From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 2, 2013 at 2:01 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Thursday, Aug 1
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for August 1, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- The world according to Itskov: Futurists convene at GF2045 (Part 1)- Climate change occurring 10 times faster than at any time in past 65 million years
- Common genetic ancestors lived during roughly same time period
- Team develops new water splitting technique that could produce hydrogen fuel
- Researchers develop nanodiamond thermometer to take temperature of individual cells
- Field study shows group decision making not always the best
- Nice organisms finish first: Why cooperators always win in the long run
- Two dimensions of value: Dopamine neurons represent reward but not aversiveness
- Arctic sea-ice loss has widespread effects on wildlife
- Climate strongly affects human conflict and violence worldwide, says study
- The when and where of the Y: Research on Y chromosomes finds new clues about human ancestry
- Stray prenatal gene network suspected in schizophrenia
- 'Soft' approach leads to revolutionary energy storage
- Scientists find long-sought method to efficiently make complex anticancer compound
- Look Ma, no calibration: Handheld 3D scanner points and shoots
Space & Earth news
Nasa completes first internal review of concepts for asteroid redirect mission
NASA has completed the first step toward a mission to find and capture a near-Earth asteroid, redirect it to a stable lunar orbit and send humans to study it.
Climate 'catastrophe' looms in Pacific: Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands has warned of a Pacific "climate catastrophe" that will wipe it off the map without decisive action on global warming, saying the next 12 months are critical.
Google-funded sea research vessel sets sail
A $60 million research ship funded by a Google executive is setting sail from San Francisco to study a so-called "dead zone" in the Pacific Ocean and other mysteries of the sea.
Bacon fries on pavement as heat wave grips China
It's been so hot in China that people are grilling shrimp on manhole covers, eggs are hatching without incubators and a highway billboard has mysteriously caught fire by itself.
Las Cumbres Observatory 'Sinistro' astronomy imager captures first light
Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT), with first lights at nine new 1-meter telescopes since April of 2012, achieved another critical milestone by capturing the first on-sky image with a production Sinistro camera. In development for over six years, the camera is arguably more important than the telescopes that will use them. "A telescope is really nothing more than a large camera lens," explained Joe Tufts, instrumentation scientist on the Sinistro project. "A large, precise, stable, and very expensive camera lens."
Restored Star Trek ship Galileo arrives in Houston
Star Trek enthusiasts of all kinds arrived in Houston on Wednesday for the momentous unveiling of the shuttlecraft that crash-landed on a hostile planet in the 1967 "Star Trek" episode called "The Galileo Seven."
Australia opens 'world's smartest' aquarium
A major research aquarium able to simulate ocean warming and carry out key studies on the deadly crown-of-thorns starfish devastating the Great Barrier Reef opened in Australia on Thursday.
Airborne campaign preparing to probe pollution-climate link
(Phys.org) —The floor of a NASA hangar and an adjacent laboratory in Southern California's high desert have been in constant motion this month as scientists prepare their instruments for installation on two of the agency's specialized science aircraft that will begin a major NASA airborne science campaign in early August.
Image: Two moons passing in the night
(Phys.org) —The Saturn moons Mimas and Pandora remind us of how different they are when they appear together, as in this image taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Pandora's small size means that it lacks sufficient gravity to pull itself into a round shape like its larger sibling, Mimas. Researchers believe that the elongated shape of Pandora (50 miles, or 81 kilometers across) may hold clues to how it and other moons near Saturn's rings formed.
Early civilisation sleeping giant waits off north west coast
The untold story of how ancient Australians once walked a vast submerged sand plain dissected by rivers and rugged outcrops awaits discovery off WA's north-west coast, according to a leading expert from The University of Western Australia.
Seeing which way the wind blows: New doppler radar takes flight on this summer's HS3 mission
(Phys.org) —Most aircraft carrying Doppler radar look like they've grown a tail, developed a dorsal fin, or sprouted a giant pancake on their backs. But when the unmanned Global Hawk carries a radar system this summer, its cargo will be hard to see. The autonomous and compact High-altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Profiler, or HIWRAP, a dual-frequency conical-scanning Doppler radar, will hang under the aircraft's belly as it flies above hurricanes to measure wind and rain and to test a new method for retrieving wind data.
Extreme wildfires likely fueled by climate change
Climate change is likely fueling the larger and more destructive wildfires that are scorching vast areas of the American West, according to new research led by Michigan State University scientists.
Team develops more accurate model of climate change's effect on soil
Scientists from UC Irvine and the National Center for Atmospheric Research have developed a new computer model to measure global warming's effect on soil worldwide that accounts for how bacteria and fungi in soil control carbon.
Existing cropland could feed four billion more
The world's croplands could feed 4 billion more people than they do now just by shifting from producing animal feed and biofuels to producing exclusively food for human consumption, according to new research from the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota.
Yellowstone's Steamboat geyser sees rare eruption
Old Faithful it's not.
Spitzer discovers young stars with a 'hula hoop'
(Phys.org) —Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have spotted a young stellar system that "blinks" every 93 days. Called YLW 16A, the system likely consists of three developing stars, two of which are surrounded by a disk of material left over from the star-formation process.
Under leaden skies: Where heavy metal clouds the stars
(Phys.org) —In a paper shortly to be published in the Oxford University Press journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, a team of astronomers from the Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland report the discovery of two unusual stars with extremely high concentrations of lead in their atmospheres.
New data help astronomers explore the hidden Milky Way
(Phys.org) —Today, astronomers with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III, or SDSS-III – including University of Virginia astronomers – released a new online public data set featuring 60,000 stars that are helping to tell the story of how our Milky Way galaxy formed, the subject of scientific speculation and debate for hundreds of years.
New class of old star cluster discovered
(Phys.org) —Star clusters with properties not seen before have been discovered by an international team of astrophysicists, led by Swinburne University of Technology's Professor Duncan Forbes.
Biggest extinction in history caused by climate-changing meteor
(Phys.org) —It's well known that the dinosaurs were wiped out 66 million years ago when a meteor hit what is now southern Mexico but evidence is accumulating that the biggest extinction of all, 252.3m years ago, at the end of the Permian period, was also triggered by an impact that changed the climate.
When galaxies switch off: Hubble's COSMOS survey solves 'quenched' galaxy mystery
Some galaxies hit a point in their lives when their star formation is snuffed out, and they become "quenched". Quenched galaxies in the distant past appear to be much smaller than the quenched galaxies in the Universe today. This has always puzzled astronomers—how can these galaxies grow if they are no longer forming stars? A team of astronomers has now used a huge set of Hubble observations to give a surprisingly simple answer to this long-standing cosmic riddle.
Geoscientists unearth mineral-making secrets potentially useful for new technologies
Sugars are widely known as important sources of energy for all organisms. Now, Virginia Tech researchers have discovered that certain types of sugars, known as polysaccharides, may also control the timing and placement of minerals that animals use to produce hard structures such as shells and exoskeletons of mollusks, lobsters, and shrimp.
Climate strongly affects human conflict and violence worldwide, says study
Shifts in climate are strongly linked to human violence around the world, with even relatively minor departures from normal temperature or rainfall substantially increasing the risk of conflict in ancient times or today, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Princeton University.
Monster galaxies lose their appetite with age
(Phys.org) —Our universe is filled with gobs of galaxies, bound together by gravity into larger families called clusters. Lying at the heart of most clusters is a monster galaxy thought to grow in size by merging with neighboring galaxies, a process astronomers call galactic cannibalism.
Climate change occurring 10 times faster than at any time in past 65 million years
The planet is undergoing one of the largest changes in climate since the dinosaurs went extinct. But what might be even more troubling for humans, plants and animals is the speed of the change. Stanford climate scientists warn that the likely rate of change over the next century will be at least 10 times quicker than any climate shift in the past 65 million years.
Medicine & Health news
ATS publishes clinical practice guideline on ILD in infancy
The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical practice guidelines on the classification, evaluation and management of childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD) in infants. Childhood ILD includes a diverse group of rare lung diseases found in infants, children and teens that involve the interstitial tissues of the lung, which surround the air sacs (alveoli) in the lung and airways (breathing tubes). It is not known how many children have these disorders. Some types of chILD are caused by other diseases, while the cause is unclear in others, and prognosis varies by disease type.
Energy drink makers on defensive at US Senate hearing (Update)
The multi-billion-dollar global energy drink industry joined forces on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to fight off growing claims that their caffeine-rich products are hazardous to young people's health.
USAID hails 'eureka moments' in infant, maternal health
US National Security Advisor Susan Rice called for more "eureka moments" and "unorthodox partnerships" on Wednesday, as she addressed scientists working on decreasing infant and maternal mortality in poor countries.
Uruguay's lower house approves legal regulated marijuana
Uruguay's lower house Wednesday approved a controversial bill which for the first time would put a government in charge of production and distribution of legal marijuana.
Nepal bans chicken sales after bird flu outbreak
Nepal on Thursday banned the sale of chicken after health workers found cases of bird flu at several poultry farms on the outskirts of the capital Kathmandu, officials said.
Stomach bug triggers mass vomiting on Qantas flight
Dozens of people were rushed off a Qantas flight for medical treatment in Sydney on Thursday after a stomach bug struck mid-journey, triggering a mass vomiting episode.
Sanofi warns on '13 profit as Q2 earns slump (Update)
Competition from generic drugs continued to hammer French pharmaceutical group Sanofi in the second quarter, the company said Thursday, warning that its full-year earnings could be twice as bad as previous guidance.
Study reveals extent of physical inactivity disparities in England
England is building up a large future health problem in the amount of individuals who are physically inactive according to new research published today [01 Aug]. The study, which examined data on over one million adults in England, reveals nearly 80 per cent of people do not hit national physical activity government targets and finds disparities between inactivity and socioeconomic status.
Step toward a bioartificial liver device: A microreactor for hepatocyte cultures
Liver cells are very sensitive hence are difficult to cultivate outside the body. However, scientists from the Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences have shown that with an appropriately designed microreactor such cultivation is possible. The presented demonstrator can potentially be used to try to build a bioartificial liver device.
Explainer: What is proton therapy?
When you stand in the 27km-long Large Hadron Collider tunnel deep under Switzerland and France it looks as if the chain of blue magnets simply stretches off to infinity. So when people talk about putting particle accelerators in hospital basements to treat cancer, there is understandably some reticence as to their size and cost.
Parents risk skin cancer by not practising what they preach
Forty per cent of UK parents (which equates to around 4.5 million) of children aged 16 or under admit they often forget to protect their skin in strong sun because they are concentrating on protecting their children instead, a new survey by Cancer Research UK and NIVEA SUN reveals today.
Junior doctor changeover likely to drive August reduction in quality and safety of patient care
New research suggests that failure by junior doctors in their annual changeover period to identify deteriorating patients and poor prioritisation skills are likely to drive a reduction in the quality and safety of patient care. Next Wednesday 7 August thousands of newly qualified doctors will take up their first hospital jobs and junior doctors will become a grade more senior. This period is associated with worse clinical outcomes than the rest of the year. Researchers writing in JRSM Short Reports, the open-access offshoot to the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, found that there was a significant increase in the number of urgent medical tasks after changeover, but that new junior doctors completed routine tasks quicker than their more experienced predecessors. The researchers analysed data from the wireless system for the management of out-of-hours workflow at City Hospital and the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham.
Does the ambulance service need more training in mental health issues?
Ruth Elliot, Senior Lecturer in the department of Mental Health and Learning Disability at the University of Huddersfield, has published an article discussing the need for a national 'Mental Health Pathway' to enable paramedics to provide the appropriate care for people who present mental health issues.
PET/CT bests gold standard bone marrow biopsy for diagnosis and prognosis of lymphoma patients
A more precise method for determining bone marrow involvement in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)—a key factor in tailoring patient management plans—has been identified by researchers in a study published in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Imaging with 18F-FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), when compared to bone marrow biopsy, was more sensitive, showed a higher negative predictive value and was more accurate, changing treatment for 42 percent of patients with bone marrow involvement.
Defense against bacterial infection in chronic granulomatous disease
Deletion of a protein in white blood cells improves their ability to fight the bacteria staphylococcus aureus and possibly other infections in mice with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), according to a National Institutes of Health study. CGD, a genetic disorder also found in people, is marked by recurrent, life-threatening infections. The study's findings appear online in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
New target for the fight against cancer as a result of excessive blood vessel formation
New blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) stimulates the growth of cancer and other diseases. Anti-angiogenic inhibitors slow down cancer growth by disrupting the blood supply to the tumor. To date, the success of these treatments is limited by resistance, poor efficiency and harmful side effects. In the leading scientific journal Cell, Peter Carmeliet (VIB-KU Leuven) and his team reported that sugar metabolism (a process that we call glycolysis) also plays an essential role in the formation of new blood vessels. These totally revolutionary insights open up many new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of cancer and diseases as a result of excessive blood vessel formation.
Identification of a molecule linking bone loss and bone formation
Bone integrity requires skeletal remodeling, which involves both bone formation and resorption. It has been previously shown that the formation of new bone is triggered by degradation of older bone. However, it is unknown how these two processes coordinate for skeletal maintenance.
Prolactin reduces arthritis inflammation
Inflammatory joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are the result of cartilage damage and loss. Chondrocytes are the only cells that are found in cartilage and their death is linked to decreased cartilage health.
Being bullied throughout childhood and teens may lead to more arrests, convictions, prison time
People who were repeatedly bullied throughout childhood and adolescence were significantly more likely to go to prison than individuals who did not suffer repeated bullying, according to a new analysis presented at the American Psychological Association's 121st Annual Convention.
Health 'Mutual accountability' pilot program launching
(HealthDay)—The State of Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services has chosen MedEncentive to conduct a three-year heath improvement program pilot among HealthChoice beneficiaries.
Illinois governor signs medical marijuana bill
(AP)—Illinois has become the 20th state in the nation to legalize medical marijuana.
Moderate kidney disease costs medicare tens of billions of dollars each year
Even early stages of kidney disease come with steep medical costs, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The study found that expenses related to moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) cost Medicare tens of billions of dollars each year.
Simple ultrasound treatment may help protect the kidneys
Ultrasound treatments may prevent acute kidney injury that commonly arises after major surgery, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings suggest that this simple and noninvasive therapy may be an effective precaution for patients at risk.
Clean water and soap may help improve growth in young children
Improving water quality and hygiene practices may improve the growth of children, according to a new report. The Cochrane review – authored by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and WaterAid – found evidence of small but significant improvements in growth of children under the age of five who have access to clean water and soap.
Internet-based training could help in the fight against antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic prescribing rates for acute respiratory tract infections could be significantly lowered using internet-based training for clinicians, new research has shown.
Research hope for bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is a common condition – an estimated 10,000 people are diagnosed with the disease each year in the UK. It is the seventh most common cancer in the UK, affecting men more than women.
Both parents experience highs and lows in sexuality after childbirth
Partners of new mothers often experience shifts in sexuality, and these shifts are often unrelated to biological or medical factors pertaining to childbirth. The findings, which are published in a recent issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, expand current understanding of postpartum sexuality, and may help health professionals as they counsel new parents.
For lung transplant, researchers surprised to learn bigger appears to be better
Transplant teams have long tried to match the size of donor lungs to the size of the recipient as closely as possible, concerned that lungs of the wrong size could lead to poor lung function and poor outcomes. But new Johns Hopkins-led research suggests that oversized donor lungs may instead be the best option for patients, finding they are associated with a 30 percent increased chance of survival one year after the operation.
The rise of deadly insect sting allergies: Is there a cure?
If you think summer insects are done setting their sights on ruining your outdoor gathering, think again. August's hot and dry climate is the perfect breeding ground for insects, especially yellow jackets. And for the millions of Americans allergic to insect stings, these late summer bugs can be deadly.
Therapy for severe vasculitis shows long-term effectiveness
Administering the drug rituximab once weekly for one month provides the same benefits as 18 months of daily immunosuppressive therapy in people with severe forms of vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels, a study has found.
Gene interplay helps to explain dengue's spread
Complex genetic interaction between the mosquito and the virus that causes dengue fever lie at the spread of this dangerous disease, a study by French and Thai scientists said Thursday.
Australia bumps up tobacco tax
Australia will hike tobacco taxes by 12.5 percent per year over the next four years to boost its coffers and build on its plain packaging campaign against smoking, the government said Thursday.
New genetic risk factor found for schizophrenia
Researchers at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health have identified a large duplication on chromosome 7q11.23 as a new risk factor for schizophrenia. (7q11.23 refers to the specific location of the duplicated region on the chromosome.)
A glass of milk after eating sugary cereals may prevent cavities
Washing down sugary breakfast cereal with milk after eating reduces plaque acid levels and may prevent damage to tooth enamel that leads to cavities, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.
Dehydration likely among young athletes, research finds
(Medical Xpress)—Even when young players have water available while practicing soccer, they still became dehydrated, a University of Arkansas researcher found in a field study in Greece. Stavros Kavouras, an assistant professor of exercise science, said the findings have implications for athletes everywhere of all ages, including the Arkansas football players who will start fall practice soon.
Fabricated ear maintains structure and shape
Researchers have fabricated a bioartificial ear that looks and mechanically behaves like a human one, as revealed in Journal of the Royal Society Interface today.
Scientist, 98, challenges orthodoxy on causes of heart disease
Twenty years ago, at the age of 78, Fred A. Kummerow retired from the University of Illinois. That didn't mean his research days were behind him, however. Now in a wheelchair most of the time, Kummerow still maintains a laboratory on campus where he and his colleagues chip away at the basic assumptions that guide most research into the causes of heart disease.
Collaborative research yields new insight into perceptions of homosexuality
That miserable standing ride in a crowded subway car, pushing your headphones deeper into your ears to drown out the screaming baby and being bounced into your neighbor with every jarring turn, is a familiar experience to anyone who's been to a large city at rush hour. Everybody seems to become a potential nuisance once you enter the underground line's dank reek.
New target identified for food allergy therapy: Blocking enzyme prevents allergic reaction to peanuts
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at National Jewish Health have identified an enzyme that is essential to the allergic reaction to peanuts. Blocking the enzyme's activity in sensitized mice prevented diarrhea and inflammation, and reduced levels of several proteins associated with allergies. The findings, published online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, identify the enzyme, known as Cyp11a1, as a potential target for treatment of increasingly common and potentially deadly food allergy.
Nasal spray anesthesia may work as well as injections for dental procedures, study shows
One of the most dreaded experiences at the dentist's office is an injection into the tissues of the mouth to numb an area requiring a painful dental procedure.
Study shows coronary CT angiography useful for triaging patients with chest pain
(Medical Xpress)—A study of two sets of 894 matched Emergency Department (ED) patients presenting with chest pain revealed that the use of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) led to fewer hospital admissions and shorter ED stays. According to lead researcher Michael Poon, MD, of Stony Brook University School of Medicine, the findings provide evidence that CCTA offers an alternative means of improving the triage of chest pain patients. The paper, "Associations Between Routine Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography and Reduced Unnecessary Hospital Admissions, Length of Stay, Recidivism Rates, and Invasive Coronary Angiography in the Emergency Department Triage of Chest Pain," is published online in the August 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
It matters where it comes from: Some people wary of organ, blood donations depending on source
(Medical Xpress)—Some people feel so "creeped out" that they would prefer not to receive an organ or blood that came from a murderer or thief, according to researchers who assessed people's beliefs that a transplant would cause the recipient's personality or behavior to become similar to the donor's.
Experienced firefighters are more analytical under stress than novices, study finds
Experienced firefighters take longer to make decisions under stress than novice firefighters, according to research conducted at Iowa State University. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Study finds night owls more likely to be psychopaths
(Medical Xpress)—People who stay up late at night are more likely to display anti-social personality traits such as narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathic tendencies, according to a study published by a University of Western Sydney researcher.
Fatty acids could aid cancer prevention and treatment
Omega-3 fatty acids, contained in oily fish such as salmon and trout, selectively inhibit growth and induce cell death in early and late-stage oral and skin cancers, according to new research from scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.
Ultrasound patch heals venous ulcers in human trial
In a small clinical study, researchers administered a new method for treating chronic wounds using a novel ultrasound applicator that can be worn like a band-aid. The applicator delivers low-frequency, low-intensity ultrasound directly to wounds, and was found to significantly accelerate healing in five patients with venous ulcers. Venous ulcers are caused when valves in the veins malfunction, causing blood to pool in the leg instead of returning to the heart. This pooling, called venous stasis, can cause proteins and cells in the vein to leak into the surrounding tissue leading to inflammation and formation of an ulcer.
Consumers don't understand health insurance, research shows
This fall, as part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA), Americans will have a greater range of health care insurance options to choose from, including, for many, state-based plans. But will they make the right decisions? That's doubtful, according to a new study led by Carnegie Mellon University's George Loewenstein.
New analysis sheds light on the links between chemicals in our body and income
A new study published this week has found that the build-up of harmful chemicals in the body is affecting people of all social standings—not just those from economically deprived backgrounds as previously thought.
Study highlights possible new approach to prostate cancer treatment
A study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry identifies a new therapeutic approach to treat prostate cancer.
Small protein plays big role in asthma severity
A new culprit has been identified that likely plays a big role in the severity of asthma—a small protein chemokine called CCL26. These findings were published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology and represent the first demonstration that CCL26 is a potent regulator of the migration of asthmatic eosinophils, commonly observed in asthmatic airways. Results from this discovery may lead to new drug targets for the treatment of asthma.
Fetal stress disrupts the way genes are transmitted
If you think stress is killing you, you may be right, but what you don't know is that stress might have harmed your health even before you were born. In a new report appearing in the August 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal, Harvard researchers find that epigenetic disruptions, which are associated with chronic disease later in life, are already common at birth. Possibly, these aberrations result from stressors in the intrauterine environment (e.g. maternal smoking, maternal diet, or high levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals). This finding supports the belief that seeds of disease are sown before birth, increasing the importance of optimal prenatal care.
Inflammatory on and off switch identified for allergic asthma and COPD
Japanese researchers have made a new step toward understanding why—and how to stop—runaway inflammation for both chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and allergic asthma. In a new report appearing in the August 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal scientists show that two receptors of an inflammatory molecule, called "leukotriene B4," play opposing roles in turning inflammation on and off for allergic asthma and COPD. The first receptor, called "BLT1," promotes inflammation, while the second receptor, called "BLT2," has a potential to weaken inflammation during an allergic reaction. This discovery also is important because until now, BLT2 was believed to increase inflammatory reaction.
Study reveals target for drug development for chronic jaw pain disorder
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) is the most common form of oral or facial pain, affecting over 10 million Americans. The chronic disorder can cause severe pain often associated with chewing or biting down, and lacks effective treatments.
Children with elevated blood pressure don't get recommended follow-up, few at risk for hypertension
Children who have a first elevated blood pressure at the doctor's office are not likely to receive the recommended follow-up blood pressure readings within a month, according to a study published today in Pediatrics. However, when the blood pressure was later repeated, most children's blood pressure returned to normal for their age, sex and height.
Researchers target 'cell sleep' to lower chances of cancer recurrence
An international research team led by University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) scientists discovered that by preventing cancer cells from entering a state of cellular sleep, cancer drugs are more effective, and there is a lower chance of cancer recurrence. The findings, which will be published in the August 15 issue of the journal Cancer Research and are available online, are the first to show that it is possible to therapeutically target cancer cells to keep them from entering a cellular state called quiescence, or "cell sleep." Quiescence can be a dangerous source of tumor recurrence because cancer drugs don't typically destroy quiescent cells.
Vanderbilt studies outline new model for staph bone infections
Osteomyelitis, a debilitating bone infection most frequently caused by Staphylococcus aureus ("staph") bacteria, is particularly challenging to treat.
Antibiotic resistance among hospital-acquired infections is much greater than prior CDC estimates
The rise of antibiotic resistance among hospital-acquired infections is greater than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found in its 2008 analysis, according to an ahead-of-print article in the journal, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
No link between sleep, fatigue level: research
New Swedish research has shown that there is little or no relation between how much sleep people get at night and how fatigued they feel, the head researcher said Thursday.
Targeted therapy identified for protein that protects and nourishes cancer
Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson who identified a protein's dual role in cancer promotion have discovered a way to shut it down, opening a potential new avenue for cancer treatment.
New insight into how brain 'learns' cocaine addiction
A team of researchers says it has solved the longstanding puzzle of why a key protein linked to learning is also needed to become addicted to cocaine. Results of the study, published in the Aug. 1 issue of the journal Cell, describe how the learning-related protein works with other proteins to forge new pathways in the brain in response to a drug-induced rush of the "pleasure" molecule dopamine. By adding important detail to the process of addiction, the researchers, led by a group at Johns Hopkins, say the work may point the way to new treatments.
Blocking sugar intake may reduce cancer risk or progression in obese and diabetic people
Blocking dietary sugar and its activity in tumor cells may reduce cancer risk and progression, according to researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine. The study, conducted in fruit flies and published in the journal Cell, provides insight as to why metabolism-related diseases such as diabetes or obesity are associated with certain types of cancer, including pancreatic, breast, liver, and colon cancers.
Potential nutritional therapy for childhood neurodegenerative disease
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified the gene mutation responsible for a particularly severe form of pontocerebellar hypoplasia, a currently incurable neurodegenerative disease affecting children. Based on results in cultured cells, they are hopeful that a nutritional supplement may one day be able to prevent or reverse the condition.
New designer compound treats heart failure by targeting cell nucleus
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have made a fundamental discovery relevant to the understanding and treatment of heart failure – a leading cause of death worldwide. The team discovered a new molecular pathway responsible for causing heart failure and showed that a first-in-class prototype drug, JQ1, blocks this pathway to protect the heart from damage.
Boning up: Researchers find home of best stem cells for bone marrow transplants
McMaster University researchers have revealed the location of human blood stem cells that may improve bone marrow transplants. The best stem cells are at the ends of the bone.
Neuroscientists find protein linked to cognitive deficits in Angelman syndrome
A team of neuroscientists has identified a protein in laboratory mice linked to impairments similar to those afflicted with Angelman syndrome (AS)—a condition associated with symptoms that include autism, intellectual disability, and motor abnormalities.
Modeling of congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia using iPS cell technology
A research group led by researcher Shinji Hirata and Professor Koji Eto at CiRA has conducted a study in which iPS cells generated from a patient with congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT) were induced to differentiate into blood cells in vitro and then used to undertake a detailed study of the differences between these and cells from healthy subjects. The researchers found that, in humans, thrombopoietin receptors are essential not only to the maintenance of the multipotent hematopoietic progenitor population and the production of platelets, but also to erythropoiesis (red blood cell production).
Treatment beneficial in smoldering multiple myeloma
(HealthDay)—For patients with smoldering multiple myeloma, treatment with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone correlates with delayed progression and improved survival, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
OK to continue aspirin therapy up to pancreatic surgery
(HealthDay)—Patients on aspirin therapy do not have higher rates of perioperative bleeding, transfusion, or major procedure-related complications following elective pancreatic surgery, according to research published online July 26 in Surgery.
After hip replacement, aspirin cost-effective for VTE prophylaxis
(HealthDay)—Aspirin is a cost-effective choice for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following total hip arthroplasty, but the choice of aspirin versus low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for patients younger than 80 years undergoing total knee arthroplasty is unclear, according to research published in the July 17 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Feeling left out can lead to risky financial decisions, research finds
People who feel isolated are more inclined to make risker financial decisions for bigger payoffs, according to new research presented at the American Psychological Association's 121st Annual Convention.
Blocking key enzyme in cancer cells could lead to new therapy
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have identified a characteristic unique to cancer cells in an animal model of cancer—and they believe it could be exploited as a target to develop new treatment strategies.
Study finds physicians need to better recognize use of herbal supplements while breastfeeding
In an article published in this month's issue of Pediatrics In Review, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) stress the importance of physicians recognizing that many mothers use herbal supplements while breastfeeding in order to make accurate health assessments for both mother and child.
When it comes to skin cancer, pictures are worth 1,000 words
Seeing pictures of skin cancer motivates people to regularly check their own moles, according to a new research paper from the School of Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo.
When prescribing antibiotics, doctors most often choose strongest types of drugs
When U.S. physicians prescribe antibiotics, more than 60 percent of the time they choose some of the strongest types of antibiotics, referred to as "broad spectrum," which are capable of killing multiple kinds of bacteria, University of Utah researchers show in a new study.
A roadblock to personalized cancer care?
There's a major roadblock to creating personalized cancer care. Doctors need a way to target treatments to patients most likely to benefit and avoid treating those who will not. Tumor biomarker tests can help do this.
Burnt sugar derivative reduces muscle wasting in fly and mouse muscular dystrophy
A trace substance in caramelized sugar, when purified and given in appropriate doses, improves muscle regeneration in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The findings are published today, Aug. 1, in the journal Skeletal Muscle.
Novel drug shuts down master protein key to lymphoma
Researchers have discovered how an experimental drug is capable of completely eradicating human lymphoma in mice after just five doses. The study, led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College, sets the stage for testing the drug in clinical trials of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, itself the seventh most frequently diagnosed cancer in the U.S.
Three new cases of MERS virus confirmed in Saudi: WHO
Three women have contracted the deadly MERS virus in Saudi Arabia, which has been hardest hit by the enigmatic disease, the World Health Organisation said Thursday.
Scientists discover a molecular 'switch' in cancers of the testis and ovary
Cambridge scientists have identified an 'on/off' switch in a type of cancer which typically occurs in the testes and ovaries called 'malignant germ cell tumours'. The research was published today, 01 August, in the journal Cancer Research.
Breast cancer cells' sugar craving is target for new type of treatment
(Medical Xpress)—A new way to target a breast cancer cells' appetite for over-indulging in sugar, that could provide an alternative treatment for chemotherapy resistant breast cancer, is being developed by Breast Cancer Campaign scientists at the University of Southampton.
Breath analysis reliably indicates presence, level of infection in mice, study finds
Breath analysis may prove to be an accurate, noninvasive way to quickly determine the severity of bacterial and other infections, according to a UC Irvine study appearing online today in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Stray prenatal gene network suspected in schizophrenia
Researchers have reverse-engineered the outlines of a disrupted prenatal gene network in schizophrenia, by tracing spontaneous mutations to where and when they likely cause damage in the brain. Some people with the brain disorder may suffer from impaired birth of new neurons, or neurogenesis, in the front of their brain during prenatal development, suggests the study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
A week's worth of camping synchs internal clock to sunrise and sunset, study finds
Spending just one week exposed only to natural light while camping in the Rocky Mountains was enough to synch the circadian clocks of eight people participating in a University of Colorado Boulder study with the timing of sunrise and sunset.
We each live in our own little world—smellwise
There are some smells we all find revolting. But toward a handful of odors, different people display different sensitivities—some can smell them, while some can't, or some find them appealing, while others don't. A pair of studies appearing online on August 1 in the journal Current Biology now identifies the genetic differences that underpin the differences in smell sensitivity and perception in different individuals. The researchers tested nearly 200 people for their sensitivity for ten different chemical compounds that are commonly found in foods. They then searched through the subjects' genomes for areas of the DNA that differed between people who could smell a given compound and those who could not. This approach—known as a genome-wide association study—is widely used to identify genetic differences.
Two dimensions of value: Dopamine neurons represent reward but not aversiveness
To make decisions, we need to estimate the value of sensory stimuli and motor actions, their "goodness" and "badness." We can imagine that good and bad are two ends of a single continuum, or dimension, of value. This would be analogous to the single dimension of light intensity, which ranges from dark on one end to bright light on the other, with many shades of gray in between. Past models of behavior and learning have been based on a single continuum of value, and it has been proposed that a particular group of neurons (brain cells) that use dopamine as a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) represent the single dimension of value, signaling both good and bad.
Re-learning how to see: Researchers find a crucial on-off switch in visual development
A discovery by a University of Maryland-led research team offers hope for treating "lazy eye" and other serious visual problems that are usually permanent unless they are corrected in early childhood.
Scientists discover new type of protein modification, may play role in cancer and diabetes
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have discovered a new type of chemical modification that affects numerous proteins within mammalian cells. The modification appears to work as a regulator of important cellular processes including the metabolism of glucose. Further study of this modification could provide insights into the causes of diabetes, cancer and other disorders.
Genetic background check may explain why mutations produce different results
Two women have the same genetic mutation – an abnormal BRCA1 gene that puts them both at much higher-than-average risk for breast cancer – but only one woman develops the disease. Why? Michigan State University genetic scientists have begun to understand the mechanisms behind the phenomena.
Speedier scans reveal new distinctions in resting and active brain
A boost in the speed of brain scans is unveiling new insights into how brain regions work with each other in cooperative groups called networks.
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