Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for April 11, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Scientists view a quantum jump in real time- Experimental drug achieves unprecedented weight loss
- Tandem catalysis in nanocrystal interfaces could be boon to green energy
- New study on multitasking reveals switching glitch in aging brain
- Social wasps show how bigger brains provide complex cognition
- Physicists discover new way to visualize warped space and time
- What sea squirts can teach us about the heart
- Facing a judge? Study says go early or after lunch
- IBM introduces new graphene transistor
- Scientists flex their muscles to solve an old problem
- Three dinosaur footprints discovered on one boulder
- Intel launches chip for tablet computers
- Haiti cholera epidemic could have been blunted with use of mobile stockpile of oral vaccine
- Tissue engineers use new system to measure biomaterials, structures
- Genetic study offers insight into the social lives of bees
Space & Earth news
Tourism does not harm all caves
Unlike the situation in other caves, damage caused by tourists at the Águila cave in Ávila, Spain is "imperceptible", despite it receiving tens of thousands of visitors each year. This is the main conclusion of an international research study headed by the University of Alcalá (UAH), which measured heat variations in the cave.
EPA's draft health assessment for formaldehyde needs improvement: report
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency draft assessment of the potential health effects associated with formaldehyde exposure needs substantial revision, says a new report from the National Research Council, which recommends improvements for EPA's final assessment. The report finds that EPA supports its conclusions that formaldehyde can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat; lesions in the respiratory tract; and genetic mutations at high concentrations. Furthermore, the report finds that the evidence is sufficient for EPA to conclude that formaldehyde exposures are a cause of cancers of the nose, nasal cavity, and upper throat. However, the draft assessment has not adequately supported its conclusions that formaldehyde causes other cancers of the respiratory tract, leukemia, or several other noncancer health outcomes. Also, the assessment should consider additional studies to derive noncancer reference concentrations (RfCs), which are estimates of lifetime concentrations to which someone could be exposed without appreciable risk of particular adverse health effects.
U.S. had above normal temperatures and precipitation in March
Last month, temperatures and precipitation in the contiguous United States averaged above normal, according to scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. The average temperature in March was 44.0 degrees F, which is 1.4 degrees F above the long-term (1901-2000) average. March precipitation, while record dry in areas like Texas, was overall 0.22 inch above the long-term average. The January – March temperatures were near-normal, while average precipitation was below-normal.
Study reveals cost of nitrogen pollution
Nitrogen pollution costs Europe between 70 and 320 billion euros ($100bn-$460bn) per year in its impact on health and the environment, according to a major European study launched in Britain on Monday.
ESA Arctic ice campaign takes off
To guarantee ESA's CryoSat mission is delivering the best data possible, scientists have set out on a major expedition to the Arctic – part of a collaborative effort between ESA and NASA to gather ice measurements as the satellite orbits above.
Jupiter-bound spacecraft arrives in Florida
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Juno spacecraft has arrived in Florida to begin final preparations for a launch this summer. The spacecraft was shipped from Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, to the Astrotech payload processing facility in Titusville, Fla., today. The solar-powered Juno spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere.
Research digs deep into the fracking controversy
The turmoil in oil-producing nations is triggering turmoil at home, as rising oil prices force Americans to pay more at the pump. Meanwhile, there's a growing industry that's promising jobs and access to cheaper energy resources on American soil, but it's not without its controversy. Deborah Kittner, a University of Cincinnati doctoral student in geography, presents, "What's the Fracking Problem? Extraction Industry's Neglect of the Locals in the Pennsylvania Marcellus Region," at the annual meeting of the Association of American Geographers. Kittner will be presenting April 14 at the meeting in Seattle.
Gagarin could have died on glitch-prone flight: scientist
Yuri Gagarin's first space flight was plagued with technical problems and his ship would never have left the ground if it had been subject to today's safety standards, a top rocket scientist said Friday.
Space station crew marking big space anniversaries
(AP) -- On the eve of two prominent space anniversaries, the six humans circling the Earth said Monday they will join in the celebrations from the best vantage point of all - orbit.
Researchers report potential for a moderate New England 'Red Tide' in 2011
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists from the NOAA-funded Gulf of Maine Toxicity (GOMTOX) project issued an outlook for a moderate regional bloom of a toxic alga that can cause ‘red tides’ in the spring and summer of this year, potentially threatening the New England shellfish industry. However, there are signs this year’s bloom could be suppressed by recent changes in ocean conditions in the Gulf of Maine.
Cosmonaut: Russia needs space innovation now
(AP) -- Russia risks losing its edge in space by relying exclusively on Soviet-era achievements and doing little to design new spacecraft, a Russian cosmonaut warned Monday as the nation marked the 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin.
Japan says radiation leak risk 'significantly smaller'
The risk of a massive leak of radioactive materials from a crippled nuclear plant in northeast Japan is becoming "significantly smaller," the government said Monday.
Delhi air quality regulations improve respiratory health
Recent radical changes in air quality regulations in Delhi, India, have had a substantial positive effect on the health of city residents, according to new research co-authored by Andrew Foster, professor of economics and community health and an associate at Brown's Population Studies and Training Center. The findings from this first systematic study quantifying the heath effects of Delhi's environmental interventions are published in the online issue of Atmospheric Environment. The research is among the first to use remote sensing imagery to look directly at the effects of air quality on health.
Worst over, but dangers persist at Japan plant
A month after a deadly quake-tsunami hit a Japanese nuclear plant, the risk of a huge radiation leak has fallen but the danger is far from over, experts say -- a risk brought sharply into focus by a powerful tremor Monday.
NASA to announce museums for retiring space shuttles
The US space agency said it will announce the museums that will host the three retiring space shuttles on Tuesday during an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the first shuttle launch.
Electric Yellowstone: Conductivity image hints volcano plume is bigger than thought
University of Utah geophysicists made the first large-scale picture of the electrical conductivity of the gigantic underground plume of hot and partly molten rock that feeds the Yellowstone supervolcano. The image suggests the plume is even bigger than it appears in earlier images made with earthquake waves.
The most massive distant object known
(PhysOrg.com) -- Galaxies often occur in groups. Our own Milky Way galaxy, for example, and its local neighborhood with about fifty galaxies are at the edge of the Virgo Cluster, a collection of somewhere between 1200 and 2000 galaxies. Galaxy clusters are the most massive objects in the universe, and their formation is thought to have begun from small spatial variations in the density of matter in the early universe. Clusters are therefore powerful probes of the growth of structure in the early universe, and their numbers and masses help astronomers test cosmological models including galaxy formation.
Earth's crust moves like a yo-yo: research
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research from The Australian National University has shed light on the secrets of the deep Earth and will lead to better understanding of important geological processes.
Compost company turns food waste into profit
Leaves, grass, horse manure. These have been Mike Bacon's primary ingredients, until now.
Our unlikely solar system
Recent modeling of solar mass stars with planetary systems, found that a system with four rocky planets and four gas giants in stable orbits – and only a sparsely populated outer belt of planetesimals – has only a 15 to 25% likelihood of developing. While you might be skeptical about the validity of a model that puts our best known planetary system in the unlikely basket, there may be some truth in this finding.
Technology news
Steve Jobs biography to be published next year
US publisher Simon & Schuster will publish an official biography next year of Steve Jobs, the Apple visionary behind the Macintosh computer, the iPhone, iPod and iPad.
Michael Jackson fantasies play out on Xbox - PS3
Michael Jackson fans will get to show off how well they sing and dance like the King of Pop in videogames crafted by Ubisoft for play on Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3) consoles.
Surging food prices fuel ethanol critics
A surge in global food prices has prompted fresh criticism of US subsidies for ethanol, which diverts massive amounts of corn from global food supplies for energy.
Expert gives tips on safeguarding against data theft
Nick Feamster, assistant professor at Georgia Tech's College of Computing and researcher at the Georgia Tech Information Security Center offers his expertise on the Epsilon data breach and what users and custodians can do to protect their data.
How do we fight the war against cyber terrorism?
The Internet has no borders, no universal legislation, and although highly social and distributed is not represented by cooperation across the globe. Given those characteristics how might nations make their plans for counter terrorism in cyberspace as active online as they are in the everyday world? A collaboration between researchers in the US and Iran hoped to address that issue and its findings are published this month in the International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions.
Level 3 to acquire Global Crossing for $2 billion
(AP) -- Level 3 Communications Inc. said Monday it will acquire another top long-distance Internet carrier, Global Crossing Ltd., in an all-stock transaction valued at about $2 billion.
Drivers detour around police using high-tech apps
Drivers looking to avoid pricey citations for traffic offenses such as red-light camera violations and speed trap busts are turning to technology to level the playing field.
Groupon broaches new segment: Real estate
Chicago real estate brokerage firm Dream Town Realty launches Friday a week-long deal on Groupon, hoping to tap the popular social buying model to attract clients.
Solar panel manufacturing and disposal -- is it green and safe?
Major solar companies aren't just prioritizing market share and installed megawatts these days, according to a study that contends that the environmental and health effects of photovoltaic panels also are becoming a major consideration.
Cable-free charging of electric cars via coils
In the future, motorists will no longer need a cable to recharge the batteries of their electric cars, thanks to a development project for inductive charging, which Siemens presented at Hannover Messe 2011. Developed in cooperation with BMW, this non-contact technology also works if drivers only make a short stop to recharge. The associated charging stations can be easily incorporated into practically any setting, making them nearly invisible and effectively protecting them against vandalism and wear and tear. In June 2011, the system’s capabilities will be tested in a project funded by the German Environment Ministry and involving several vehicles in Berlin.
New geotracking technology could make you easier to find
(PhysOrg.com) -- Currently, advertisers are only able to access and track your current location online to a radius of 35 kilometers without your permission. However, as presented at the Usenix Symposium on Networked Systems Design and Implementation in Boston last week, Yong Wang, a computer scientist at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, has developed a three-stage system that would allow advertisers and others the ability to track your location to within a few hundred meters.
Fast electric car with double the motor power
In cooperation with RUF Automobile, Siemens researchers have turned a Porsche 911 into a high-performance electric car. What’s special about this automobile is that it can also feed energy back into the electrical network, enabling the vehicle to be integrated into a smart grid. The project, which is funded by the German Environment Ministry, was presented at Hannover Messe 2011, and involves the testing of various drive concepts.
Google issues trivia challenge
Google launched a daily trivia game on Monday which involves scouring the Internet search engine for the answers to questions.
Facebook to launch China site with Baidu: report
Facebook has signed an agreement with Chinese search engine giant Baidu to set up a new social networking site in China, a leading web portal reported Monday.
Zyvex Technologies finishes testing on a nano-enhanced boat
(PhysOrg.com) -- Zyvex Technologies, an Ohio-based nano-enhanced products company, has announced that its 54' boat, code name the Piranha, has completed its sea trials. The trials, which took place near Puget Sound in the Pacific Ocean, were the end point of six months of extensive testing. The tests involved a roughly 600 nautical mile rough-weather sea test showed, and showed a record fuel efficiency for the craft.
Court: Harvard twins stuck with Facebook agreement
A federal appeals court ruled Monday that former Harvard University schoolmates of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg can't undo their settlement over creation of the social networking site.
Sony cuts deal with PlayStation 3 hacker
Sony on Monday said a US hacker has agreed to stop breaking into PlayStation 3 (PS3) videogame consoles as part of a deal made to drop a lawsuit filed by the Japanese consumer electronics giant.
Drivers of Nissan's electric Leaf report problems
Japanese auto giant Nissan on Monday said customers in the United States and Japan had reported problems restarting their all-electric Leaf vehicles after switching the motor off.
Google buys Canadian mobile music company PushLife
PushLife, a Toronto-based mobile music service, announced Monday that it has been acquired by Internet giant Google.
Google invests $168 million in solar power plant
Google said Monday it has invested $168 million to help complete the construction of one of the world's biggest solar energy power plants in California's Mojave Desert.
Introducing C++11: Next iteration of programming language passes review
(PhysOrg.com) -- This past week in Madrid, Spain, the next iteration of the C++ programming language, C++11, passed review by the technical standards committee.
Student-developed eye-tracking tablet to help people with disabilities
(PhysOrg.com) -- It's often said the eye is the window to the soul. But in this case, the eye is the window to Windows. At least, that was the goal when EyeTech Digital Systems enlisted the help of some BYU engineering students in creating an all-in-one eye-tracking system.
Tesla, other electric vehicles poised to enter the mainstream
After decades of sputtering starts and stalled hopes, the electric vehicle is poised to enter the mainstream.
Will buying an electric car make an environmental difference?
Sure, you might get a carpool sticker and a tax break. But if you buy an electric car, will it make much environmental difference?
Microsoft attacks Google over security
Microsoft Corp. is lashing out at Google Inc., extending hostilities between two of the most prominent corporations in the technology industry.
US to use Facebook, Twitter to issue terror alerts
Terror alerts from the government will soon have just two levels of warnings — elevated and imminent — and those will be relayed to the public only under certain circumstances. Color codes are out; Facebook and Twitter will sometimes be in, according to a Homeland Security draft obtained by The Associated Press.
Medicine & Health news
New review suggests drinking 100 percent fruit juice may offer disease-fighting benefits
Drinking 100 percent fruit juices could have protective health benefits similar to those of whole fruits, according to research presented in a literature review yesterday at the 2011 Experimental Biology (EB) meeting.
Immunization not linked to increased hospitalization for children with inherited disorder
Children with inborn errors of metabolism received vaccines on the same immunization schedule as did healthy infants, according to Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center scientists who examined the Kaiser Permanente Northern California population. In addition, immunization was not associated with significant increases in emergency room visits or hospitalizations during the month following vaccination, according to Nicola Klein, MD, PhD, lead author of the study and co-director of the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center.
Dr. Larissa Shimoda to discuss mechanisms of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension
When muscles and organs are deprived of an adequate supply of oxygen--a condition called hypoxia--the body's usual responses include increased circulation and a slight drop in blood pressure in the blood vessels serving the affected tissue. However, the blood vessels in the lungs react differently: blood pressure in the lungs rises, often with deleterious effects on the lungs' tissue and the heart. Larissa A. Shimoda, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md., has dedicated her research to learning why this happens and whether it's possible to treat the condition using drugs that are already on the market.
Spinal, sinus experts partner in unusual surgery at hospital
(PhysOrg.com) -- You could easily say that Sandi Wearing’s ability to speak — and she is as forthright as a 67-year-old can be — was saved by a football game and two Stanford Hospital doctors who weren’t afraid to try a surgery whose rarity belied its impeccable logic.
Baby A or Baby B? Packard Children's policy tracks twins' identities from womb to birth
(PhysOrg.com) -- The trouble sounds drawn from a Shakespearean plot: Twins’ identities get mixed up; confusion ensues.
Rat bite fever: A growing pediatric issue
(PhysOrg.com) -- In recent years, pet rats have become quite popular among children thanks to popular rat characters like Remy in the film Ratatouille or Scabbers in the Harry Potter series. However, this new trend places children at risk of contracting Rat bite fever (RBF).
Umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells studied for lupus therapy
Human umbilical cord blood-derived mensenchymal stem cells (uMSCs) have been found to offer benefits for treating lupus nephritis (LN) when transplanted into mouse models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is an autoimmune disease with "myriad immune system aberrations" characterized by diverse clinical conditions, including LN, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for patients with SLE.
Glaucoma patients report a wide range of emotional and psychological changes
Fear of the unknown is one of the greatest issues facing patients with glaucoma - the second leading cause of blindness worldwide after cataracts - according to research in the April issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing. People also worry about how the eye disease, which can be hereditary, will affect other members of their family.
Researchers find anatomic differences after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have concluded that the anatomy of the pelvis following robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy
Pharmacogenetics testing offers way to reduce deaths from drug toxicity
On average, a drug on the market works effectively for only 50% of the people who take it. Would you want to prevent a potential adverse drug effect or even toxicity through a simple test? It's not science fiction, but a reality. Pharmacogenetics (PGx) is the study of an individual's variation in DNA sequence related to drug response. The goal is to select the right drug at the right dose, and to avoid adverse drug reactions or ineffective treatment.
Tenet, Community Health fight gets nasty
(AP) -- Tenet Healthcare has charged rival hospital operator Community Health Systems with systematically bilking Medicare, and the burgeoning legal fight sent shares of the entire sector sliding Monday.
Protein could improve recovery from heart attacks
Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels, is required during embryonic development and wound healing, as well as during disease processes such as tumor growth. The signals that direct angiogensis are incompletely understood, but could represent novel targets for the development of therapies that promote or inhibit this process.
Effective pain management crucial to older adults' well-being
Improved management of chronic pain can significantly reduce disability in older adults, according to the latest issue of the WHAT'S HOT newsletter from The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).
Vitamin D may help reduce heart risk in African-Americans
In recent years supplementation with Vitamin D has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people who are deficient in the vitamin. Now new research from the Georgia Prevention Institute at Georgia Health Sciences University in Augusta indicates that supplementation with the "sunshine vitamin" may be particularly beneficial for overweight African-American adults, a population at increased risk for both CVD and Vitamin D deficiency.
Obesity may shut down circadian clock in the cardiovascular system
Obese individuals typically suffer more medical problems than their leaner counterparts. They are more likely to be diagnosed with insulin resistance, diabetes, increased stress hormones, hypothyroidism, and sleep apnea. Researchers at the Georgia Health Sciences University in Augusta have also found the potential for something else, using an animal model. They have found that a master clock gene – which regulates the cardiovascular system – does not fluctuate regularly as it does in non-obese animals. This means that a key gene clock of the cardiovascular system does not work properly when obesity is present. The findings are believed to be the first of their kind.
Routine lab test data predicts progression to kidney failure for chronic kidney disease patients
A prediction model that included data on measures of several routinely obtained laboratory tests including blood levels of calcium, phosphate and albumin accurately predicted the short-term risk of kidney failure for patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease, according to a study that will appear in the April 20 issue of JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the World Congress of Nephrology.
Emory Healthcare's unique training shows significant knowledge of quality principles
The effectiveness of a unique two-pronged educational program has shown significant improvements in knowledge of quality principles by leaders as well as the successful design and launch of QI (quality improvement) projects by frontline staff, according to results outlined in an article in the April 2011 issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
Cancer burden shifts for people with HIV/AIDS
The number of cancers and the types of cancers among people living with AIDS in the U.S. have changed dramatically during the 15-year period from 1991-2005, according to an article published online April 11th in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
AAN issues new guideline on best treatments for diabetic nerve pain
The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline on the most effective treatments for diabetic nerve pain, the burning or tingling pain in the hands and feet that affects millions of people with diabetes. The guideline is published in the April 11, 2011, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and will be presented April 11, 2011, at the American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting in Honolulu.
Oral drug for MS significantly reduces disease activity and slows disability
The drug laquinimod reduced the number of relapses for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), in a large, long-term Phase III clinical study that will be presented as late-breaking research at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 9-16, 2011, in Honolulu.
Study finds physicians recommend different treatments for patients than they choose for themselves
The act of making a recommendation appears to change the way physicians think regarding medical choices, and they often make different choices for themselves than what they recommend to patients, according to a survey study published in the April 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Statins may protect against kidney complications following elective surgery
Taking a statin before having major elective surgery reduces potentially serious kidney complications, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).
Sleep issues contribute to cognitive problems in childhood cancer survivors
A new analysis has found that childhood cancer survivors often suffer from sleep problems and fatigue, which negatively impact their attention and memory. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates that addressing sleep hygiene among survivors of childhood cancer may help to improve their cognitive health.
Drinking during pregnancy increases risk of premature birth
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight. But there are conflicting reports about how much alcohol, if any, it is safe for a pregnant woman to drink. New research published in Biomed Central's open access journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth looked at the amounts of alcohol women drank during their early pregnancy and showed the effect this had on their babies.
Flu helps spread pneumonia
Bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis are only able to spread when individuals are infected with flu, says a scientist reporting at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate. The work could have implications for the management of influenza pandemics and could help reduce incidence of pneumococcal infections in very young children, who are more susceptible to disease.
Primary care targeted for suicide prevention efforts
Forty-five percent of the 32,000 Americans who take their own lives each year visit their primary care provider within one month of their death. Ninety percent have a mental health or substance abuse disorder, or both. Yet only in the last decade has suicide been considered a preventable public health problem.
Bypass surgery, medications both options to be considered for heart failure patients with coronary artery disease
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study found that coronary artery bypass surgery added to medical therapy for selected chronic heart failure patients offered benefits over medical therapy alone. The combination of the two treatment approaches reduced the combined rate of deaths and heart-related hospital stays by 15 percent, although the total number of deaths between the two groups of patients was not significantly different, according to the National Institutes of Health-funded research.
New research provides hope for those with epilepsy
(PhysOrg.com) -- Groundbreaking research from the University of Reading could reduce the number and severity of seizures for epileptics.
Scientists find potential benefit of hypericin for recurrent brain tumors
Researchers have found that a synthetic version of hypericin, a compound naturally found in St. John's wort, may be a promising treatment for patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors. Their findings were published online on March 31, 2011 in the journal Cancer.
Research offers hope for basal cell carcinoma
(PhysOrg.com) -- People with a genetic condition called basal cell nevus syndrome develop hundreds or even thousands of skin cancers, or basal cell carcinomas, each year. Now Jean Tang, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology, is reporting that a drug produced by Genentech called GDC-0449 significantly slowed or stopped the development of tumors in each of 24 patients who received the drug, and caused existing tumors to shrink in size.
Scientists find another clue to the origins of degenerative diseases
For years, researchers in genome stability have observed that several neurodegenerative diseases—including Huntington's disease—are associated with cell-killing proteins that are created during expansion of a CAG/CTG trinucleotide repeat.
Light, chemistry, action -- a new technique to target skin cancers?
Targeted photodynamic therapy can completely eradicate some models of cancer, according to the latest research by UK and Swiss scientists, published in the current issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
Mechanism for invasion of tumorous cells discovered
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered a previously unknown mechanism whereby tumor cells invade normal tissues, spreading cancer through various organs.
In it to win it? Researcher recommends extended treatment regimen for gambling addicts
Pathological gambling addiction is surprisingly common in the U.S., afflicting as many as 3.4% of all adults. Like other addictions, it is highly disabling both to the individual and to society, often leading to suicide, job loss, and criminal behavior. It affects more men than women and can become worse over time.
Bursting to get your appendix removed? Hold on
A small but growing body of evidence suggests that doctors need not rush to perform appendectomies, the most common emergency general surgical procedure in the United States.
Managing pain -- a family affair
Could adult children's strategies for coping with pain come from watching their parents react to and deal with pain? According to Suzyen Kraljevic, from the University Hospital Split in Croatia, and colleagues, a family may have a specific cognitive style of coping with pain. Their work, which looks at the relationship between how parents and their children respond to pain, is published online in Springer's International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
Periodontal stem cell transplantation shows promise
Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have been found to be the most efficacious of three kinds of clinically tested dental tissue-derived stem cells, reports a study published in the current issue of Cell Transplantation (20:2).
Study helps clarify link between high-fat diet and type 2 diabetes
A diet high in saturated fat is a key contributor to type 2 diabetes, a major health threat worldwide. Several decades ago scientists noticed that people with type 2 diabetes have overly active immune responses, leaving their bodies rife with inflammatory chemicals.
New diabetes education program yields improved blood sugar control
An intensive program that taught low-income, poorly educated diabetics to better manage their disease resulted in significantly improved long-term blood sugar control, according to Johns Hopkins researchers who designed and implemented the program.
Breathing is secret weapon in sports performance: study
(PhysOrg.com) -- A ‘secret weapon’ used by a minority of sportsmen and women and which could make the difference between winning and losing at sport has been revealed by a scientist at the University of Portsmouth.
MRI may contribute to early detection of Alzheimer's
New research suggests that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could help detect Alzheimer's disease (AD) at an early stage, before irreversible damage has occurred, according to a new study published online and in the June print edition of Radiology.
Corticosteroid use during pregnancy not linked to facial clefts in infants
The use of corticosteroids during pregnancy does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of orofacial clefts in infants, according to an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Bitterness induces nausea, swallowing not required
The mere taste of something extremely bitter—even if you don't swallow it at all—is enough to cause that dreaded feeling of nausea and to set your stomach churning, according to a new study reported in the April 12th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication.
Media's focus on ideal body shape can boost women's body satisfaction -- for a while
When researchers had college-age women view magazines for five straight days that only included images of women with thin, idealized body types, something surprising happened: the readers' own body satisfaction improved.
Women's voices remain steady throughout the month
In recent years several studies have suggested that women's voices change at different times over the menstrual cycle, with the tone rising as ovulation approaches. Now a study conducted by researchers at the West Texas A&M University in which women's voices were subjected to computerized acoustical analysis contradicts those findings. After assessing 175 samples provided by 35 study participants at various points throughout the menstrual cycles, the researchers say that changes in hormonal status have no significant impact on eight distinct voice parameters.
Therapeutically promising new findings for combating hypertension and cardiovascular disease
More than one-third of the world's population suffers from hypertension (commonly known as high blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease (disorders that affect the heart and/or blood vessels). The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research has reported that Americans spent $29 billion for non-prescription cardiovascular drugs alone in 2008. With the number of individuals afflicted on the rise, and the costs for treatment on the increase, scientists and policymakers are looking for new approaches to combat these disorders.
Recurring genital problems could be herpes
A study of patients attending sexual health clinics in Gothenburg found that just four out of ten patients with genital herpes actually knew that they had the disorder. However, a third of those who did not realise that they had been infected reported typical symptoms at a follow-up visit, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
New study finds compounds show promise in blocking STAT3 signaling as treatment for osteosarcoma
A study appearing in the journal Investigational New Drugs and conducted by researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital, discovered that two new small molecule inhibitors are showing promise in blocking STAT3, a protein linked to the most common malignant bone tumor, osteosarcoma. These small molecule inhibitors – one derived from a portion of the turmeric spice – may serve as a new, non-toxic treatment for these deadly tumors.
New sepsis discovery goes straight to the heart to save lives
New research published online in The FASEB Journal details research in rats and mice that offers hope for stopping the devastating, and often fatal, effects of sepsis in humans. In the study, University of Michigan researchers show how neutralizing the effects of a key protein fragment, called C5a, used by the immune system to attract white blood cells may ultimately prevent heart failure.
New drug shows potential for treatment-resistant leukemia
A study from Tufts Medical Center researchers published today finds that a novel drug shows promise for treating leukemia patients who have few other options because their disease has developed resistance to standard treatment.
New potential atherosclerosis risk marker discovered
How your carotid artery moves can reveal your risk of a future heart attack, and it is now possible to study this vessel aspect in more detail thanks to a new technique which could eventually be used to identify patients with suspected coronary artery disease, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Estrogen treatment with no side-effects in sight
Oestrogen treatment for osteoporosis has often been associated with serious side-effects. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have now, in mice, found a way of utilising the positive effects of oestrogen in mice so that only the skeleton is acted on, current research at the Academy shows.
Combined use of three markers for kidney disease may help predict risk of kidney failure, death
Combining the chronic kidney disease markers of creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio with the biomarker cystatin C was associated with improved prediction of end-stage kidney disease and all-cause death, according to a study that will appear in the April 20 issue of JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the World Congress of Nephrology.
Actions and personality, east and west
People in different cultures make different assumptions about the people around them, according to an upcoming study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The researchers studied the brain waves of people with Caucasian and Asian backgrounds and found that cultural differences in how we think about other people are embedded deep in our minds. Cultural differences are evident very deep in the brain, challenging a commonsense notion that culture is skin deep.
Tiny antibody fragments raised in camels find drug targets in human breast cancer cells
A new discovery published online in The FASEB Journal promises to help physicians identify patients most likely to benefit from breast cancer drug therapies. If the compound, called "Nanobody," proves effective in clinical trials, it would represent a significant advance for breast cancer drug therapy because some drugs are effective only in some people. In addition, some drugs have side effects that may cause damage to vital organs, making it more crucial for physicians to get the right treatment to the right patient the first time around.
Hair styles may contribute to scarring hair loss in African-American women
Hair grooming practices, such as braids and weaves, as well as inflammation in the form of bacterial infection, may be contributing to the development of scarring hair loss in African American women, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the August print issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Evidence lacking for efficacy of memantine in treating mild Alzheimer's disease
An analysis of studies involving the drug memantine finds a lack of evidence for benefit when the drug is used to treat patients with mild Alzheimer disease, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the August print issue of Archives of Neurology.
Is the wrist bone connected to heart risk?
Measuring the wrist bone may be a new way to identify which overweight children and adolescents face an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to research in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Diesel-engine exhaust filter reduces harmful particles by 98 percent
A commercially available particle trap can filter microscopic pollutants in diesel-engine exhaust and prevent about 98 percent of them from reaching the air, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
UCSF analysis shows newer surgery for neck pain may be better
A new surgery for cervical disc disease in the neck may restore range of motion and reduce repeat surgeries in some younger patients, according to a team of neurosurgeons from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and several other medical centers that analyzed three large, randomized clinical trials comparing two different surgeries.
Vitamin D levels associated with age-related macular degeneration
Women under the age of 75 with high vitamin D status were less likely to have early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in adults, a University at Buffalo study has shown. The disease affects approximately 9 percent of Americans aged 40 and older.
Long-term use of antibiotic to treat acne not associated with increased bacterial resistance
The prolonged use of tetracycline antibiotics commonly used to treat acne was associated with a reduced prevalence of StaphylococcuS. aureus bacteria and was not associated with increased resistance to the tetracycline antibiotics, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the August print issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Bugs emerge to bug us, and a few pose health risks
(AP) -- It's that time of year when the bugs emerge to bug us.
Study finds treatment for rare lung disease
An Oregon Health & Science University researcher has co-authored an international study that revealed a drug approved to prevent rejection in organ transplant patients helped treat a rare lung disease in women.
Mechanism for esophageal cancer uncovered
A gene thought to be associated with cancer development can be a tumor suppressor gene in mice, researchers have discovered. Understanding which genes are involved in spreading cancer could lead to future therapies.
Stress wrecks intestinal bacteria, could keep immune system on idle
Stress not only sends the human immune system into overdrive – it can also wreak havoc on the trillions of bacteria that work and thrive inside our digestive system.
Scientists discover link between inflammation, pancreatic cancer
Solving part of a medical mystery, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have established a link between molecules found in an inflamed pancreas and the early formation of pancreatic cancer – a discovery that may help scientists identify new ways to detect, monitor and treat this deadly disease.
Scientists flex their muscles to solve an old problem
In a famous experiment first performed more than 220 years ago, Italian physician Luigi Galvani discovered that the muscles of a frog's leg twitch when an electric voltage is applied. An international group of scientists from Italy, the UK and France has now brought this textbook classic into the era of nanoscience. They used a powerful new synchrotron X-ray technique to observe for the first time at the molecular scale how muscle proteins change form and structure inside an intact and contracting muscle cell. The results are published in the 11 April 2011 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Haiti cholera epidemic could have been blunted with use of mobile stockpile of oral vaccine
Had a large stockpile of oral cholera vaccine been available and deployed to inoculate the majority of Haitians most at risk after the outbreak following last year's earthquake, the illness and death from the cholera epidemic could have been reduced by about half, according to new research.
Tissue engineers use new system to measure biomaterials, structures
Tissue engineering makes biologists builders, but compared to their civil engineering counterparts, they don't know much about the properties of the materials and structures they use, namely living cells. To improve that knowledge, Brown University researchers have developed a simple and reliable system for measuring the power that cells employ to assemble into three-dimensional tissue. The research appears online the week of April 11 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
First clinical trial of gene therapy for pain reported
In the first clinical trial of gene therapy for treatment of intractable pain, researchers from the University of Michigan Department of Neurology observed that the treatment appears to provide substantial pain relief.
Scientists find method to probe genes of the most common bacterial STI
In a new study from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, scientists describe successfully mutating specific genes of Chlamydia bacteria, which cause the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States as well as a type of blindness common in developing nations. The procedure they used will help advance scientists' understanding of how these bacteria cause human disease and expedite the development of new strategies to prevent and control these infections.
Scientists identify a surprising new source of cancer stem cells
Whitehead Institute researchers have discovered that a differentiated cell type found in breast tissue can spontaneously convert to a stem-cell-like state, the first time such behavior has been observed in mammalian cells. These results refute scientific dogma, which states that differentiation is a one-way path; once cells specialize, they cannot return to the flexible stem-cell state on their own.
Scientists ignore cultural barriers to find the cause of a rare disease
In a research collaboration blind to affairs of politics, ethnicity, and religion, an international team led by Israeli scientists has identified the genetic cause of a neurological disorder afflicting members of a Palestinian family.
Experimental drug achieves unprecedented weight loss
An investigational combination of drugs already approved to treat obesity, migraine and epilepsy produced up to a 10 percent weight loss in obese individuals participating in a one-year clinical trial, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.
What sea squirts can teach us about the heart
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists and clinicians at the University of Arizona are working together to develop better diagnostics and therapies to manage heart defects in newborns. An obscure filter-feeding sea animal holds the promise of helping them unravel the complex mechanisms underlying heart formation and develop new diagnostics for congenital heart defects.
New study on multitasking reveals switching glitch in aging brain
Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco have pinpointed a reason older adults have a harder time multitasking than younger adults: they have more difficulty switching between tasks at the level of brain networks.
Biology news
The fly family genealogy
Certain blackflies can cause river blindness in humans. But which ones? Wageningen University candidate Luis Miguel Hernandez systematized the relationships within the blackfly subgenus Trichodagmia and came up with some answers.
New genetic tool helps researchers to analyze cells' most important functions
Although it has been many years since the human genome was first mapped, there are still many genes whose function we do not understand. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the University of Toronto, Canada, have teamed up to produce and characterize a collection of nearly 800 strains of yeast cells that make it possible to study even the most complicated of genes.
New citrus variety released by UC Riverside is very sweet, juicy and low-seeded
Juicy. Extremely Sweet. Visually attractive. Easy to peel. Low seeded. These are the fine qualities that mark 'KinnowLS,' the latest citrus variety released by researchers at the University of California, Riverside.
Ozone reduces fungal spoilage of fruits and vegetables
Storing fruits and vegetables in ozone-enriched environments reduces spoilage explains a scientist at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate. Dr Ian Singleton explains how ozone treatment could be a safe, effective replacement for pesticides as it leaves no residue on foods.
Future farm: a sunless, rainless room indoors
Farming is moving indoors, where the sun never shines, where rainfall is irrelevant and where the climate is always right.
Cephalopods experience massive acoustic trauma from noise pollution in the oceans
Noise pollution in the oceans has been shown to cause physical and behavioral changes in marine life, especially in dolphins and whales, which rely on sound for daily activities. However, low frequency sound produced by large scale, offshore activities is also suspected to have the capacity to cause harm to other marine life as well. Giant squid, for example, were found along the shores of Asturias, Spain in 2001 and 2003 following the use of airguns by offshore vessels and examinations eliminated all known causes of lesions in these species, suggesting that the squid deaths could be related to excessive sound exposure.
Penguins that shun ice still lose big from a warming climate
Fluctuations in penguin populations in the Antarctic are linked more strongly to the availability of their primary food source than to changes in their habitats, according to a new study published online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Funded in part by the Lenfest Ocean Program, this research indicates that species often considered likely "winners" of changing conditions, such as large-scale ice melting, may actually end up as the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Antibiotic resistance spreads rapidly between bacteria
The part of bacterial DNA that often carries antibiotic resistance is a master at moving between different types of bacteria and adapting to widely differing bacterial species, shows a study made by a research team at the University of Gothenburg in cooperation with Chalmers University of Technology. The results are published in an article in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
Genetic study offers insight into the social lives of bees
Most people have trouble telling them apart, but bumble bees, honey bees, stingless bees and solitary bees have home lives that are as different from one another as a monarch's palace is from a hippie commune or a hermit's cabin in the woods. A new study of these bees offers a first look at the genetic underpinnings of their differences in lifestyle.
Shootingstars provide clues to likely response of plants to global warming
Many scientists are concerned that plant and animal species may face extinction due to global warming, but biologists at Washington University in St. Louis are trying to predict exactly what will happen to them. Which species will migrate? Which evolve? Which change their behavior? Which become extinct?
Study provides new way to classify E. coli bacteria and test for fecal contamination
The meaning of the standard fecal coliform test used to monitor water quality has been called into question by a new study that identified sources of Escherichia coli bacteria that might not indicate an environmental hazard.
Research shows that some features of human face perception are not uniquely human
When it comes to picking a face out of a police lineup, would you guess that you would use some of the same processes a pigeon might use?
Social wasps show how bigger brains provide complex cognition
Across many groups of animals, species with bigger brains often have better cognitive abilities. But it's been unclear whether overall brain size or the size of specific brain areas is the key.
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