Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for January 9, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- A breakthrough in superlens development: Cheap, simple lens to let us see a single virus- Genetic analysis shows tortoise species thought to be extinct for 150 years still lives
- Swiss chemists emulate cheese rind to create self-cleaning surface material
- Keeping electronics cool: Findings on modified form of graphene could have impacts in managing heat dissipation
- OnStar opens gate for third-party developers
- Simpler times: Did an earlier genetic molecule predate DNA and RNA?
- Carnivorous plant traps worms with sticky leaves
- Astronomers map the universe's dark matter at unprecedented scale
- Clearest picture yet of dark matter points the way to better understanding of dark energy
- Chemical measurements confirm official estimate of 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill rate
- Men with deep voice may be lacking in sperm: study
- Oil is more toxic than previously thought, study finds
- Scientists searching for Earth-type planets should consider two-star system, researchers say
- Not all who wander are lost
- SWI/SNF protein complex plays role in suppressing pancreatic tumors: study
Space & Earth news
Space Image: Earth observations
(PhysOrg.com) -- This unusual image was photographed through the Cupola on the International Space Station by one of the Expedition 30 crew members.
Ohio quakes probably triggered by waste disposal well, say seismologists
(PhysOrg.com) -- Earthquakes that have shaken an area just outside Youngstown, Ohio in the last nine months—including a substantial one on New Year’s Eve—are likely linked to a disposal well for injecting wastewater used in the hydraulic fracturing process, say seismologists at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory who were called in to study the quakes. Ohio Gov. John Kasich has shut down the injection well and put four other proposed wells on hold. In the meantime, steps have been taken to ease pressure in the well to avert further rumblings.
Exomoons? Kepler's on the hunt
Recently, I posted an article on the feasibility of detecting moons around extrasolar planets. It was determined that exceptionally large moons (roughly Earth mass moons or more), may well be detectable with current technology. Taking up that challenge, a team of astronomers led by David Kipping from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has announced they will search publicly available Kepler data to determine if the planet-finding mission may have detected such objects.
US expected to extend Grand Canyon mining ban
The US administration scheduled an announcement Monday widely expected to implement a long-term ban on mining around the Grand Canyon, a move praised by environmental activists.
Partnership yields options for adapting to climate change on the Olympic Peninsula
Federal land managers on the Olympic Peninsula joined in an exceptional partnership with the Pacific Northwest Research Station and the University of Washington to develop a set of science-based options that will help them manage their forests for resiliency and sustainability in the face of a changing climate.
Analysis of the First Kepler SETI Observations
As the Kepler space telescope begins finding its first Earth-sized exoplanets, with the ultimate goal of finding ones that are actually Earth-like, it would seem natural that the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program would take a look at them as well, in the continuing search for alien radio signals. That is exactly what SETI scientists are doing, and they’ve started releasing some of their preliminary results.
Orion drop test on Jan. 06, 2012
(PhysOrg.com) -- After six months of testing, an 18,000 pound (8,165 kg) Orion mockup took its final splash into NASA Langley Research Center's Hydro Impact Basin on Jan. 6.
Researchers can predict Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Climate scientists around Dr. Daniela Matei and Prof. Dr. Jochem Marotzke from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology and Prof. Dr. Johanna Baehr from Hamburg University have now shown for the first time that the strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at 26.5 °N can be skillfully predicted for up to four years. Their results have been recently published in Science.
James Webb Space Telescope: A year of achievement and success
The James Webb Space Telescope marked a year of significant progress in 2011 as it continues to come together as NASA's next generation space telescope. The year brought forth a pathfinder backplane to support the large primary mirror structure, mirror cryotesting, creation of mirror support structures, several successful sunshield layer tests and the creation of an assembly station within NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's cleanroom. Achievements were also made in the areas of flight and communications software and the propulsion system.
New cores from glacier in the Eastern European Alps may yield new climate clues
Researchers are beginning their analysis of what are probably the first successful ice cores drilled to bedrock from a glacier in the eastern European Alps.
Europe's Vega rocket launch set for early February
The maiden voyage of Europe's Vega rocket, designed to launch small payloads of about 1.5 tonnes into low-Earth orbit, is set for February 9, the head of the European Space Agency said Monday.
New instrument peers through the heart of the Milky Way
(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomy has a powerful new tool to probe the structure of our galaxy. The Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) spectrograph is the newest instrument deployed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III). The revolutionary capabilities of this high-resolution infrared spectrograph were presented today by Steven Majewski and John Wilson of the University of Virginia at the 219th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Austin, TX.
Mapping dark matter from galactic ripples
(PhysOrg.com) -- Sukanya Chakrabarti, Ph.D., an assistant professor of physics for the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic University, has developed a way to discover and map dark matter in galaxies. Chakrabarti’s paper, “A New Probe of the Distribution of Dark Matter in Galaxies,” analyzes observed ripples in the outskirts of galaxies to infer the density profile of the dark matter halo. Chakrabarti is presenting her results at this week’s meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Austin, Texas.
NASA says it's working to resolve items' ownership
(AP) -- The head of NASA met Monday with former astronauts to discuss who owns space artifacts from moon shots and other missions, saying afterward that the agency will work cooperatively with them to resolve what's recently become a contentious issue.
US health experts seek more study on 'fracking'
A group of US medical professionals called Monday for a halt to a type of drilling for natural gas called "fracking" in populated areas until more is known about its health impacts.
A universal law for star formation
(PhysOrg.com) -- Star formation is studied by astronomers not only because it produces new stars and planetary systems. It also generates copious amounts of ultraviolet light that heats dust which in turn causes the birth region to shine brightly in the infrared. Galaxies so far away, for example, that their light has been traveling for over eleven billion years have been discovered thanks to their bright infrared star formation activity.
Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft: Trajectory maneuver slated for Jan. 11
(PhysOrg.com) -- An engine firing on Jan. 11 will be the biggest maneuver that NASA's Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft will perform on its flight between Earth and Mars.
Chemical measurements confirm official estimate of 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill rate
By combining detailed chemical measurements in the deep ocean, in the oil slick, and in the air, NOAA scientists and academic colleagues have independently estimated how fast gases and oil were leaking during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Topography played key role in Deepwater Horizon disaster, researchers say
When UC Santa Barbara geochemist David Valentine and colleagues published a study in early 2011 documenting how bacteria blooms had consumed almost all of the deepwater methane plumes following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, some people were skeptical. How, they asked, could almost all of the lethal gas emitted from the Deepwater Horizon well just disappear?
Could Siberian volcanism have caused the Earth's largest extinction event?
Around 250 million years ago, at the end of the Permian geologic period, there was a mass extinction so severe that it remains the most traumatic known species die-off in Earth's history. Although the cause of this event is a mystery, it has been speculated that the eruption of a large swath of volcanic rock in Russia called the Siberian Traps was a trigger for the extinction. New research from Carnegie's Linda Elkins-Tanton and her co-authors offers insight into how this volcanism could have contributed to drastic deterioration in the global environment of the period. Their work is published January 9 in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
Oil is more toxic than previously thought, study finds
Bad news for the Gulf of Mexico: a study released in late December sheds new light on the toxicity of oil in aquatic environments, and shows that environmental impact studies currently in use may be inadequate. The report was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Not all who wander are lost
(PhysOrg.com) -- Some stars have orbits that take them to interesting places, and they have interesting stories to tell about how they were formed. For more than a decade, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has been mapping the stars in our galaxy. At today's meeting of the American Astronomical Society, astronomers Judy Cheng and and Connie Rockosi (University of California, Santa Cruz) presented new evidence that will help answer long-standing questions about the history of disk of our galaxy.
Scientists searching for Earth-type planets should consider two-star system, researchers say
(PhysOrg.com) -- A group of astrophysicists from The University of Texas at Arlington plans to expand the discussion about a newly discovered planet orbiting two stars by presenting a study suggesting where an Earth-type planet could exist in the system.
Astronomers map the universe's dark matter at unprecedented scale
(PhysOrg.com) -- For the first time, astronomers have mapped dark matter on the largest scale ever observed. The results, presented by Dr Catherine Heymans of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Associate Professor Ludovic Van Waerbeke of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, are being presented today to the American Astronomical Society meeting in Austin, Texas. Their findings reveal a Universe comprised of an intricate cosmic web of dark matter and galaxies that spans more than one billion light years.
Technology news
India's Mahindra Satyam sues former directors, auditor
Indian software outsourcer Mahindra Satyam on Monday said it had filed a case against past directors and a former auditor, seeking damages over a $1 billion accounting scam.
GameStop holiday sales nearly flat at $3.02B
(AP) -- Video game retailer GameStop Corp. on Monday reported nearly flat sales for the nine-week holiday period that ended on Dec. 31, as game software sales rose but sales of game consoles and other hardware slid.
Cricket's Muve Music tops 500,000 subscribers
(AP) -- Muve Music, the all-you-can listen music plan offered to subscribers of prepaid wireless carrier Cricket, has attracted more than 500,000 subscribers in its first year of operation.
Global tech sales to surpass $1 trillion in 2012: forecast
Smartphones and tablet computers will help push worldwide consumer electronics spending over $1 trillion this year but growth is sluggish compared to last year, according to industry analysts.
TravelDNA seed planted on rocky honeymoon
Anishiya Taneja and her husband turned a rocky honeymoon into inspiration for a free online travel service that matches people with ideal vacation itineraries.
Signcryption technology tightens cyber security
Signcryption is a technology that protects confidentiality and authenticity, seamlessly and simultaneously.
Intel exploring ways to help Stephen Hawking speak
Intel Corp. is looking for ways to help famed British physicist Stephen Hawking reverse the slowing of his speech, according to a senior executive with the American chipmaker.
Tiny particles may illuminate reactor cores
Using particles from space to look into the heart of nuclear reactors - this is the goal of researchers at Nagoya University.
'Poop to power' program turns pig manure into sustainable energy
The nearly 9,000 hogs at Loyd Ray Farms in Yadkin County, N.C., produce 400,000 gallons of manure every week. Since the waste had too high a nitrogen content to be used as fertilizer, owner Loyd Bryant used to pump that waste into a local lagoon, where it released methane, ammonia and "an unholy stink," according to the Los Angeles Times.
Netflix unveils video service in UK, Ireland
(AP) -- Netflix's Internet video service made its debut in the United Kingdom and Ireland Monday as part of a previously announced expansion that is expected to saddle the company with its first annual loss in a decade.
Dish launches DVR that extends to other rooms
(AP) -- Satellite broadcaster Dish Network Corp. on Monday said it's launching a high-powered set-top box that can act as the central TV recorder for the whole home.
Intel to launch biggest ad campaign in 8 years
(AP) -- Intel Corp. says it is betting big on its "ultrabook" concept with its largest advertising campaign since 2003.
US, British officials victims of Stratfor hack: press
Email addresses and passwords belonging to British, US and NATO officials were posted online following the hacking of a US intelligence analysis firm over Christmas, the Guardian daily reported Monday.
Microsoft advocates new WiFi-NC to make use of white spaces in spectrum
(PhysOrg.com) -- Four years ago, the FCC began allowing limited use of the so-called white spaces in the electromagnetic spectrum that is shared by all wireless devices (in the United States). The white spaces highlighted by the FCC concerned bands of unused space within television broadcasts. Subsequently, Microsoft developed a database, called SenseLess that wireless devices could use to identify such white spaces. Now, Microsoft has gone a step further and is championing a new Wi-Fi standard that makes use of the database it created. Called WiFi-NC, (for narrow-channel) the new standard is based on using groups of radios and receivers simultaneously to make use of many small bands at once.
Potential drunk drivers now have an app for that
(PhysOrg.com) -- You have spent the night out on the town and had a few drinks with friends. At the end of the evening, you figure you have only had a few drinks. You should be fine to drive right? While this is something that is heard in many bars throughout the country, there is now a new app designed to help you determine if you are indeed sober enough to be driving.
OnStar opens gate for third-party developers
(PhysOrg.com) -- OnStar staged a Sunday night conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to announce that the telematics provider will open its application program interface (API) to third-party developers. OnStar also used the CES venue to announce that it has struck a deal with Verizon that will make use of Verizon’s 4G LTE service to carry a variety of content. The beam-up to bring digital cars of the future to 2012 is a competitive move by GM-owned OnStar to enhance its portfolio of services.
Medicine & Health news
New 'real-world' reassuring data from the SCAAR registry
A registry -which includes every patient in Sweden having percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the treatment of acute and stable coronary artery disease- has found that PCI implantations using a new generation of drug-eluting stents is associated with lower rates of relapse (restenosis), stent thrombosis and subsequent mortality than older generation drug-eluting stents and bare-metal stents.(1)
Medical genetics team pinpoints causes of inherited diseases
(Medical Xpress) -- A child’s diagnosis with a congenital deformity or developmental delay raises challenging questions: Could the problem be inherited? What’s the prognosis? If other children are born to the same parents, what is the recurrence risk?
Drug to treat HIV in children shows promise via national study
(Medical Xpress) -- For children and adolescents with HIV infection, the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the use of raltegravir, an antiretroviral drug that slows the spread of HIV infection, offers a new weapon to treat HIV infection in children. So says Sharon Nachman, M.D., Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Pediatrics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and the Principal Investigator and Study Chair of a national multicenter clinical trial that studied the safety and efficacy of raltegravir in HIV-infected children and adolescents.
New approach to diagnosing anorexia nervosa
(Medical Xpress) -- A new approach for diagnosing patients with anorexia nervosa has been developed at the University of Sydney. The approach could have a significant impact on the treatment and recovery of sufferers, as well as reducing the strain on public health.
State's newborn screening program saved twins' lives
(Medical Xpress) -- Like a half-million other babies born in California in 2010, Sophia and Charlotte Gonzales each had a blood sample collected after their birth for the state’s newborn screening program. But in this instance, unlike many cases, those few precious drops were the difference between life and death: Without the newborn screening program, the identical twin sisters probably would not have survived their first week of life.
From neurology to psychiatry: Bullock probes mysterious seizures
Your emotional state has powerful control over your body — and Kim Bullock, MD, knows just how strong that hold can be. The Stanford psychiatrist works with patients who experience seizures that aren’t generated from the electrical brain storms of epilepsy, but instead are driven by their own psychological turmoil.
Transplants for two: Twins get new livers to treat rare disease
In a small room at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Megan and Ricky Gonzales each held one hand of their daughter Sophia, comforting her as she recovered from a Nov. 8 liver transplant. Near Sophia’s crib, her identical twin, Charlotte, babbled happily in the girls’ double stroller. Charlotte was waiting her turn — which came Nov. 27 — for her own liver transplant to treat the metabolic disease that nearly killed both girls as newborns.
Developing universal standards for health-care data
(Medical Xpress) -- The Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics at the University of Arkansas has released a decision-support tool to help hospitals understand and adopt universal standards for identifying materials, locations and partners within the complex U.S. health-care system.
A combined method for detecting consciousness
The combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography constitutes a new method allowing the traces of conscious activity to be revealed in brain injured patients.
Seeing others smoke encourages young people to smoke more
Young people who smoke each day light up more cigarettes if they see other young smokers. Anti-smoking campaigns wrongly ignore this implicit effect, says Dutch researcher Zeena Harakeh.
Marijuana use associated with cyclic vomiting syndrome in young males
Researchers have found clear associations between marijuana use in young males and cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), where patients experience episodes of vomiting separated by symptom free intervals.
Cancer and fertility -- young women speak up
Young female cancer survivors are concerned about their future fertility and parenthood options and want better information and guidance early on, according to a new study by Jessica Gorman and her team from the University of California in the US. Their paper, which presents in-depth information on young survivors' experiences navigating decisions about fertility and parenthood, is published online in Springer's Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
Researchers identify environmental exposure to organochlorines may impact male reproduction
Melissa Perry, Sc.D., M.H.S., professor and chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the GW School of Public Health and Health Services and adjunct associate professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, led an observational study indicating that environmental exposure to organochlorine chemicals, including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and p,p'-DDE (the main metabolite of the insecticide DDT) can affect male reproduction. The research was published online on Dec. 21, 2011 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Genetic and mechanistic basis for rotor syndrome uncovered
The main symptom of Rotor syndrome is jaundice caused by a buildup of a substance known as conjugated bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellow substance generated in large quantities when the body recycles red blood cells. It is conjugated in the liver to make it soluble in water so that it can be cleared from the body. Although Rotor syndrome is known to be a genetic disorder, it is not known which genes are involved.
Two randomized controlled trials highlight difficulties in treating migraines
Acupuncture and sham acupuncture appear equally effective in treating migraines, according to a clinical trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Estrogen-targeting drug combo may help prevent lung cancer
A combination of drugs that target estrogen production significantly reduced the number of tobacco carcinogen-induced lung tumors in mice, according to results from a preclinical study.
Genetic composition of multicentric lung tumors appears to be similar
Multicentric carcinogenesis with the same genetic mutation appears to occur in lung adenocarcinoma, according to data presented at the AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer: Biology, Therapy and Personalized Medicine, held Jan. 8-11, 2012.
Sensitive detection method analyzes circulating tumor cells in patients with lung cancer
Researchers have developed a method to analyze circulating tumor cells in the blood of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. This method, which can analyze a sample size as small as three cells, may allow clinicians to track cancer progress and treatments and could help them develop new therapies.
Replacing Medicare visual acuity screening with dilated eye exams appears cost effective
Replacing visual acuity screenings for new Medicare enrollees with coverage of a dilated eye exam for healthy patients entering the government insurance program for the elderly "would be highly cost-effective," suggests a study being published Online First by the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Payment review of emergency department eye care in Florida
A substantial proportion of emergency department eye care in Florida is reimbursed through Medicaid or paid for out of pocket by patients, and those findings may help in strategic planning as the debate over how best to implement the nation's new health care reform law progresses, according to a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
9-1-1 dispatchers can save more lives by coaching bystanders in CPR
More people will survive sudden cardiac arrest when 9-1-1 dispatchers help bystanders assess victims and begin CPR immediately, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Furor in Greece over pedophilia as a disability
(AP) -- Greek disability groups expressed anger Monday at a government decision to expand a list of state-recognized disability categories to include pedophiles, exhibitionists and kleptomaniacs.
How does team care improve depression and diabetes?
The growing number of people with multiple physical and mental chronic conditions are among the toughest—and costliest—to care for. The TEAMcare collaborative care program is a promising solution. In the January/February 2012 Annals of Family Medicine, Group Health Research Institute and UW Medicine researchers have found how this program works: through primary-care doctors starting and adjusting medications sooner and more often to reach goals ("treating to target"); and motivating patients to participate in their own care and monitor their illnesses.
For those with diabetes, controlling blood pressure is crucial, but not urgent
A new study suggests that middle-aged adults recently diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension have time to try to learn how to control their high blood pressure without medications, but not too much time.
Most parents who get tested for breast cancer genes share results with their children
A new study has found that when parents get tested for breast cancer genes, many of them share their results with their children, even with those who are very young. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study also revealed that most parents think that their children are not distressed when they learn about the test results.
Researchers map potential genetic origins, pathways of lung cancer in nonsmokers
Researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) have begun to identify mutations and cellular pathway changes that lead to lung cancer in never-smokers -- a first step in developing potential therapeutic targets.
Healthy eating may help ADHD kids: US study
Simply eating healthier may improve the behavior of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder if therapy and medication fail, said a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
Study finds melatonin eases sleep woes in children with autism
(Medical Xpress) -- A new Vanderbilt study shows that the over-the-counter supplement melatonin is promising in helping children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and their families, sleep better.
Blogging eases transition to motherhood, study shows
(Medical Xpress) -- Even for well-prepared couples, the transition to parenthood can be downright stressful.
Powerful people overestimate their height
(Medical Xpress) -- The psychological experience of power makes people feel taller than they are, according to research by ILR School associate professor of organizational behavior Jack Goncalo and a Washington University colleague.
Meta-analysis helps psychologists build knowledge
(Medical Xpress) -- When scientists want to know the answer to a question that’s been studied a great deal, they conduct something called a meta-analysis, pooling data from multiple studies to arrive at one combined answer. Some people think this creates a chilling effect, shutting off further inquiry. But the authors of a new paper published in Perspectives in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, write that meta-analysis actually helps scientific fields develop.
Researchers reveal darker side of the common cold
(Medical Xpress) -- Human rhinovirus (HRV), also known as the common cold, can be uncommonly serious for certain children, a study led by a Vanderbilt University Medical Center pediatrician shows.
Immune cell can trigger skin cancer caused by toxins
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers based jointly at King’s College London and the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, together with collaborators at Yale University have found that a type of immune cell, called a Langerhans cell, can facilitate development of skin cancer caused by exposure to harmful synthetic toxins in the environment.
Researchers discover new culprit in atherosclerosis
A new study by NYU Langone Medical Center researchers identified a new culprit that leads to atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fat and cholesterol that hardens into plaque and narrows arteries. The research, published online by Nature Immunology on January 8, 2012, explains why cholesterol-laden, coronary artery disease-causing cells called macrophages, accumulate in artery plaques.
Grief over losing loved one linked to higher heart attack risks
Your risk of heart attack may increase during the days and weeks after the death of a close loved one, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Why personalized medicine holds promise for preventing and treating diabetes
With the trend in healthcare moving toward an era of personalized medicine, there is much anticipation and hope that customized approaches to prevention and treatment based on a person's genetic make-up will result in better health outcomes. Some advances, most notably with prevention and treatment of breast and colon cancer, have been widely heralded, raising questions about the potential for personalized medicine for other common diseases, such as diabetes.
Combination therapy shows positive response for children with ADHD
While pharmacologic agents have a demonstrated efficacy in children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), some children have suboptimal response to a single pharmacologic agent. A recent study by Dr. Timothy E. Wilens and colleagues, published in the January 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), is the first randomized placebo-controlled trial designed to assess efficacy and safety of guanfacine extended release (GXR) as an adjunct to psychostimulants in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD who had a suboptimal response to a psychostimulant alone.
What to consider when teens with autism want to drive?
In the first study to investigate driving as it relates to teens with a high-functioning autism disorder (HFASD), child development and teen driving experts at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies found that two-thirds of teenagers with a high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD) who are of legal driving age in their state are currently driving or plan to drive.
Headphone music eases anxiety during prostate biopsies
Tuning in to tune out may be just what's needed for men undergoing a prostate biopsy, according to researchers at the Duke Cancer Institute.
Preventive hemophilia A treatment reduces annual bleeding events and frequency of infusions
A Rush University Medical Center led international research team has announced that a treatment to prevent bleeding episodes in children with hemophilia A also is effective for adolescents and adults.
FDA: Novartis recall may also affect painkillers
(AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration is warning patients about a potential mix-up between powerful prescription pain drugs and common over-the-counter medications like Excedrin and Gas-X made at a Novartis manufacturing plant.
Obesity and cancer screening: Do race and gender also play a role?
Researchers in Family and Community Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University recently found that obesity was linked to higher rates of prostate cancer screening across all races/ethnic differences and lower rates of cervical cancer screening, most notably in white women. Their study on the role of obesity in cancer screening rates for prostate, cervical as well as breast and colorectal cancers across race/ethnicity and gender is examined in the current issue of the Journal of Obesity.
Personalized gene therapies may increase survival in brain cancer patients
Personalized prognostic tools and gene-based therapies may improve the survival and quality of life of patients suffering from glioblastoma, an aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer, reports a new University of Illinois study funded by the NIH National Cancer Institute.
New study supports view that Lewy bodies are not the primary cause of cell death in Parkinson's Disease
The pathology of Parkinson's disease is characterized by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra (SN), an area of the brain associated with motor control, along with the development of α-synuclein (αS) protein in the form of Lewy bodies (LB) in the neurons that survive. The spread of LB pathology is thought to progress along with the clinical course of Parkinson's disease, although recent studies suggest that they are not the toxic cause of cell death. A new study published in The Journal of Parkinson's Disease finds no support for a primary pathogenic role of LBs, as neither their distribution nor density was associated with the severity of nigral cell loss.
Traditional Chinese medicine makes fertility treatments more effective: study
Traditional Chinese medicine has long been used to ease pain, treat disease, boost fertility, and prevent miscarriage. Known in the Western medical community by its acronym TCM, these traditional remedies include herbal preparations and acupuncture. Now Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered that a combination of TCM therapy and intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a winning solution for hopeful mommies who are having trouble conceiving.
Insulin therapy may help repair atherosclerotic lesions in diabetic patients
New research reveals that insulin applied in therapeutic doses selectively stimulates the formation of new elastic fibers in cultures of human aortic smooth muscle cells. These results advance the understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of diabetic vascular disease. The study is published in the February issue of the American Journal of Pathology.
Researchers find unique protein organization in arteries associated with cardiovascular disease
Human arteries – some smaller than a strand of hair – stiffen as a person ages. This stiffening is a factor in cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the United States, because it contributes to the circulatory complications in disorders such as high blood pressure and diabetes. University of Missouri researchers have now used advanced 3-D microscopic imaging technology to identify and monitor the proteins involved in this stiffening process. These findings could eventually help researchers and physicians understand and treat complications associated with cardiovascular disease.
Legionnaires' disease outbreak linked to hospital's decorative fountain
A 2010 outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in Wisconsin has been linked to a decorative fountain in a hospital lobby, according to a study published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
Towards more effective treatment for multiple myeloma
A new study from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, shows that MAL3-101, a recently developed inhibitor of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), appears to have potent anti-tumor effects on multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer. Despite aggressive modes of treatments, myeloma ultimately remains incurable. The disease has a high incidence in the communities served by SUNY Downstate.
Researchers shed light on how children learn to speak
Researchers have discovered that children under the age of two control speech using a different strategy than previously thought.
Study: 'Google Flu Trends' a powerful early warning system for emergency departments
Monitoring Internet search traffic about influenza may prove to be a better way for hospital emergency rooms to prepare for a surge in sick patients compared to waiting for outdated government flu case reports. A report on the value of the Internet search tool for emergency departments, studied by a team of researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine over a 21-month period, is published in the January 9 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Pill some day may prevent serious foodborne illness, scientist says
Modified probiotics, the beneficial bacteria touted for their role in digestive health, could one day decrease the risk of Listeria infection in people with susceptible immune systems, according to Purdue University research.
A penny-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages keeps the doctor away and saves money
Over the past 10 years, Americans drank more sugar-sweetened beverages than ever—as much as 13 billion gallons a year—making these drinks the largest source of added sugar and excess calories in the American diet and, arguably, the single largest dietary factor in the current obesity epidemic. While many states have a sales tax on soda, experts believe they are too low to impact consumption. In a study conducted at Columbia University Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco, researchers estimated that if a higher, penny-per-ounce tax were imposed on sugar-sweetened beverages, it would result in an approximately 15% reduction in consumption and reduce the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Biomarkers identify acute kidney injury in emergency patients
Acute kidney injury (AKI) has severe consequences, with a 25 to 80 percent risk of in-hospital death. Researchers have found a way to diagnose AKI using a urine test, enabling emergency departments to identify these high-risk patients when they first arrive at the hospital. The study will be published online on January 9, 2012, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Statin use in postmenopausal women associated with increased diabetes risk
The use of statins in postmenopausal women is associated with increased diabetes risk, according to a study published Online First by the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Dabigatran associated with increased risk of acute coronary events
The anticoagulant dabigatran is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) or acute coronary syndrome in a broad spectrum of patients when tested against some other medicines, according to a study published Online First by the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Study finds nicotine patches may help improve memory loss in older adults
Wearing a nicotine patch may help improve memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study published today in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Scientists link dietary DHA to male fertility
Who knew that male fertility depends on sperm-cell architecture? A University of Illinois study reports that a certain omega-3 fatty acid is necessary to construct the arch that turns a round, immature sperm cell into a pointy-headed super swimmer with an extra long tail.
America hits the brakes on health care spending
Is health-care relief finally in sight? Health spending stabilized as a share of the nation's economy in 2010 after two back-to-back years of historically low growth, the government reported Monday.
Bacteria in the gut of autistic children different from non-autistic children
The underlying reason autism is often associated with gastrointestinal problems is an unknown, but new results to be published in the online journal mBio on January 10 reveal that the guts of autistic children differ from other children in at least one important way: many children with autism harbor a type of bacteria in their guts that non-autistic children do not. The study was conducted by Brent Williams and colleagues at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
New study: Cholera in Haiti tracked more rapidly by social media than traditional methods
Internet-based news and Twitter feeds were faster than traditional sources at detecting the onset and progression of the cholera epidemic in post-earthquake Haiti that has already killed more than 6500 people and sickened almost half a million, according to a new study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
How does our brain know what is a face and what's not?
Objects that resemble faces are everywhere. Whether it’s New Hampshire’s erstwhile granite “Old Man of the Mountain,” or Jesus’ face on a tortilla, our brains are adept at locating images that look like faces. However, the normal human brain is almost never fooled into thinking such objects actually are human faces.
SWI/SNF protein complex plays role in suppressing pancreatic tumors: study
A well-known protein complex responsible for controlling how DNA is expressed plays a previously unsuspected role in preventing pancreatic cancer, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Research confirms novel strategy in fight against infectious diseases
New research shows that infectious disease-fighting drugs could be designed to block a pathogen's entry into cells rather than to kill the bug itself.
New way to learn about, potentially block traits in harmful pathogens
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed a new way to identify the genes of harmful microbes, particularly those that have been difficult to study in the laboratory.
Nicotine replacement therapies may not be effective in helping people quit smoking, study says
Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) designed to help people stop smoking, specifically nicotine patches and nicotine gum, do not appear to be effective in helping smokers quit long-term, even when combined with smoking cessation counseling, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Spasticity gene finding provides clues to causes of nerve cell degeneration
The discovery of a gene that causes a form of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) may provide scientists with an important insight into what causes axons, the stems of our nerve cells, to degenerate in conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
Study reveals enzyme function, could help find muscular dystrophy therapies
Researchers at the University of Iowa have worked out the exact function of an enzyme that is critical for normal muscle structure and is involved in several muscular dystrophies. The findings, which were published Jan. 6 in the journal Science, could be used to develop rapid, large-scale testing of potential muscular dystrophy therapies.
Men with deep voice may be lacking in sperm: study
(Medical Xpress) -- Women look for tall, dark and handsome. Those chiseled features and that deep sexy voice have gained the attention of women for generations. However, a new study published in PLoS ONE shows that those men with high-pitched voices may be better when it comes to mating.
Biology news
Strep-resistant fire blight found in New York orchards
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cornell plant pathologists have issued a warning to New York apple and pear growers after discovering a strain of fire blight that is resistant to such traditional treatments as the antibiotic streptomycin.
Out of Africa and Into the American Midwest
Grasses bend in the wind, their golden tips tracing arcs across fields that stretch toward the horizon. Sunwashed by a fading evening light, these reedy ballet dancers are central figures in savanna, an ecosystem that covers some 20 percent of Earth's land area.
Smart probe detects termites by 'hearing' them eat
Researchers at Edith Cowan University have come up with a sensitive acoustic device that can detect termite infestation by ‘hearing’ them chew through timber.
New primate species discovered on Madagascar
A Malagasy-German research team has discovered a new primate species in the Sahafina Forest in eastern Madagascar, a forest that has not been studied before.
Tracking genes' remote controls
As an embryo develops, different genes are turned on in different cells, to form muscles, neurons and other bodily parts. Inside each cell's nucleus, genetic sequences known as enhancers act like remote controls, switching genes on and off. Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, can now see – and predict – exactly when each remote control is itself activated, in a real embryo. Their work is published today in Nature Genetics.
New snake species announced
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced the discovery of a spectacularly colored snake from a remote area of Tanzania in East Africa.
New research helps predict bat presence at wind energy facilities
An interactive tool developed by researchers from the USDA Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW) will help wind energy facility operators make informed decisions on efficient ways to reduce impacts on migratory bats.
Costly copulation - research reveals the price of having sex
(PhysOrg.com) -- A recent study by Darrell Kemp, of Macquarie University, looking at the mating behaviour of the Australian plague locust has found that reproducing has a particularly high cost. According to Kemp, the rate at which the locusts are targeted by a predatory species—the black digger wasp—increases significantly during sex.
Fit females make more daughters, mighty males get grandsons
Females influence the gender of their offspring so they inherit either their mother's or grandfather's qualities. 'High-quality' females – those which produce more offspring – are more likely to have daughters. Weaker females, whose own fathers were stronger and more successful, produce more sons.
Scientists discover first-ever bee 'soldier'
(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Sussex scientists working with researchers in Brazil have identified the first example of a 'soldier' bee.
Genetic analysis shows tortoise species thought to be extinct for 150 years still lives
Dozens of giant tortoises of a species believed extinct for 150 years may still be living at a remote location in the Galapagos Islands, a genetic analysis conducted by Yale University researchers reveals.
Carnivorous plant traps worms with sticky leaves
Plants eat the darndest things. Scientists have discovered a small flowering plant living in the sandy soils of Brazil that traps nematodes, or roundworms, with sticky underground leaves -- and gobbles them up.
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