors
- Why a latte is less likely to spill than a coffee
- Do genes play a role in peanut allergies? New study suggests yes
- Sea level spiked for 2 years along northeastern North America
- Optical nanoantennas set the stage for a NEMS lab-on-a-chip revolution
- Who's your daddy? Hippo ancestry unveiled
- Review: Apple-centric 'Modern Family' goes beyond gimmicks

Astronomy & Space news

	Satellite gearing up to take EPIC pictures of Earth The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite is on its way to do something epic. NOAA's spacecraft, sent to monitor space weather, will use its Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) to capture the entire sunlit face of our planet and collect valuable atmospheric data. EPIC, built by Lockheed Martin, will show the full face of Earth in a single picture, something previously done only by the Apollo 17 astronauts and the Galileo mission on its way to Jupiter. "EPIC will view the whole sunlit side of Earth from L-1, a point approximately one million miles away," Joe Mobilia, EPIC program manager at Lockheed Martin, told astrowatch.net. "Today, images of Earth come from spacecraft in LEO [Low Earth Orbit] or GEO [Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit], which only sample a portion of the planet, albeit at higher resolutions."
	Could ionized gas do A better job of sterilizing spacecraft? Earth's microbes are a hardy bunch. They can survive in extreme environments, such as inside hot springs at the bottom of the ocean. Some have even remained alive despite being exposed to the ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, extreme low temperatures, and vacuum of space.
	Could there be another planet behind the sun? If you've read your share of sci-fi, and I know you have, you've read stories about another Earth-sized planet orbiting on the other side of the Solar System, blocked by the Sun. Could it really be there?
	Space station 3-D printed items, seedlings return in the belly of a Dragon Newly 3-D printed wrenches, data to improve cooling systems, protein crystals and seedling samples returned Feb. 10 aboard SpaceX's fifth contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station. Researchers will use samples and data returned to improve scientific studies on Earth and build on research that will enable space exploration.
UN report urges drones for peace missions A UN report is calling for drones to be deployed in most peacekeeping missions as part of a major technological leap needed to help the United Nations confront world crises, the lead expert of the study said Monday.
	Scientific spring in isolated Antarctica In Antarctica, the crew of the French–Italian Concordia research station are preparing for the winter. They have to survive six months of complete isolation – four in darkness because the Sun never rises above the horizon – while they perform science in one of the most barren places on Earth.
	Calling on satellites in alpine rescues Emergency services rescued 1780 people in the Austrian Alps last year. They can now count on satellites to access maps, send messages, give warnings and stay in contact.
NASA launches 3 suborbital rockets from Wallops Island (AP)—Three suborbital rockets have been launched for the Department of Defense from NASA's facility on Wallops Island in Virginia.
Russia to keep its part of space station after its duty ends (AP)—Russia's space agency expects the International Space Station to stay in orbit through 2024, and plans to create its own space outpost with its segment of the station after that.
Fireballs spotted over western US as Chinese rocket burns up (AP)—People from Arizona to Canada have reported seeing bright lights in the sky as a Chinese rocket burned up in the atmosphere.
SOHO sees something new near the sun An unusual comet skimmed past the sun on Feb 18-21, 2015, as captured by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or SOHO.

Medicine & Health news

Tea's benefits extend to old bones: Japan researchers Researchers in Japan say black tea could help treat osteoporosis, a bone condition affecting older people, but admit you need to drink an awful lot of it.
Infant brains are hardwired to link images and sounds as they learn to speak New research examining electrical brain activity in infants suggests that we are biologically predisposed to link images and sounds to create language.
	Researchers connect diseases based on their molecular similarities Northeastern University network scientists have found a way to connect diseases based on their shared molecular interactions. Published in the journal Science, the Northeastern team created a mathematical tool to analyze the human interactome—a map of the molecular interactions within cells—and found that overlapping disease modules—neighborhoods of disease-associated proteins—result in sometimes unexpected relationships between diseases.
Obesity genes identified by worldwide research team A massive worldwide analysis of genetic data from almost 340,000 people around the world has brought understanding of the genetic basis of obesity a step closer.
Do genes play a role in peanut allergies? New study suggests yes Researchers have pinpointed a region in the human genome associated with peanut allergy in U.S. children, offering strong evidence that genes can play a role in the development of food allergies.
	Pill taken before, after sex may prevent HIV, study finds An HIV prevention pill taken by gay men before and after sex reduced the risk of virus transmission by 86 percent, according to the results of a clinical trial released Tuesday.
Water fluoridation in England linked to higher rates of underactive thyroid Water fluoridation above a certain level is linked to 30 per cent higher than expected rates of underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) in England, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Keep calm, anger can trigger a heart attack! University of Sydney research reveals that the risk of a heart attack is 8.5 times higher in the two hours following a burst of intense anger.
Homeless people with mental illness have higher 30-year risk of serious cardiovascular disease, research finds Homeless people with mental disease have a greater than double risk of developing serious or fatal cardiovascular disease over 30 years than people of the same age and gender with no risk factors for the disease, new research has found.
'Massive' tobacco industry third party lobbying for revised European Directive The tobacco industry deployed "massive" third party lobbying to subvert revised European regulations on tobacco products, helped by regulatory reforms that seem to have made it easier for corporate interests to influence public health legislation, reveals research published online in Tobacco Control.
Researchers discover possible drug target to combat sleeping sickness Virginia Tech biochemists are trying to deliver a stern wake-up call to the parasite that causes sleeping sickness.
Scientist study skin cancer patients resistant to leading therapy Powerful drugs known as BRAF-inhibitors have been crucial for melanoma patients, saving lives through their ability to turn off the BRAF protein's power to spur cancer cell growth.
Tests reveal under-reported exposure to tobacco smoke among preemies with lung disease Public health experts have long known that tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) can be harmful for children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a lung disease that often accompanies premature birth.
	NY attorney general expands herbal supplements investigation (AP)—Three weeks after ordering four major retailers to pull store-brand herbal supplements off their shelves following DNA tests that found little or none of the listed herbs, New York's attorney general is targeting manufacturers of the popular products.
	Proton pump inhibitor use not linked to cardiac arrhythmia (HealthDay)—In critically ill patients, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is not associated with cardiac arrhythmia, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Noncancer pain patients commonly use benzodiazepines (HealthDay)—Chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) patients who use benzodiazepines (BZDs) daily frequently have multiple comorbid mental health conditions and higher rates of emergency health care use, according to a study published in the February issue of Pain Medicine.
	Variation in clinical practice guidelines for febrile infants (HealthDay)—Emergency department clinical practice guideline (CPG) recommendations contribute to observed practice variation in febrile infants, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	No temporal change in incidence of amniotic fluid embolism (HealthDay)—The incidence of and risk factors for amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) have not changed over time, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
	Sound of mother's voice in womb may aid fetal brain growth (HealthDay)—Babies may get a brain boost in the womb when they hear the voices and heartbeats of their mothers, a new study suggests.
Should paramedics be allowed to give antibiotics to trauma victims? For years, infection rates from open fractures have remained stubbornly high.
The numbers are in: As many as 2 in 3 smokers will die from their habit A large Australian study of more than 200,000 people has provided independent confirmation that up to two in every three smokers will die from their habit if they continue to smoke.
	Plague outbreaks that ravaged Europe for centuries were driven by climate change in Asia The Black Death struck Europe in 1347, killing 30-50% of the European population in six violent years. It wasn't a one-off epidemic: it signalled the start of the second plague pandemic in Europe that lasted for hundreds of years and only slowly disappeared from the continent after the Great Plague of London in 1665-1666.
	Older drivers can stay safe for longer Older drivers who lack confidence on the road could benefit from a new training plan being developed by researchers at Aston University.
Bionic hand that is 'sensitive' to touch and temperature A bionic hand that can sense pressure and temperature and transmit the information back to the brain is the focus of a new £1.4m UK research project.
	Shedding light on asexuality When confronted with the notion of asexuality, most people are baffled by the idea of a life devoid of sexual attraction.
Eliminating cellular stroma could enable anti-cancer drugs to penetrate tumor tissues, improve survival Like a stealth jet cloaks itself from radar, cancer cells cloak themselves within tumors by hiding behind a dense layer of cellular material known as stroma.
	Web app prompts important sexual health testing A personalized web app designed to encourage young men at risk for sexually transmitted diseases to go for testing has proven successful in a small trial conducted in Southeast Michigan.
Investigational drug can reduce asthma flareups An investigational drug appears to cut the risk of severe asthma attacks in half for patients who have difficulty controlling the disorder with standard medications, according to results from two multicenter clinical trials.
Neuroscientists discover why exercise reduces stress On top of the many reasons to hit the gym, working out may also improve the ability to persevere through hard times. In a series of recent experiments, neuroscientists at the University of Georgia have begun to unravel the link between long-term stress resilience and exercise.
	Helping computers see like people UA cognitive scientist Mary Peterson, who studies human vision, will work with collaborators from four partner institutions, funded by an Office of Naval Research grant.
National Food Institute maintains its assessment of bisphenol A After having examined the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA's new health assessment of bisphenol A, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, maintains its assessment of the chemical compound. The institute's researchers assess that the safe level recently recommended by EFSA does not adequately protect consumers against endocrine disrupting effects of bisphenol A.
	Morphogenesis through flowing tissue In an in vivo analysis of eye development, researchers at Heidelberg University and the University of Freiburg have gained fundamental new insight into the development of coloboma of the eye, prompting them to revise the classical view of the development of this sensory organ in vertebrates. The team led by developmental and cell biologists Dr. Stephan Heermann and Prof. Dr. Jochen Wittbrodt of the Heidelberg Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) used in vivo 4D microscopy to demonstrate that directed tissue flow transforms the optic vesicle into the optic cup during eye development. This is not only critical for understanding the cause of coloboma ("cat eye syndrome"), but also means that eye development in vertebrates, including humans, is fundamentally different than has been taught for more than 70 years. The results of their research were published the journal eLife.
	A study of medication for knee osteoarthritis points the way to new methods for ranking drugs' effectiveness Maybe you "trust Tylenol" or (like this writer) you're "all Advil." Research proves that both painkillers work, but many of us, including our doctors, can't help but have a preference shaped by experience and perhaps even advertising. Which really does work better? That's what Raveendhara Bannuru, director of the Center for Treatment Comparison and Integrative Analysis at Tufts Medical Center and a research assistant professor of medicine, wanted to find out.
Household income found to be related to preschool attendance in China Early childhood education has been seen by many as a tool to break the cycle of poverty for developing countries. Yet, despite the more than 82 million children under age 5 living in China today, little is known about the factors contributing to preschool attendance there, particularly in rural areas. This omission is even more salient given that more than 70 percent of mothers in the 25–34 age range with children under the age of 6 in China work outside the home, and household income has consistently been shown to affect child care choices in both developed and developing countries.
	New strategies for anesthesia In operating rooms around the world, machines attached to anesthetized patients blip and bleep, reporting second-by-second accounts of vital organs. Blood circulation and respiration are closely monitored, but the one organ that is drugged, the brain, has no readout. Anesthesiologists simply watch for signs of wakening, says Emery Brown, the Edward Hood Taplin Professor of Medical Engineering and Computational Neuroscience at MIT.
	Partnerships key to preventing HIV transmission overseas A WA health expert says establishing partnerships and networks between Australia and foreign countries should help prevent Australians from contracting HIV abroad.
	Overcoming addiction with an app Can a game installed on your smartphone help you to overcome an addiction? Soon this will be a possibility. Marloes Postel, a lecturer at the University of Twente, observed the need for easily accessible care for people with addictions. This has led to the development of an app version of an existing computer course used for training the brain to break free from acquired patterns of thought. Approaching a therapist is too big a step for many addicts. The app makes the training course easily accessible to a larger group of people.
Opioid pain reliever abuse called a top 5 public health challenge The Centers for Disease Control calls prescription painkiller abuse "one of the worst drug overdose epidemics in history."
	Achieving community immunity against flu, one school at a time Each fall flu can strike a community like a wildfire. Initially, cases are sporadic, but eventually they spread person to person. And like a wildfire, the aftermath can be severe: high economic losses, hundreds hospitalized and dozens dead.
	Scientists find cancer weak spots for new targeted drugs A major computational analysis by scientists at the University of Sussex and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has found a number of potential targets for drugs that exploit the inherent weaknesses of cancer cells.
Previously unknown effect of vitamin A identified The signal molecule, retinoic acid, is a product of vitamin A which helps to instruct how different types of tissue are to be formed in the growing embryo. For the first time, Professor Niels-Bjarne Woods' laboratory, Lund Stem Cell Center in Sweden, has studied the effects of retinoic acid in relation to how blood cells develop from human stem cells. In the laboratory model, the stem cells are exposed to specific signal molecules, thereby developing into blood-producing cells.
	Research with space explorers may one day heal Earth's warriors Growing bone on demand sounds like a space-age concept—a potentially life changing one. Such a capability could benefit those needing bone for reconstructive surgery due to trauma like combat injuries or those waging a battle with osteoporosis. Related research is hardly science fiction, as a study into a key bone-growing protein was recently funded to take place in orbit aboard the International Space Station.
Cyberbystanders: Most don't try to stop online bullies In a new study, 221 college students participated in an online chat room in which they watched a fellow student get "bullied" right before their eyes.
New approach to tackle alphavirus infections Griffith University and an international team of researchers have moved a step closer to identifying a broad spectrum treatment for the dreaded arthritogenic alphavirus infections.
Researchers clarify vasospasm incidence in children with moderate to severe TBI Vasospasm, or severe narrowing of blood vessels, is a dangerous complication observed in children with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. In a paper recently published in Critical Care Medicine, investigators at Nationwide Children's Hospital have further defined the prevalence, associated factors and time course for vasospasm in children with these brain injuries.
	Garlic extract could help cystic fibrosis patients fight infection A chemical found in garlic can kill bacteria that cause life-threatening lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis, research suggests.
Active surveillance of intermediate-risk prostate cancer associated with decreased survival An analysis of data on 945 patients with prostate cancer that is managed with active surveillance shows differences in outcomes depending on whether the patient was low or intermediate risk at diagnosis. Compared to patients with low-risk disease, those with intermediate-risk cancer (PSA >10ng/ml or Gleason score 7 or clinical stage T2b/2c) had a nearly four-fold higher chance of dying from prostate cancer within 15 years. The study will be presented at the upcoming 2015 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in Orlando.
Men who have had testicular cancer are more likely to develop prostate cancer A case-control study of close to 180,000 men suggests that the incidence of prostate cancer is higher among men with a history of testicular cancer (12.6 percent) than among those without a history of testicular cancer (2.8 percent). Men who have had testicular cancer were also more likely to develop intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancers. The study will be presented at the upcoming 2015 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in Orlando.
Androgen receptor abnormality may not be associated Findings from a small prospective study suggest that androgen receptor V7 (or AR-V7) status does not significantly affect response to taxane chemotherapy in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Treatment outcomes were largely similar for the 17 patients with AR-V7-positive prostate cancer and the 20 patients with AR-V7-negative disease included in this analysis. The study will be presented at the upcoming 2015 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in Orlando.
Early evidence of increase in higher-risk prostate cancers from 2011-2013 An analysis of data on roughly 87,500 men treated for prostate cancer since 2005 finds a notable increase in higher-risk cases of the disease between 2011 and 2013. The retrospective analysis of patient data found the proportion of men diagnosed with intermediate- and high-risk disease increased by nearly 6 percent in those years. While a rise in mortality has not yet been seen, the authors estimate this apparent trend could produce 1,400 additional prostate cancer deaths per year (based on the 2014 estimated number of new prostate cancer cases and the relative survival of patients with low- versus high-risk cancer). They emphasize, however, that the findings must be confirmed through further research. The study will be presented at the upcoming 2015 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in Orlando.
Facial expression more important to conveying emotion in music than in speech Regular concert-goers are used to seeing singers use expressive and often very dramatic facial expressions. Indeed, music and speech are alike in that they use both facial and acoustic cues to engage listeners in an emotional experience. McGill researchers wondered what roles these different cues played in conveying emotions.
Gene regulatory path revealed as target for therapy of aggressive pediatric brain cancer Working with cells taken from children with a very rare but ferocious form of brain cancer, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center scientists have identified a genetic pathway that acts as a master regulator of thousands of other genes and may spur cancer cell growth and resistance to anticancer treatment.
Findings a step toward a pill that provides benefit of exercise A researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine has magnified a benefit of exercise in mice to provide a "profound" protection from diabetic cardiomyopathy, a potentially deadly heart condition that affects many people with diabetes. The discovery demonstrates the power of exercise to prevent chronic health conditions and suggests that one day some benefits of exercise may come in a pill or bottle.
Indian city bans gatherings over swine flu outbreak An Indian city has banned public gatherings to contain the spread of deadly swine flu after thousands were infected with the virus, officials said Tuesday.
Decline in smoking rates may increase lung cancer mortality A decline in smoking rates may mean that many people who could have benefited from early detection of lung cancer are dying because they don't qualify for low-dose CT scans, according to a group of Mayo Clinic researchers. Their research appears in the Feb. 24 issue of JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association.
Findings may help with the management of anticoagulant-related bleeding within the brain Among patients with oral anticoagulation-associated intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding within the brain), reversal of international normalized ratio (INR; a measure used to determine the clotting tendency of blood while on medication) below a certain level within 4 hours and systolic blood pressure less than 160 mm Hg at 4 hours were associated with lower rates of hematoma (a localized swelling filled with blood) enlargement, and resumption of anticoagulant therapy was associated with a lower risk of ischemic events without increased bleeding complications, according to a study in the February 24 issue of JAMA.
Gene variant and risk and severity of nerve disorder linked to cancer drug Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who had a certain gene variant experienced a higher incidence and severity of peripheral neuropathy after receiving treatment with the cancer drug vincristine, according to a study in the February 24 issue of JAMA.
Taking NSAIDs with anti-clotting medications and risk of bleeding, CV events Among patients receiving antithrombotic therapy (to prevent the formation of blood clots) after a heart attack, the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was associated with an increased risk of bleeding and events such as heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death, even after short-term treatment, according to a study in the February 24 issue of JAMA.
It's tough to shift that weight, studies show New studies by McMaster University researchers, published in CMAJ Open, have confirmed that people of all ages find it difficult to prevent weight gain; that it is terrifically difficult to get rid of it later and to keep it off once lost. However, even small weight losses can mean better health.
Direct brain neurostimulation for partial onset seizures provides long-term benefit Piotr Olejniczak, MD, PhD, LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Neurology and Director of the Epilepsy Center, contributed to a study of the long-term effectiveness of the first direct brain responsive neurostimulator for partial onset, or focal, seizures that cannot be controlled with medication. The study found that responsive direct cortical stimulation reduces seizures and improves quality of life over an average of 5.4 years. The study is published in the February 24, 2015, issue of the journal, Neurology.
Stellate cells in the liver control regeneration and fibrosis Liver fibrosis, which is the progressive formation of scar tissue in the liver, is a massive medical problem. An estimated ten percent of the population is affected by liver fibrosis or its corresponding later stage, liver cirrhosis. A variety of causes can lead to liver fibrosis, the most widely recognized ones being alcohol consumption and virus-induced chronic liver inflammation. Other factors that can lead to scarring in the liver include the use of certain drugs, fatty liver disease and genetic disorders such as iron overload disease. As fibrosis progresses, the liver tissue becomes increasingly nodular, and the disease turns into liver cirrhosis, a dangerous condition that also drastically increases the risk of developing liver cancer.
'Patchwork' ovarian cancer more deadly The most common type of ovarian cancer is more deadly if it consists of a patchwork of different groups of cells, according to a Cancer Research UK study published today (Tuesday) in PLOS Medicine.
New research looks at app to help minority stroke patients improve health A clinical trial investigating the use of a physician-monitored app to help first-time minority stroke patients become healthier has begun at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
	Use of long-acting birth control rises fivefold in a decade: CDC (HealthDay)—The use of long-acting birth control methods such as IUDs or under-the-skin implants jumped fivefold between 2002 and 2011, according to a new U.S. government report.
	Together, nanotechnology and genetic interference may tackle 'untreatable' brain tumors There are no effective available treatments for sufferers of Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive and devastating form of brain tumor. The disease, always fatal, has a survival rate of only 6-18 months.
Unexpected outcomes for elderly couples who stop driving The ability to drive can be central to a person's identity and can be an important expression of independence. When the elderly become unable to drive, due to age or deteriorating health, their emotional well-being can decline as a result of being unable to maintain social relationships or work schedules that require travel by car. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that even if just one member of a couple stops driving, negative consequences result for both the driver and non-driver. The researcher recommends that the elderly, and their adult children, carefully discuss and plan for the transition to driving cessation.
Marine oil supplement has positive effects on post-exercise muscle damage An Indiana University study has revealed that there may be a greater connection between mussels and muscles than previously thought.
Even low-androgen triple-negative breast cancer responds to anti-androgen therapy A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published today in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics shows that only about 1 percent of triple-negative breast cancer cells in a tumor must be "androgen-receptor-positive" to show benefit from anti-androgen therapies. There are no FDA-approved targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancer. Clinical trials currently underway are showing promising preliminary results of anti-androgen-receptor therapies against triple-negative breast cancers expressing a higher percentage of androgen-receptor-positive cells.
Teen girls from rural areas more likely to have undiagnosed asthma, be depressed Teen girls who live in rural areas are more likely than their male counterparts to have undiagnosed asthma, and they often are at a higher risk of depression, according to researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University.
Amelotin molecule plays a critical role in tooth enamel maturation Today, the International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) published an innovative developmental biology study by lead researcher Bernhard Ganss, University of Toronto, ON, Canada, that relates amelotin with tooth enamel defects and enamel formation. This study, titled "Enamel Hypomineralization and Structural Defects in Amelotin-deficient Mice," is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the Journal of Dental Research: the journal for dental, oral and craniofacial research.
Patients with mental illness less likely to receive diet, exercise advice More than half of patients with symptoms of mental illness - and nearly one-third of those who also had diabetes - said their health care providers had never told them to exercise or reduce their intake of dietary fat, according to a new study published in Diabetes Educator.
Cutting-edge technology optimizes cancer therapy with nanomedicine drug combinations In greater than 90 percent of cases in which treatment for metastatic cancer fails, the reason is that the cancer is resistant to the drugs being used. To treat drug-resistant tumors, doctors typically use multiple drugs simultaneously, a practice called combination therapy. And one of their greatest challenges is determining which ratio and combination—from the large number of medications available—is best for each individual patient.
New health care delivery model for prostate cancer care results in better patient outcomes A comprehensive, population-based regional health care management program for men with prostate cancer who are members of Kaiser Permanente Southern California has led to improved outcomes, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the journal Urology Practice.
Younger women delay seeking help for heart attacks, study finds Younger women may ignore or dismiss the earliest symptoms of an impending heart attack, such as pain and dizziness, and delay seeking emergency medical care. Such factors potentially contribute to disproportionally high death rates of young women as compared to similarly aged men.
	Polio vaccination with microneedle patches receives funding The Georgia Institute of Technology and Micron Biomedical have been awarded $2.5 million in grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance the development of dissolvable microneedle patches for polio immunization. The patches will be studied to evaluate their potential role as part of the worldwide efforts to eradicate polio.
	SVR rates up with new regimens for HCV and HIV coinfection (HealthDay)—For patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 and HIV coinfection, new regimens are effective and correlate with high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) after treatment, according to two studies published online Feb. 23 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Nasal allergies tied to increased nasopharyngeal cancer risk (HealthDay)—Patients with allergic rhinitis may have an increased risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), according to a Taiwanese study published in the March issue of Head & Neck.
	U.S. officials pinpoint common sources of foodborne illnesses (HealthDay)—Beef, dairy, fruit and certain types of vegetables are among the most common sources for the four major types of foodborne illness that strike nearly 2 million Americans each year, a U.S. government report finds.
Women's heart disease should be a research priority The latest gender-specific research on heart disease continues to show differences between women and men, yet gaps remain in how to best diagnose, treat and prevent this number one killer of women, according to studies published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.
Tumor location in colorectal cancer may influence survival The two halves of the human colon have different embryonic origins and gene expression patterns, and these differences may also play a role in cancer biology, according to a study published February 24 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Skin test may shed new light on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases Scientists have discovered a skin test that may shed new light on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, according to a study released today will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., April 18 to 25, 2015.
High-energy breakfast with low-energy dinner helps control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes A small new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes) shows that, in people with type 2 diabetes, those who consume a high energy breakfast and a low energy dinner have better blood sugar control than those who eat a low energy breakfast and a high energy dinner. Thus adjusting diet in this fashion could help optimise metabolic control and prevent complications of type 2 diabetes. The authors of the study include Professor Daniela Jakubowicz and Professor Julio Wainstein, Wolfson Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel, Professor Bo Ahren, Lund University, Sweden and Professor Oren Froy Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
Primary care residents unlikely to detect hazardous alcohol use When it comes to detecting alcohol misuse, newly minted primary care physicians ask the wrong questions at the wrong times, according to a study led by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
	Women twice as likely to see pot as risky: Ten-year decline in perception of marijuana risk A study on the perceived risk of regularly using cannabis and the characteristics associated with these perceptions found that non-white, low-income women over the age of 50 were most likely to perceive a risk in using the drug. Least likely were those 12 to 25 years old, with a high school diploma or more, and a total family income above $75,000. The study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health with colleagues at Johns Hopkins University is the first to describe changes across time in perceived risk of regular cannabis use in the U.S. population 12 years and older. Results are published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Pregnant women unmoved by maternity hospital ratings, study suggests Media reports in 2008 naming the best and worst NHS trusts for maternity care did not lead to more women going to the top hospitals or avoiding the lowest, a study has found.
Sunitinib, sorafenib of no benefit in ECOG-ACRIN renal cell trial Research results highlighted today at the press conference of a major medical meeting report no benefit from the use of either Sutent (sunitinib) or Nexavar (sorafenib) among patients with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma at high risk of recurrence, the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) announced. Both of these oral drugs are widely used in helping patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, commonly called kidney cancer, live longer with their disease.
Simple paper strip can diagnose Ebola and other fevers within 10 minutes When diagnosing a case of Ebola, time is of the essence. However, existing diagnostic tests take at least a day or two to yield results, preventing health care workers from quickly determining whether a patient needs immediate treatment and isolation.
	Disparities in breast cancer care linked to net worth Household net worth is a major and overlooked factor in adherence to hormonal therapy among breast cancer patients and partially explains racial disparities in quality of care. The findings suggest that physicians, health insurers, and policy makers need to pay more attention to this economic variable to ensure that breast cancer patients receive this potentially life-saving treatment. The study was published recently in the online issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Limited promise in early results from Ebola drug trial Early results from an Ebola trial using the experimental drug Avigan (favipiravir) showed Monday it was somewhat effective at saving lives if given early in the illness, but not later.
	Alaska becomes 3rd state with legal marijuana (AP)—Smoking, growing and possessing marijuana becomes legal in America's wildest state Tuesday, thanks to a voter initiative aimed at clearing away 40 years of conflicting laws and court rulings.
	Reducing pharmacy error With 450 million prescriptions given out last year in Canadian pharmacies, mistakes will happen. James Barker and SafetyNET-Rx are helping reduce those mistakes.
	Testing the first portable system for monitoring patients with Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease is the second neurodegenerative disease in number of patients after Alzheimer's disease. The Technical Research Centre for Dependency Care and Autonomous Living (CETpD) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has developed a pioneering portable system for monitoring the motor status of Parkinson's disease patients in real time. The system also determines the status of patients while they are walking or during their daily activities and acts when the person has gait problems such as slowing or freezing. This system is being developed within the European project REMPARK (Personal Health Device for the Remote and Autonomous Management of Parkinson's Disease), coordinated by the CETpD. The project's aim is to improve the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.
Filipino newcomers to Canada diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age Filipinos who move to Canada are diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age than women from other parts of East Asia or Caucasians, new research has found.
Adjuvant sorafenib and sunitinib do not improve outcomes in locally advanced kidney cancer Findings from a federally funded study suggest that patients with locally advanced kidney cancer should not be treated with either adjuvant (post-surgery) sorafenib or sunitinib. The average period to disease recurrence was similar between those who received sorafenib or sunitinib after surgery (5.6 years) and those treated with placebo (5.7 years). The study will be presented at the upcoming 2015 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in Orlando.
	Merck grants free license for pediatric HIV drug (AP)—Drugmaker Merck & Co. has granted a free license allowing one of its HIV medicines to be made and sold inexpensively for use in young children in poor countries hard hit by the AIDS virus.
Daclatasvir for hepatitis C: Hint of added benefit in genotype 4 Daclatasvir (trade name Daklinza) has been approved since August 2014 for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. According to the dossier assessment conducted by the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) in December 2014, no added benefit could be derived for daclatasvir.
Watchdog group seeks FDA ban of antifungal tablets (AP)—A consumer safety group is calling on the Food and Drug Administration to pull certain antifungal tablets off the market, saying there are safer medicines that do not carry risks of liver damage.
	Survey: Uninsured rate hit new low in 2014 (AP)—The share of Americans without health insurance dropped to its lowest level in seven years in 2014 as President Barack Obama's overhaul took full effect, according to an extensive survey released Tuesday.
Evidence supports use of 'retainer' contact lenses for nearsightedness in children A technique called orthokeratology ("Ortho-K")—using custom-made contact lenses to shape the growing eye—has a significant effect in slowing the progression of myopia (nearsightedness) in children, according to a research review in the March issue of Optometry and Vision Science, official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
Study finds hormone therapy in transgender adults safe In the most comprehensive review to date addressing the relative safety of hormone therapy for transgender persons, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that hormone therapy in transgender adults is safe. The findings, which appear in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Endocrinology, may help reduce the barriers for transgender individuals to receive medical care.
Financial incentives can influence control of HIV in some clinical settings A new study by the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) shows that some HIV-positive patients were motivated by financial incentives to take their HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication regularly and maintain control of their HIV - enhancing their own health benefits and reducing the chance of passing the virus on to others. Study findings are being presented on Tuesday Feb. 24 at the 2015 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Seattle, Washington.
California's plastic bag ban suspended by ballot referendum (AP)—A trade group has turned in enough signatures to put a referendum on California's plastic bag ban on the November 2016 ballot, suspending implementation of the nation's first statewide ban until voters can weigh in, state elections officials said Tuesday.
	Quality of care lacking for ESRD in lupus nephritis (HealthDay)—In the United States, minorities and those who lack private insurance are less likely to receive adequate care for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to lupus nephritis (LN), according to research published online Feb. 18 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Farydak approved for multiple myeloma (HealthDay)—Farydak (panobinostat) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood.

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