Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for May 16, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- The next computer: your genes- 'Computer synapse' analyzed at the nanoscale
- What's in a simple line drawing? Quite a lot, our brains say
- Energy harvesters transform waste into electricity
- White House unveils global cyberspace strategy
- Comparison of genomes of plant parasites provides solid clues for response
- Researchers identify new cell that attacks dengue virus
- Smoke-related chemical discovered in the atmosphere could have health implications
- Ecological impact on Canada's Arctic coastline linked to global climate change
- Patterns of ancient croplands give insight into early Hawaiian society, research shows
- YikeFusion: same design, heavier frame, less expensive
- Oxytocin connected to postpartum depression
- Seagate portable storage goes wireless (w/ video)
- Happiness has a dark side
- New solar product captures up to 95 percent of light energy
Space & Earth news
Image: Lightning over Brazil
The European Space Agency's Paolo Nespoli took this image of lightning over Brazil as seen from the International Space Station in January 2011.
Research aircraft Polar 5 returned from spring measurements in the high Arctic
The research aircraft Polar 5 of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association returned to Bremerhaven from a six-week expedition in the high Arctic on May 6. Joint flights with aircraft of the European and American space agencies (ESA and NASA) were a novelty in sea ice research: Simultaneous measurements with a large number of sensors on three planes underneath the CryoSat-2 satellite led to unique data records. Furthermore, the international team composed of 25 scientists and engineers collected data on trace gases, aerosols and meteorological parameters that will be evaluated at the research institutes involved in the coming months.
Exploring space
(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the most powerful and ambitious astronomical satellites designed to provide the best view yet of the Universe at far-infrared and sub-millimeter wavelengths is living up to its illustrious name, according to Cardiff astronomers.
Herschel lives up to the family name
The Herschel Space Observatory has been observing the sky at infrared wavelengths since shortly after its launch two years ago, on 14th May 2009. But the name Herschel has a much longer legacy than that. The observatory is named after Sir William Herschel, a leading astronomer, for discovering infrared light around two hundred years ago. The Herschel family was a particularly astronomical one, with both his sister, Caroline, and son, John, playing important roles in the history of astronomy.
Wildfire razes Canadian town
A wildfire engulfed the town of Slave Lake in western Canada, forcing the evacuation of its 7,000 residents at the start of the forest fire season, authorities said Monday.
OU graduate student developing solutions for water problems in Ethiopia
A University of Oklahoma environmental science graduate student will travel to Ethiopia in June to test materials she has been investigating as possible solutions to fluorosis—a widespread problem in the Rift Valley, where high levels of fluoride in the drinking water result in dental and skeletal disease.
Researchers forecast Australia's population growth with new model
University of Queensland researchers believe that long term population projections have a key role in informing policy in contrast with the government's population strategy released yesterday.
Mars mission components delivered to Florida
(PhysOrg.com) -- An Air Force C-17 transport plane delivered the heat shield, back shell and cruise stage of the Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on May 12, 2011.
SETI survey focuses on Kepler's top Earth-like planets
(PhysOrg.com) -- UC Berkeley is searching for evidence of intelligent life on planets identified by the Kepler space telescope team as having Earth-like environments. This search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) uses the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia and targets 86 stars with possible planetary systems.
Crab nebula: The crab in action & the case of the dog that did not bark
A new movie from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory shows a sequence of Chandra images of the Crab Nebula, taken over an interval of seven months. Dramatic variations are seen, including the expansion of a ring of X-ray emission around the pulsar (white dot near center) and changes in the knots within this ring.
Could exoplanet be a haven for life?
Scientists said on Monday a rocky world orbiting a nearby star was confirmed as the first planet outside our solar system to meet key requirements for sustaining life.
Will global climate change enhance boreal forest growth?
With an increasingly warmer climate, there is a trend for springs to arrive earlier and summers to be hotter. Since spring and summer are the prime growing seasons for plants—when flowers bloom and trees increase in girth and height—do these climate changes mean greater seasonal growth for plants? This is a critical question for forest management, especially in the boreal region—an area particularly sensitive to the effects of climate change.
Six experienced spacemen flying Endeavour's finale
(AP) -- The six experienced astronauts making space shuttle Endeavour's final voyage are as tight as brothers after nearly two years together as a crew and the tragic shooting of the commander's congresswoman wife.
J-2X test series proves part integrity
Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center gave a key component of the J-2X engine a brisk workout to ensure it can withstand its extreme operating environment. The engine's fuel turbopump first stage nozzle passed the test, performing even better than expected.
Scheduling the unknown
How can the exploration of a Canadian lake, using deep-water submersibles, help NASA plan for the human exploration of Mars?
Setting sight on a single star
NASA recently selected 20 small satellites to fly as auxiliary cargo aboard rockets that are planned to launch in 2011 and 2012.
SLoWPoKES
The Sloan Low-mass Wide Pairs of Kinematically Equivalent Stars (SLoWPoKES) catalog was recently announced, containing 1,342 common proper motion pairs (i.e. binaries) – which are all low mass stars in the mid-K and mid-M stellar classes – in other words, orange and red dwarves.
Cyanoacetylene in IC 342
Star formation is an incredible process, but also notoriously difficult to trace. The reason is that the main constituent of stars, hydrogen, looks about the same well before a gravitational collapse begins, as it does in the dense clouds where star formation happens. Sure, the temperature changes and the hydrogen glows in a different part of the spectrum, but it’s still hydrogen. It’s everywhere!
Seaports need a plan for weathering climate change, researchers say
The majority of seaports around the world are unprepared for the potentially damaging impacts of climate change in the coming century, according to a new Stanford University study.
Ancient bacterial mats may have been key to first mobile animals
(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers from Canada studying the highly salty coastal lagoons at Los Roques, Venezuela and the microbial mats found at the bottom of the sea there, have discovered that oxygen levels in the mats, at least in the day time, are high enough to support the development of mobile life forms. Led by University of Alberta palaeontologist, Murray Gingras, the team writes in Nature Geoscience, that levels of oxygen on the ocean floor were up to four times as high as that near the surface; high enough to support the development of mobile sea life; which the team believes could explain how early life forms could have evolved in waters with high salt concentrations.
Endeavour soars on 2nd-to-last space shuttle trip
Endeavour blasted off on NASA's next-to-last shuttle flight, thundering through clouds into orbit Monday morning as the mission commander's wounded wife, Gabrielle Giffords, watched along with an exhilarated crowd estimated in the hundreds of thousands.
The Chandra Carina complex project
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Great Nebula in the constellation of Carina is a massive star-forming complex located about 7.5 thousand light-years away. The main star in the complex, Eta Carinae, shines brightly in the southern sky. Its ensemble of stellar clusters are young and hot, with ages that range from less than about one million years to about six million years. Altogether, the region contains one of the richest concentrations of massive young stars in the galaxy. In addition, the region is rich in non-stellar material including filaments, pillars, cavities, arcs, and other features indicative of a turbulent and complex history.
Smoke-related chemical discovered in the atmosphere could have health implications
Cigarette smoking, forest fires and woodburning can release a chemical that may be at least partly responsible for human health problems related to smoke exposure, according to a new study by NOAA researchers and their colleagues.
Ecological impact on Canada's Arctic coastline linked to global climate change
Scientists from Queen's and Carleton universities head a national multidisciplinary research team that has uncovered startling new evidence of the destructive impact of global climate change on North America's largest Arctic delta.
Technology news
Facebook 'planking' craze claims life in Australia
A new craze sweeping the Internet known as "planking" claimed a life in Australia Sunday and police fear the tragedy may not be the last.
SCRAMSPACE - the next frontier
A talented new team of young scientists and engineers at The University of Queensland (UQ) is building a hypersonic scramjet which will fly at 8600 km/h in South Australia next year.
Fully automatic software testing
University of Twente researcher Machiel van der Bijl has developed a system that eliminates the need to test software manually. The system not only facilitates quick and accurate software testing, but it will also save software developers a great deal of money.
Russia plans bikes and windmills in its Silicon Valley
Architects on Monday presented ambitious plans for Russia's version of Silicon Valley, which they say will be the country's most ecologically friendly town, with cycle tracks, solar panels and windmills.
NPL helps Senceive to offer improved monitoring of structural assets across the UK
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has worked with wireless sensor network developers Senceive, to help them deliver improved monitoring of degradation across critical structures in the UK that will save costs and improve safety levels.
Inspired by Facebook, Israeli couple name baby 'Like'
Stumped for an original name for their newborn daughter, an Israeli couple took inspiration from social networking site Facebook and named her "Like," Israeli daily Maariv reported on Monday.
Lady Gaga first to reach 10 million followers on Twitter
Pop diva Lady Gaga has become the first person with more than 10 million followers on Twitter.
YouTube channel honors fallen journalists
Google on Monday launched a YouTube channel honoring fallen journalists and enhanced its online news pages.
Yahoo, Alibaba: We're 'committed to' negotiations
(AP) -- Yahoo Inc. and Chinese Internet company Alibaba Group tried to present a united front Sunday as they worked on a dispute that has caused tension in their already strained relationship.
Best for batteries: Not too hot, not too cold
(PhysOrg.com) -- Thermal management is crucial in the development of new car batteries; NREL's Large-Volume Calorimeter helps prepare for a surge in electric vehicles.
White House cybersecurity plan falls short, IU expert says
The Obama Administration outlined what it called sweeping cybersecurity legislation Thursday (May 12), but the proposed new law still provides few incentives, and even fewer legal requirements, for the private sector to provide appropriate security for sensitive personal information, according to an Indiana University cybersecurity expert.
China's online population rises to 477mn
The number of Internet users in China, already the world's largest online market, hit 477 million at the end of March, a senior government official was quoted by state media as saying Monday.
Social media lawsuits are multiplying
(PhysOrg.com) -- Defamation is becoming a huge issue on social media sites as lawsuits for this particular offence are rising dramatically. In Canada and the US, 15 percent of all Web 2.0 rulings were on defamation cases. In France, it’s 49 percent and in Quebec it’s more than 10 percent.
Germany outlines bold plan to drive electric
Germany outlined Monday a bold plan to rev up the number of all-electric cars on its roads from next to nothing to one million in under 10 years, helping its automakers shift into the key sector.
Netflix reaches 'strategic' agreement with Miramax
US movie rental company Netflix and studio Miramax have reached a multi-year agreement, under which Netflix members in the United States will be able to instantly watch motion pictures from the Miramax film library, the two companies announced Monday.
Microsoft's Bing leans more heavily on Facebook
(AP) -- Microsoft's Bing search engine is leaning more heavily on Facebook to make its results more meaningful than Google's.
Appeals court won't reconsider Facebook settlement
A federal appeals court has refused to reconsider its decision ordering two former Harvard classmates of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to accept a multimillion dollar settlement over the company.
When is it worth remanufacturing?
It seems like a no-brainer: Remanufacturing products rather than making new ones from scratch — widely done with everything from retread tires to refilled inkjet cartridges to remanufactured engines — should save a lot of energy, right?
New omni-directional wind turbine can capture wind energy on building rooftops
(PhysOrg.com) -- Katru Eco-Energy, headed by founder and inventor, Varan Sureshan, has developed a new kind of wind turbine meant to capture the winds that fly in all directions atop big buildings, and unlike conventional devices, the IMPLUX, as it’s called, can capture wind from any direction as it stands; meaning without having to be repositioned or pointed. The IMPLUX achieves this feat by means of horizontal turbine blades that sit atop a vertical axis and are turned by wind that is pushed up through what Sureshan calls a "fluid dynamic gate."
The worlds smallest 3D HD display
(PhysOrg.com) -- It seems like small displays are all of the rage these days, and they just keep getting more and more advanced. In October of last year Ortus Technology created a 4.8-inch liquid crystal display that showed full color images. At the time, this screen with its pixel density of 458 pixels per inch, a density beyond the detection limit of the human eye, was the latest and greatest in the world of tiny screens. Now, it is only the most advanced of the 2D screens out there.
YikeFusion: same design, heavier frame, less expensive
(PhysOrg.com) -- Some of you may be familiar with the YikeBike. For those you who are not familiar with the YikeBike it is a computerized bike that can be folded up and packed away when it is not in use. The bike, which looks like it belongs to a classic cartoon character, allows users to tool around on the sidewalk much faster than most of us could walk, or even pedal on a standard bike.
Digital imaging software to create a 'Google Earth' view of the bladder
Bladder cancer is the fourth-most-common cancer in men and one of the most expensive cancers to treat from diagnosis to death. After initial diagnosis and surgery, patients must return to the urologist at least yearly for a costly, time-consuming and uncomfortable bladder scan. Tumors recur in more than half of patients.
New solar product captures up to 95 percent of light energy
Efficiency is a problem with today's solar panels; they only collect about 20 percent of available light. Now, a University of Missouri engineer has developed a flexible solar sheet that captures more than 90 percent of available light, and he plans to make prototypes available to consumers within the next five years.
White House unveils global cyberspace strategy
The White House unveiled a set of policy proposals Monday for international cooperation in ensuring an open and secure Internet.
Energy harvesters transform waste into electricity
Billions of dollars lost each year as waste heat from industrial processes can be converted into electricity with a technology being developed at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Medicine & Health news
'Walking distance' test an accurate indicator of disease severity in patients with COPD
The six-minute walking distance test (6MWD), a test that measures a patient's ability to tolerate exercise and physical activity, is an effective tool for understanding disease severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a three-year global study of patients with COPD sponsored by drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline.
Detecting lung cancer early
A person's blood reveals whether he or she has lung cancer: this has been demonstrated by researchers at the University of Bonn. In collaboration with colleagues at the Cologne University Hospital, they are developing a blood test for smokers which could save human lives in the future, since the earlier a lung tumor is detected, the better the chances of survival are. The study has just been published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.
Researchers examine procedure utilization trends in patients with clinically localized renal masses
New techniques in science and technology allow the medical community to continually improve patient care and experience, but as these new procedures are introduced, physicians must closely consider the relative risks and benefits for each patient. Laparoscopic surgery offers the short-term benefits of smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, and less pain during recovery, but are there negative consequences in the long run for some patients? Certain groups of patients, like those with localized renal masses, may be more appropriately treated through surgical techniques that focus on preserving as much functional kidney as possible––especially since emerging data suggests that a loss of kidney function can lead to higher long-term risks of morbidity and mortality.
Rapid growth may be appropriate trigger for treatment in patients with renal masses
With an increase in abdominal imaging over the past decade, there has been an increase in the detection of incidental kidney cancer, which has led to concerns that we may be over-treating indolent disease. As part of this effort, clinicians have started to investigate the effectiveness of active surveillance (AS), or close observation as opposed to immediate surgery, for select patients with small renal masses (SRMs). Today, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers will announce the results of its systematic review and pooled analysis, which for the first time combined several institutions' experience with active surveillance of small renal masses. Their goal was to identify trends in radiographic tumor growth rates and progression to either treatment or metastasis, and found that in select patients, active surveillance may be a viable option when surgery is risky due to poor health or advanced age.
ESC Policy Conference makes recommendations for new EU medical device legislation
The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is calling for a single, co-ordinated European system to oversee the evaluation and approval of medical devices. The call is being made in a paper published online in the European Heart Journal reporting on a conference held by the ESC in January 2011 looking to increase the input of medical experts in developing medical device policy.
Campylobacteriosis cases halved following controls on chicken meat
New Zealand’s success in reducing its food borne campylobacteriosis epidemic is receiving international attention. In a paper just published in the journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, NZ scientists report how both notified and hospitalized cases of campylobacteriosis declined by more than 50% following interventions to reduce campylobacter contamination of fresh chicken meat.
World's first multi-platform technology for medical image sharing
The technology allows doctors to share, annotate and discuss medical images across a range of handheld devices in real-time, enhancing diagnostic procedures and enabling doctors to reach a broader field of patients.
Healing the world with laughter, physical therapy
If laughter is the best medicine, Mohamed Mohamed provides a double dose. The 24-year-old, who graduates this May from the College of Physicians and Surgeons with a doctorate in physical therapy, has been raising money for humanitarian groups like UNICEF by performing at New York City comedy clubs.
Sleep problems more prevalent than expected in urban minority children
Sleep problems among urban minority children, including resistance to going to bed, shortened sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness are much more common than previously thought, according to a study conducted by researchers in New York.
Highest pollen count of the season, last three years on Friday 13th
Chicago’s tree pollen count reached 1,500 today, triggering a dangerous air quality warning.
'Clot-busters' no more effective than traditional therapy in treating lung blood clots
Although so-called clot-busting drugs are commonly used in the treatment of some patients with blood clots in the lungs, a new study conducted by researchers in Spain and the U.S. indicates the agents do not appear to be any more effective than traditional blood thinners for the majority of these patients. Clot-busters, or thrombolytic agents, also appear to increase the risk of death in patients with normal blood pressure.
Clinicians' attention lacking in discussions of end-of-life care
Clinicians consistently fall short in discussing end-of-life care with patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), according to a study completed by researchers in Washington. The study focused on the communication skills of staff physicians, physician trainees and advanced practice nurses.
Bacterial infection alone not an indicator of poor lung function in adolescents with CF
Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have poor lung function early in life are more likely also to have poor lung function in adolescence, regardless of whether they are exposed to a common infection caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa in early childhood. Earlier studies had indicated infection with the bacteria early in life was strongly associated with poor lung function later on.
Simple surgical procedure may help prevent heart damage in children
Removing enlarged tonsils and adenoids may help prevent high blood pressure and heart damage in children who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study conducted at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. In some children with OSA, adenotonsillectomy can result in significantly lower blood pressure within 24 months of the procedure.
Telemonitoring may not offer improved outcomes for critically ill patients
Telemonitoring may offer promise for patients in remote locations without access to specially trained intensive care physicians. However, a recent study indicates telemonitoring does not offer improved clinical outcomes compared to patients who receive standard care.
Computer program aids patients in end-of-life planning
A new program developed by researchers at Pennsylvania State College of Medicine and Pennsylvania State University may make it easier for patients with moderate/severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to make critical decisions regarding their care as their disease worsens. The computer-based decision aid (CDA) is designed to educate patients about planning for end-of-life decisions without diminishing hope, according to the researchers.
Novel therapy improves cardiovascular health in central sleep apnea patients
Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of a novel treatment that stimulates the nerve that controls the diaphragm to normalize the breathing of patients who suffer from both heart failure and central sleep apnea.
AMP releases statement on diagnostics in drug labels
Today, the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) released its new position statement on the appropriate manner to reference diagnostic tests in drug labels. The association also met with officials from the United States Food and Drug Administration that participate in the effort to draft guidance documents for co-developed products and companion diagnostics to inform them of its new position statement.
Using war games to treat post-traumatic stress disorder
For those soldiers worried about the stigma associated with seeing a therapist, virtual reality applications for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be the alternative to the traditional "talk therapy." A new paper, by Albert Rizzo from the University of Southern California, Institute for Creative Technologies, Los Angeles, and his team, reviews how virtual reality applications are being designed and implemented across various points in the military deployment cycle, to prevent, identify and treat combat-related PTSD.
Study finds many gastroenterologists unaware of appropriate immunizations for IBD patients
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), along with clinicians from Boston Medical Center (BMC), have found gastroenterologist knowledge of the appropriate immunizations to recommend to the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient is limited. These findings, which currently appear on-line in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, may be the primary reason why the majority of gastroenterologists believe that the primary care provider (PCP) should be responsible for vaccinations.
Hypertension control in Canada has improved significantly
Treatment and awareness of hypertension in Canada have improved significantly in the last 25 years for community-dwelling adults, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation study yields quality measurements
New studies released in the April issue of the Journal of Correctional Health Care (JCHC) (published by SAGE) are helping the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to establish a set of prison health care quality measurements.
Can vital signs predict cardiac arrest on the wards? Yes, but...
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center attempting to identify the vital signs that best predict those hospitalized patients at greatest risk for cardiac arrest found that a composite index used in some hospitals to activate a rapid response team and by emergency room physicians to assess the likelihood of a patient dying was a better predictor of cardiac arrest than any single vital sign.
Ohio residents: Medical and health research important to state's economy, jobs and incomes
Ohioans broadly support a strong commitment to medical and health research and recognize its direct link to job creation and the state's and the nation's economy, according to a new statewide poll conducted by IBOPE Zogby for Research!America and Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).
Inhaling hydrogen may help reduce lung damage in critically ill patients
Inhaling small amounts of hydrogen in addition to concentrated oxygen may help stem the damage to lung tissue that can occur when critically ill patients are given oxygen for long periods of time, according to a rat model study conducted by researchers in Pittsburgh. The study also found hydrogen initiates activation of heme-oxygenase (HO-1), an enzyme that protects lung cells.
Decision aid helps families, clinicians communicate about care decisions
Surrogate decision-makers faced with the difficult task of overseeing loved ones' medical care may find help thanks to a new decision aid aimed at patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation. According to a study conducted by researchers in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington who developed and tested the aid, surrogates reported the aid significantly improved the often daunting decision-making process.
Patients referred to dermatologists skin lesions evaluations also found to have other skin cancers
Among patients referred by non-dermatologists to dermatologists for evaluation of skin lesions suspected of being malignant, only apparently one-fifth were found to be cancerous, although dermatologists identified and biopsied other incidental lesions, approximately half of which were malignant, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Study links obesity to increased risk of developing postoperative infection following colon surgery
Obese patients appear to have a significantly increased risk of developing a surgical site infection after colectomy (procedure involving either partial or full removal of the colon), and the presence of infection increases the cost associated with the procedure, according to a report published online today that will appear in the September issue of Archives of Surgery.
Visits to asthma specialists delayed for African-American children
African-American children are more likely to report previous emergency room visits, hospitalizations and need for intensive care unit (ICU) management for asthma than Caucasian children on their first visit to an asthma specialist, according to a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The study also indicated that African-American children have poorer lung function at their initial visit to an asthma specialist than their Caucasian counterparts.
Antibiotic linezolid an effective option for treating patients with MRSA infection
The antibiotic linezolid may be more effective than vancomycin in treating ventilated patients who develop methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia as a result of their ventilation, according to a study conducted globally by American and French researchers.
Inability to combat oxidative stress may trigger development of asthma
An impaired ability to handle oxidative stress that arises from exposure to secondhand smoke and other environmental triggers may contribute to the development of asthma, according to results obtained from the Shanghai Women's Health Asthma and Allergy Study. The results of the study suggest regulating the body's antioxidant defense system may play an important role in asthma prevention.
Reminding surgical staff of phlebotomy costs appears to affect utilization
Surgical house staff and attending physicians who are reminded about the charges for ordering daily blood drawing for routine blood work appear to reduce the amount of routine blood tests ordered and the charges for these laboratory tests, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Surgery.
Follow-up rehabilitation boosts survival odds for angioplasty patients
Patients who undergo a procedure to unblock a coronary artery are more likely to survive longer if they participate in structured follow-up care, according to research in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Surgical procedure appears to enhance smiles in children with facial paralysis
Transferring a segment of muscle from the thigh appears to help restore the ability to smile in children with facial paralysis just as it does in adults, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. The article is part of a theme issue focusing on facial plastic surgery in the pediatric population.
Nasal steroid spray may not help resolve dysfunction of the ear's eustachian tubes
For patients with eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), steroids administered by a nasal spray may be ineffective, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Implementation of telemedicine intervention in ICUs associated with better outcomes for patients
Intensive care units (ICUs) that implemented a telemedicine intervention that included offsite electronic monitoring of processes and detection of nonadherence to best practices had lower hospital and ICU mortality, lower rates of preventable complications, and shorter hospital and ICU lengths of stay, according to a study that will appear in the June 1 issue of JAMA. The study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at a meeting of the American Thoracic Society
Postponing care can result in serious consequences for asthma patients
Waiting to seek emergency medical care for asthma exacerbations can result in worse outcomes, including hospitalization, according to a study conducted by researchers from New York. Patients who delay regular medical care also were sicker when finally seen by a doctor than patients who sought care when asthma exacerbations first occurred.
Study challenges rural lack of access to surgery
(AP) -- A surprising study of nearly 46 million Medicare patients says older residents in rural areas are more likely to have any of nine common surgeries than people in cities.
New understanding of brain chemistry could prevent brain damage after injury
A protective molecule has been identified in the brain which, if used artificially, may prevent brain damage from the likes of stroke, head injury and Alzheimer's.
No increase in severe cardiovascular events for children, adolescents taking ADHD medications
Despite recent concerns that medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could increase the risk of cardiovascular events in children and adolescents, an observational study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and HealthCore Inc. finds they are no more likely to die from a severe cardiovascular event than those who do not take the drugs. The findings, published online in the journal Pediatrics, provide the first analysis of such events in a large population of children and adolescents receiving ADHD medications compared to non-users.
Simple new bedside screening effectively identifies patients with acute aortic dissection
The most lethal and sudden cardiovascular event can be the toughest for doctors to diagnose.
Vitamin D improves exercise outcomes in patients with COPD
Vitamin D supplements may help patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) get more from their pulmonary rehabilitation programs, according to a study conducted by researchers from Belgium.
Gene variant linked with development of COPD in men
Researchers have linked a variant in the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) with the onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Caucasian men. The study population consisted of participants in the Veterans Administration Normative Aging Study, a multidisciplinary study of aging that began in 1963.
Study reveals need for personalized approach in treatment of AML
A new discovery in mice by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center may one day allow doctors to spare some patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from toxic treatments, while also opening the door for new therapeutic research.
School bullying, violence against LGBT youth linked to risk of suicide, HIV infection
Critical new research has found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth who experience high levels of school victimization in middle and high school report impaired health and mental health in young adulthood, including depression, suicide attempts that require medical care, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and risk for HIV. This is the first known study to examine the relationship between school victimization during adolescence – specifically related to sexual orientation and gender identity – with multiple dimensions of young adult health and adjustment. The study demonstrates the importance of addressing and preventing anti-LGBT victimization at the structural or school level to reduce health disparities among LGBT young people. The study is published in the Journal of School Health, the journal of the American School Health Association.
New mouse model may lead to new therapies for degenerative diseases
Most degenerative diseases begin with a gradual loss of specific cell types that progresses, eventually leading to symptoms. For example, in type I diabetes, hyperglycemia commonly develops when approximately 80 percent of the beta cells in the pancreas are lost; in Parkinson's disease, motor dysfunction typically begins when neurons in a certain portion of the brain are decreased by 70 to 80 percent. Finding ways to stop early cell destruction is vital, but methods to do so have proven challenging because of limitations of models for early stages of cell loss.
Next generation gamers: Computer games aid recovery from stroke
Computer games are not just for kids. New research published in Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, a BioMed Central open access journal, shows that computer games can speed up and improve a patient's recovery from paralysis after a stroke.
Remember your lunch if you want to avoid afternoon snack
(Medical Xpress) -- Psychologists at the University of Birmingham have discovered that focussing on eating lunch and paying great attention to the food can reduce snacking in the afternoon, according to research published in the journal Appetite.
3D Anatomy online: one step closer to the real thing?
(Medical Xpress) -- Learning anatomy online is to benefit from a new tool using the latest technology, which allows users to see real specimens in high-definition 3D.
Study reveals new form of inflammation
(Medical Xpress) -- University of Edinburgh scientists have discovered a previously unknown way in which white blood cells cope with injury and infection.
Younger doctors prescribe more drugs to reduce heart risk but offer less lifestyle advice
Patients with heart disease risks are more likely to be prescribed cardiovascular (CV) drugs if they see a younger doctor and recommended to change their lifestyle if they see an older doctor, according to research in the June issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.
Winding back the clock with kidney stem cells
Stem cell research courts both controversy and support in the community- depending on your viewpoint.
Abcc10 may be effective in extending the effectiveness of anticancer drugs
Today's anticancer drugs often work wonders against malignancies, but sometimes tumors become resistant to the effects of such drugs, and treatment fails. Medical researchers would like to find ways of counteracting such resistance, but first they must understand why and how it happens. New findings by Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers identify one protein, Abcc10 (also known as Mrp7), as being intimately involved in resistance to certain drugs used to treat breast, ovarian, lung, and other cancers. The results suggest that blunting the activity of Abcc10 might help counter resistance and extend the effectiveness of these anticancer drugs.
Music can spark creativity in math and science (w/ video)
From records to boom boxes to CDs and iPods, music has long been part of the lifeblood of being a teenager. Learning math and science in class is not always such a priority.
Chemical biologist targets 'undruggable' proteins linked to cancer in quest for new cures
Why is a cure for cancer so elusive? Brent Stockwell, an associate professor with a joint appointment in chemistry and biological sciences and an Early Career Scientist with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, believes the main culprit is “undruggable proteins”—the 85 percent of the proteins in the human body that are not treatable with traditional drugs. Unfortunately, many of them are associated with the most insidious illnesses, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s.
Bed bugs with MRSA superbug superbad news: expert
As if the recent resurgence of bed bugs wasn’t bad enough, Canadian researchers have found some of the little blood-sucking critters carrying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the potentially deadly superbug known as MRSA.
Targeted regeneration could be key to boosting coalfield communities
Decades after the pit closures, coalfield communities still face significant health problems and economic difficulties, according to new research.
Gene variation linked to infertility in women, study finds
A variation in a gene involved in regulating cholesterol in the bloodstream also appears to affect progesterone production in women, making it a likely culprit in a substantial number of cases of their infertility, a new study from Johns Hopkins researchers suggests.
Sleepiness in children linked to obesity, asthma
(Medical Xpress) -- Obese, asthmatic, anxious or depressed children are more likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness, or EDS, according to Penn State College of Medicine sleep researchers.
Driving errors increase with age among older drivers
Even healthy adults with a safe driving record tend to make more driving errors as they age, including potentially dangerous mistakes, such as failing to check blind spots, according to a study published by the American Psychological Association.
Researchers find link between childhood physical abuse, chronic fatigue syndrome
Childhood physical abuse is associated with significantly elevated rates of functional somatic syndromes such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivities among women, according to new findings by University of Toronto researchers. The research will be published in this month's issue of the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma.
Low-dose sorafenib may improve therapy for head and neck cancer
Adding low doses of the targeted agent sorafenib to the chemotherapy and radiation now often used to treat head and neck cancer might significantly improve patient care and quality of life, according to a new study by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
Stem cells reverse disease in a model of Parkinson's disease
In a new study to be published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers compared the ability of cells derived from different types of human stem cell to reverse disease in a rat model of Parkinson disease and identified a stem cell population that they believe could be clinically relevant.
Researchers explain how animals sense potentially harmful acids
All animals face the challenge of deciding which chemicals in the environment are useful and which are harmful. A new study greatly improves our understanding of how animals sense an important class of potentially harmful chemicals: weak acids. The study appears online on May 16 in the Journal of General Physiology.
Clues to calming a cytokine storm
By analyzing complex interactions of the immune system in an animal study, pediatric researchers have found potential tools for controlling a life-threatening condition called a cytokine storm that may strike children who have juvenile arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
Leucine deprivation proves deadly to malignant melanoma cells
Whitehead Institute researchers have found that depriving human melanoma cells of the essential amino acid leucine can be lethal to the cells, suggesting a possible strategy for therapeutic intervention.
Graduation contamination: Just how many germs are you spreading with a handshake?
Graduations are a celebration of achievement and growth, but could all the pomp and circumstance increase your risk of exposure to harmful bacteria? A team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health examined the risk of acquiring pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) through shaking hands at graduation ceremonies across Maryland. A handshake, a short ritual in which two people grasp one of each other's opposite hands, dates back as far as the 5th century BCE. This gesture has become ingrained in modern society as a standard greeting and part of the traditional graduation ceremony. Researchers swabbed participants' hands before and immediately following graduation to identify any pathogenic bacteria and found 93 percent of samples contained nonpathogenic bacteria. Their results are featured in the June 2011 issue of the Journal of School Nursing.
Tale of 2 mice pinpoints major factor for insulin resistance
The road to type 2 diabetes is paved with insulin resistance, a condition often associated with obesity in which the hormone begins to fail at its job helping to convert sugars to energy. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have now identified an enzyme called PKC-delta as an important molecular modifier for development of insulin resistance, diabetes and fatty liver in mice. They also have found evidence suggesting a similar role for the enzyme in humans, making PKC-delta a promising new target for drugs for diabetes and related ailments.
Two-dose vaccine coverage necessary to reduce mumps outbreaks
An analysis of a recent mumps outbreak in Ontario, Canada, indicates that two doses of mumps vaccine are more effective than one and further reveals the importance of ensuring people, especially older adolescents and young adults, are up to date on their mumps vaccinations. The administration of the second dose at a later age could have an impact on outbreaks, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
New biomarker that predicts breast cancer relapse found
Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have discovered a new biomarker related to the body's immune system that can predict a breast cancer patients' risk of cancer recurrence. This breakthrough may lead to new genetic testing that further personalizes breast cancer care.
CDC: New regimen drastically shortens TB treatment
(AP) -- Health officials on Monday celebrated a faster treatment for people who have tuberculosis but aren't infectious, after investigators found a new combination of pills knocks out the disease in three months instead of nine.
Hormone improves long-term recovery from stroke
Scientists at the Sahlgrenska Academy have discovered an explanation of how stroke patients can achieve better recovery. A hormone that is associated with the growth hormone system has proved to benefit recovery during the later phases of rehabilitation after a stroke.
Protein could offer target to reduce lung damage from smoking-caused emphysema
An international research team has identified a lung protein that appears to play a key role in smoking-related emphysema and have crafted an antibody to block its activity, Indiana University scientists reported.
Child-size mannequin: Hands-on training spares real patients
Rice University bioengineering students have modified a child-size training mannequin to give medical students hands-on pediatric experience so that real patients can be spared further stress and pain.
COPD patients may breathe easier, thanks to the Wii
According to a new study conducted by researchers in Connecticut, the Wii Fit™ offers patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an effective workout – and one that, because it is enjoyable, patients are more likely to use.
Binge drinkers have a decreased ability to learn new verbal information
Binge drinking is prevalent among university students, especially in the United States. One brain structure particularly sensitive to alcohol's neurotoxicity during development is the hippocampus, which plays a key role in learning and memory. A study of the association between binge drinking and declarative memory – a form of long-term memory – in university students has found a link between binge drinking and poorer verbal declarative memory.
Study evaluates parents' reluctance to vaccinate asthmatic kids
Concern over vaccine safety is one of the primary factors preventing parents from having their asthmatic children vaccinated for influenza, or flu, according to Michigan researchers. Parents who do not vaccinate their children are also less likely to view flu as a"trigger" for their child's asthma, the researchers noted.
Objective evidence of skin infestation lacking in patients with diagnosis of delusional infestation
Among patients with a diagnosis of delusional skin infestation, neither biopsies nor patient-provided specimens provided objective evidence of skin infestation, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the September issue of Archives of Dermatology.
New prostate cancer test more specific, sensitive than PSA test
A new test for prostate cancer that measures levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as well as six specific antibodies found in the blood of men with the disease was more sensitive and more specific than the conventional PSA test used today, according to a study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
How to square budget cuts, need for aging research
(AP) -- A disease standoff may be brewing: How can Alzheimer's research receive more scarce dollars without cutting from areas like heart disease or cancer?
Researchers identify DNA region linked to depression
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and King's College London have independently identified DNA on chromosome 3 that appears to be related to depression.
Test could detect Alzheimer's disease earlier than previously possible
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study has revealed the possibility of using a simple test for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, enabling the condition to be identified before significant and irreversible decline takes place.
Researchers link spontaneous gene mutations to autism
(Medical Xpress) -- Using high-throughput gene sequencing technology, researchers have identified several harmful spontaneous gene mutations in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) that may cause the disorder.
Common anti-inflammatory coaxes liver cancer cells to commit suicide
The anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib, known by the brand name Celebrex, triggers liver cancer cell death by reacting with a protein in a way that makes those cells commit suicide, according to a new study.
Mothers curse linked to male infertility
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers have discovered the first real evidence of the 'mother's curse' and its connection to male infertility due to genetic mutations in mitochondria. Led by Dr. Damian Dowling from Monash University in Melbourne and Paolo Innocenti from Uppsala University, their breakthrough research has been recently published in Science.
Sections of retinas regenerated and visual function increased with stem cells from skin
Scientists from Schepens Eye Research Institute are the first to regenerate large areas of damaged retinas and improve visual function using IPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells) derived from skin. The results of their study, which is published in PLoS ONE this month, hold great promise for future treatments and cures for diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases that affect millions worldwide.
Stopping HIV transmission with a molecular barrier
Using a technique that silences genes promoting infection, researchers have developed a novel, topically-applied molecular microbicide capable of preventing HIV transmission. The microbicide is predicted to have long-lasting effects in mice, opening the door to developing an intravaginal microbicide that could protect women against HIV infection potentially for weeks at a time and bolster public health efforts to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Oxytocin connected to postpartum depression
(Medical Xpress) -- According to a new study published in Neuropsychopharmacology, researchers, led by Gunther Meinlschmidt, PhD, may have found a connection between the brain chemical oxytocin and postpartum depression.
Researchers identify new cell that attacks dengue virus
Mast cells, which can help the body respond to bacteria and pathogens, also apparently sound the alarm around viruses delivered by a mosquito bite, according to researchers at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore.
Happiness has a dark side
It seems like everyone wants to be happier and the pursuit of happiness is one of the foundations of American life. But even happiness can have a dark side, according to the authors of a new review article published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. They say that happiness shouldn't be thought of as a universally good thing, and outline four ways in which this is the case. Indeed, not all types and degrees of happiness are equally good, and even pursuing happiness can make people feel worse.
A gene that fights cancer, but causes it too
An international team of researchers, led by scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital in China, say a human gene implicated in the development of leukemia also acts to prevent cancer of the liver.
What's in a simple line drawing? Quite a lot, our brains say
A new study using sophisticated brain scans shows how simple line drawings can capture the essence of a beach or a mountain for viewers just as well as a photograph would.
Biology news
Species are to ecosystems as cells are to the human body, according to a mathematical model
n ecosystem is like a great organism in that the species in it behave in a manner similar to the manner in which cells behave within the human body: the group forms a permanent entity, although the entities that form it are constantly being substituted. This is is the conclusion that can be drawn from a theoretical study carried out by researchers at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
Aggressive male mating behavior can endanger species
Aggressive male mating behavior might well be a successful reproductive strategy for the individual but it can drive the species to extinction, an international research team headed by evolutionary biologist Daniel Rankin from the University of Zurich has demonstrated in a mathematical model.
Waves and the perception power of seals
If you ever thought that murky waters would stop seals in their (hunting) tracks, think again. Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) extend their vibration-sensitive whiskers to find food when their vision is obstructed. But can these mammals differentiate objects that pass them? Scientists from the University of Rostock in Germany shed new light on the ability of harbour seals to distinguish between the wakes (the trails of water disturbance) generated by objects that differ in both size and shape. The findings of the study are presented in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
Scientists work with RNA silencing and plant stem cells
Research on controlling the stem cells of plants could eventually lead to learning how to make them produce more fruit, seed and leaves, according to Dr. Xiuren Zhang, Texas AgriLife Research scientist and professor with the Texas A&M University department of biochemistry and biophysics. Results of a nearly three-year project led by an AgriLife Research team headed by Zhang was published in Cell, one of the most cited scientific peer-review journals in the world.
Europe faces extinction of many species, EU says
(AP) -- The Iberian lynx that prowls the grasslands of southern Spain. The Mediterranean monk seal swimming waters off Greece and Turkey. The Bavarian pine vole that forages in the high meadows of the Alps.
Foothill yellow-legged frog provides insight on river management
River flow fluctuations downstream of dams are often out of sync with natural flow patterns and can have significant negative effects on aquatic species, such as native frogs, according to a team of scientists from the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station, the University of California, Davis and the University of California, Berkeley.
Tarantulas shoot silk from feet
Climbing is possibly one of the riskiest things an adult tarantula can do. Weighing in at anything up to 50gm, the dry attachment systems that keep daintier spiders firmly anchored are on the verge of failure in these colossal arachnids. 'The animals are very delicate. They wouldn't survive a fall from any height,' explains Claire Rind from the University of Newcastle, UK. In 2006, Stanislav Gorb and his colleagues published a paper in Nature suggesting that tarantulas may save themselves from falling by releasing silk threads from their feet. However, this was quickly refuted by another group that could find no evidence of the silk. Fascinated by spiders and intrigued by the scientific controversy, Rind decided this was too good a challenge to pass up and discovered that tarantulas shoot silk from their feet when they lose their footing. She publishes her results in The Journal of Experimental Biology.
How do honeybees control their flight speed to avoid obstacles?
Unlike humans, bees have a dorsal visual field that enables them to avoid obstacles above their heads. Until now, it was not known whether this helped them to control their flight speed. Recent research by French biorobotics specialists at the Institut des sciences du movement confirms that it does. Bees have been shown to adjust their speed according to obstacle proximity, whether such obstacles are in the horizontal or vertical plane. They achieve this through perceived optic flow, especially from overhead. These findings were recently demonstrated experimentally using previously modeled honeybee flight navigation in three dimensions. They were published on 12 May, 2011 in the journal PLoS One.
Cell rigidity linked to activity in proteins associated with cancer
An unusual collaboration between cell and developmental biologists and physicists at UNC-Chapel Hill is providing insights into the relationship between the physical properties of cells and the signals that influence cell behavior.
Zebrafish regrow fins using multiple cell types, not identical stem cells
What does it take to regenerate a limb? Biologists have long thought that organ regeneration in animals like zebrafish and salamanders involved stem cells that can generate any tissue in the body. But new research suggests that multiple cell types are needed to regrow the complete organ, at least in zebrafish.
Comparison of genomes of plant parasites provides solid clues for response
As plant scientists unravel the genomes of plant pathogens, comparisons can be made of the different and not-so-different invasion strategies for the organisms that threaten crops. John McDowell, associate professor of plant pathology at Virginia Tech, points out similarities in the strategies of several devastating rusts and mildew.
Scientists identify livestock genes to unlock protection against one of Africa's oldest animal plagues
An international research team using a new combination of approaches has found two genes that may prove of vital importance to the lives and livelihoods of millions of farmers in a tsetse fly-plagued swathe of Africa the size of the United States. The team’s results were published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
How can a colorblind animal change its colors to blend into the background?
How could a colorblind animal know how to change its skin color to blend into its surroundings? And what will the animal's predator "see," looking at its prey before and after it hides?
Researchers link oceanic land crab extinction to colonization of Hawaii
University of Florida researchers have described a new species of land crab that documents the first crab extinction during the human era.
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