Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for March 12, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Modeling the miniscule: High-resolution design of nanoscale biomolecules- How to make ethical robots
- Fiber laser points to woven 3-D displays
- The annihilating effects of space travel
- Study finds how to correct human mitochondrial mutations
- More red meat consumption appears to be associated with increased risk of death
- Extensive taste loss in mammals: Animals live in surprisingly different sensory worlds
- Researchers discover molecular basis of autistic symptoms in children with rare bone disorder
- Mathematical methods help predict movement of oil and ash following environmental disasters
- Study of ribosome evolution challenges 'RNA World' hypothesis
- Common North American frog identified as carrier of deadly amphibian disease
- Increased honey bee diversity means fewer pathogens, more helpful bacteria
- Scientists name two new species of horned dinosaur
- Venus and Jupiter cuddling up in night sky
- Yahoo! accuses Facebook of patent infringement (Update)
Space & Earth news
Water crunch looms without action on waste: UN report
Water problems in many parts of the world are chronic and without a crackdown on waste will worsen as demand for food rises and climate change intensifies, the UN warned on Sunday.
Incredible digital re-creations of the Mars rovers
Want to see the Mars Exploration Rovers in incredible, intricate detail – without having to travel to the Red Planet to inspect them in person? Design wizard Nick Sotiriadis from Greece has spent five years working on what he calls a once-in-a-lifetime project creating high resolution 3-D renders of the Mars rovers with attention to detail precise at the scale of millimeters. Even NASA doesn’t have anything this detailed for reference, so Sotiriadis basically built these visual representations of the rovers with 3-D computer graphics.
Forest service report shows forest growth in north outpacing other parts of country
U.S. Forest Service scientists today released an assessment that shows forest land has expanded in northern states during the past century despite a 130-percent population jump and relentless environmental threats. At the same time, Forest Service researchers caution that threats to forests in the coming decades could undermine these gains.
NASA's Goddard, Glenn Centers look to lift space astronomy out of the fog
A fogbank is the least useful location for a telescope, yet today's space observatories effectively operate inside one. That's because Venus, Earth and Mars orbit within a vast dust cloud produced by comets and occasional collisions among asteroids. After the sun, this so-called zodiacal cloud is the solar system's most luminous feature, and its light has interfered with infrared, optical and ultraviolet observations made by every astronomical space mission to date.
Nobel scientist who warned of thinning ozone dies
(AP) -- F. Sherwood Rowland, the Nobel prize-winning chemist who sounded the alarm on the thinning of the Earth's ozone layer and crusaded against the use of man-made chemicals that were harming earth's atmospheric blanket, has died. He was 84.
China may send its first woman into space: Xinhua
China may send its first woman into space this year after including female astronauts in the team training for its first manned space docking, state media said Monday.
Climate change threatens Seychelles habitat
Bursts of torrential rain lash the idyllic white beaches of the Seychelles, where conservationists fear that rare species such as the giant tortoise are at severe risk from climate change.
Still concerned about 2012?
Don’t be.
Following a watershed's winding path to sustainability
Cherokee Marsh, it's called, this sunken enclave surrounded by cattails and bulrushes. The marsh is a mere dot on a map of the state of Wisconsin, but its importance reaches far beyond the wetland's edge.
A new approach to predicting spacecraft re-entry
(PhysOrg.com) -- In mid-December 2011, the Laboratory received a call from the Air Force Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC). At the time, Laboratory scientists were working with JSpOC to upgrade their command and control software.
Encounters of another kind: meteorite chunk falls on Oslo
A Norwegian family was flabbergasted to find that what appeared to be a piece of a meteorite had crashed through the roof of their allotment garden hut in the middle of Oslo, media reported Monday.
A new theory on the formation of the oldest continents
German geologists from the Universities of Bonn and Cologne have demonstrated new scientific results in the April issue of the scholarly journal Geology, which provide a new theory on the earliest phase of continental formation.
Most experienced US spacewalker retires
A NASA astronaut who spent more hours walking in space than any other American and also set a record for the longest spaceflight mission has retired to join the private sector, the US space agency said Monday.
Hubble image of galaxies' El Dorado
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has produced this beautiful image of the galaxy NGC 1483. NGC 1483 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the southern constellation of Dorado — the dolphinfish (or Mahi-mahi fish) in Spanish. The nebulous galaxy features a bright central bulge and diffuse arms with distinct star-forming regions. In the background, many other distant galaxies can be seen.
Venus and Jupiter cuddling up in night sky
It's not too late to catch the spectacular Venus and Jupiter show.
Cassini captures new images of icy moon Rhea
(PhysOrg.com) -- These raw, unprocessed images of Saturn's second largest moon, Rhea, were taken on March 10, 2012, by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. This was a relatively distant flyby with a close-approach distance of 26,000 miles (42,000 kilometers), well suited for global geologic mapping.
Technology news
Global media watchdog names enemies of Internet
(AP) -- The Arab Spring is changing the face of Internet freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders, which released its latest "Enemies of the Internet" list Monday.
Major contract will supply solar panels derived from CERN technology
At Geneva International Airport, SRB Energy delivered the first of the solar panels that will form one of the largest solar energy systems of Switzerland. Ultimately, some 300 high-temperature solar thermal panels will cover a surface of 1200 square metres on the roof of the airport’s main terminal building. The panels, which will be used to keep the buildings warm during the winter and cool in the summer, are derived from vacuum technology developed at CERN for particle accelerators.
Roadway with recycled toilets is world's first official 'Greenroad'
Greenroads, a rating system developed at the University of Washington to promote sustainable roadway construction, awarded its first official certification to a Bellingham project that incorporates porcelain from recycled toilets.
A georeferenced digital 'comic' to improve emergency management
Spanish researchers at the Universidad Carlos III of Madrid have developed a computer application that allows georeferenced images that have been uploaded to social networks on the Internet to be recovered, located on maps and organized like a comic to create a visual perspective of a specific story, such as a crisis situation or an emergency.
Crowd-financing plays starring role in SXSW films
(AP) -- The film "Girl Walk // All Day" opens on a blonde girl joyfully dancing past unimpressed New Yorkers on the Staten Island Ferry.
Mexico's Slim invests in online TV network
Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim is teaming up with former CNN talk show host Larry King to launch an online television venture called Ora.TV.
TED launches learning initiative at YouTube
The non-profit group behind thought-provoking TED conferences launched an education channel on YouTube in a bid to make learning irresistible.
China's top 2 video websites to merge
(AP) -- China's top two video websites announced plans Monday to merge in hopes of creating the dominant competitor in a fast-growing industry that is drawing viewers from bland state television.
The Japanese disaster one year later
As the world remembers the horrors of the disaster on its one-year anniversary, experts at the Mailman School take stock of disaster response, nuclear fears and lessons learned
Technology that translates sign language into text aims to empower sign language users
(PhysOrg.com) -- Technology which translates sign language into text is being developed by scientists in Aberdeen.
New design techniques enable extremely reliable medical devices
For pacemakers and other implantable medical devices there are three key factors: extreme reliability, small size, and long longevity. In the EU project Desyre, researchers tackle these issues with a new approach: building a reliable system on unreliable components.
'Anonymous' group hacks Tunisian Islamist sites
Hackers claiming to belong to the Anonymous Internet freedom group posted video messages on Facebook pages of Tunisian Islamists, threatening reprisals over their efforts to introduce Salafist laws.
Mobile money faces developed-world challenge
Instances of the so-called tail wagging the dog abound. Add to that club mobile-money services, the idea that you can make financial transactions of all kinds using only a cellphone.
High-tech companies grapple with rising costs in China
The price to make Silicon Valley gadgets and computers in China - the assembly line for the global tech industry - is going up, forcing tech companies to rejigger supply chains to contain costs and to consider charging more for electronic devices.
Dish closes on 2 purchases key to broadband plans
(AP) -- Satellite TV provider Dish Network Corp. has completed its purchase of two satellite operators whose licenses it hopes to use to offer broadband access that can help it compete better with cable TV and phone companies.
Re-inventing the planned city
In response to population growth, many "new towns" or planned cities were built around the world in the 1950s. But according to Dr. Tali Hatuka, head of Tel Aviv University's Laboratory for Contemporary Urban Design (LCUD) at the Department of Geography and the Human Environment, these cities are a poor fit for modern lifestyles – and it's time to innovate.
Lost smartphones mined by finders: Symantec
Lost smartphones are likely to be mined for valuable information by strangers who find them, according to the results of a sting operation conducted by computer security firm Symantec.
IPhone hit Instagram heads to Android smartphones
The makers of an Instagram photo-sharing application wildly popular on Apple gadgets are tailoring a version for smartphones powered by Android software.
Amateurs battle malware, hackers in UK cybergames
Amateur cybersleuths have been hunting malware, raising firewalls and fending off mock hack attacks in a series of simulations supported in part by Britain's eavesdropping agency.
Automatic safety under water
The Suba system aims to become to diving what the automatic pilot is to flying. Developed by a student from EPFL, it will be released to the market by his start-up company: Pandora Underwater Equipment, starting from April 2012.
Apple's market clout likely to draw more scrutiny
In everything it does, from product design to business deals, Apple strives for as much control as possible.
Yahoo! accuses Facebook of patent infringement (Update)
Yahoo! filed suit against Facebook in a California court on Monday accusing the social networking giant of infringing on 10 patents held by the Internet pioneer.
Twitter buys mobile blogging startup Posterous
Twitter on Monday announced that it has bought mobile blogging startup Posterous and will put engineers behind the popular "lifestreaming" service to work on special projects.
Medicine & Health news
Groundbreaking study reveals extent of global child poverty
Poverty is currently the world’s biggest killer of children. Every day, many millions of children around the world enduring tremendous suffering and severe deprivation of their most basic needs, for shelter, food, water and education. A new book by academics at the University of Bristol, Global child poverty and well-being: Measurement, concepts, policy and action is the first to provide a global picture about how child poverty is understood, defined and measured.
Pelayo offers tips to deal with 'spring forward' clock change
The change to daylight saving time and other changes to sleep schedules can make it hard to fall or stay asleep. In an effort to help you spring forward and stay on track, Stanford sleep expert Rafael Pelayo, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, recently took questions on sleep research and offered techniques for making sure disruptions, such as the March 11 switch to daylight saving time, don’t cut into your sleep. Below are Pelayo’s responses to a selection of questions submitted through Twitter using the hashtag #AskSUMed, @replies to the @SUMedicine feed or through comments on the medical school’s blog Scope. Other Stanford experts will be available in the future for questions as part of the Ask Stanford Med series.
Multi-national clinical trial shows effectiveness of amantadine in treatment of traumatic brain injury
A multi-national study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed a significant breakthrough in the treatment of patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states. The study showed that the drug amantadine hydrochloride accelerated the pace of functional recovery during active treatment in patients with post-traumatic disorders of consciousness.
Root cause of dental phobia
(Medical Xpress) -- Women in their forties are more likely to have dental anxiety than any other age group according to a University of Sydney study into dental anxiety and phobia.
Avatar teaches breastfeeding benefits and techniques
Breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life is linked to a lower risk of several health problems for both the mother and child. For instance, children who are breastfed are less likely to suffer from asthma, obesity, childhood leukemia and both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Mothers who breastfeed their children have lower risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and postpartum depression.
Spring feelings need to be nurtured in winter
Anyone who wants to experience those spring feelings in their minds needs to work on them in winter. This is the advice of Siegfried Kasper, Head of the University Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the MedUni Vienna, ahead of the forthcoming international "Brain Awareness Week" from the 12th to the 18th of March. Staying active and positive during the winter months too is the key to developing those spring feelings.
Scientists study human diseases in flies
More than two-thirds of human genes have counterparts in the well-studied fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, so although it may seem that humans don't have much in common with flies, the correspondence of our genetic instructions is astonishing. In fact, there are hundreds of inherited diseases in humans that have Drosophila counterparts.
Growing market for human organs exploits poor
A Michigan State University anthropologist who spent more than a year infiltrating the black market for human kidneys has published the first in-depth study describing the often horrific experiences of poor people who were victims of organ trafficking.
A clinical study: Selective neck dissection in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Metastasis of tumors to level IIb lymph nodes is rare in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC); this area can be ignored during selective neck dissection (SND) to avoid damaging the spinal accessory nerve (SAN), making this surgery more conservative and minimizing SAN morbidity, according to the March 2012 issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Pressures to increase volume of colonoscopies adversely impacts how screenings are performed
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that 92 percent of more than 1,000 gastroenterologists responding to a survey believed that pressures to increase the volume of colonoscopies adversely impacted how they performed their procedures, which could potentially affect the quality of colon cancer screening. The findings, based on responses from members of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), are published in the March 2012 issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement threatens public health
An editorial to be published by the scientific journal Addiction has been made available online, revealing that negotiations are underway behind closed doors for a far-reaching new trade and investment agreement that could tie the hands of governments' future alcohol and tobacco control policies in perpetuity.
Restoring what's lost: Uncovering how liver tissue regenerates
The liver is unique among mammalian organs in its ability to regenerate after significant tissue damage or even partial surgical removal.
Delay in surgery can cause irreparable meniscus tears in children with ACL injuries
For children aged 14 and under, delaying reconstructive surgery for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may raise their risk of further injury, according to a new study by pediatric orthopaedic surgeons. If surgery occurs later than 12 weeks after the injury, the injury may even be irreparable.
Russia HIV infections rise 5% in 2011: official
Russia in 2011 saw a rise of five percent in the number of new HIV infections to 62,000 cases amid worrying signs that heterosexuals and women are increasingly at risk, its chief doctor said Monday.
Farm hazards a serious threat to kids, study finds
(HealthDay) -- Almost 27,000 children are injured on farms in the United States each year, and many require hospitalization, according to a new study.
Routine glaucoma screening program may benefit middle-age African-American patients
Implementing a routine national glaucoma screening program for middle-age African American patients may be clinically effective; however its potential effect on reducing visual impairment and blindness may be modest, according to a computer-based mathematical model reported in the March issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
Network approach improves outcomes in IBD despite lack of new treatment options
Many children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis who received treatment through ImproveCareNow, a national quality improvement and research network, ceased to have symptoms and no longer needed to take steroids for disease management. These are the findings from a study appearing in Pediatrics that examined the ImproveCareNow network's quality improvement efforts and their impact on outcomes. In this study, the proportion of children with Crohn's disease who were in remission increased from 55 percent to 68 percent, with a similar improvement in ulcerative colitis patients.
University of Louisville/Jewish Hospital program helps avoid, delay heart transplant
Some patients with advanced heart failure caused by cardiomyopathy, the deterioration of function of the heart muscle, are benefitting from a new recovery protocol at the University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital, a part of KentuckyOne Health.
New study has implications for treating and preventing cancers caused by viruses
New research from the Trudeau Institute addresses how the human body controls gamma-herpesviruses, a class of viruses thought to cause a variety of cancers. The study, carried out in the laboratory of Dr. Marcia Blackman, awaits publication in The Journal of Immunology. Led by postdoctoral fellow Mike Freeman, with assistance from other laboratory colleagues, the study describes the role of white blood cells in controlling gamma-herpesvirus infections and has implications for the treatment and prevention of certain cancers.
FDA panel supports continued testing of pain drugs
(AP) -- A panel of arthritis experts has recommended that the federal government allow continued testing of an experimental class of pain drugs for arthritis, despite links to bone decay and joint failure
Protein discovery could switch off cardiovascular disease
Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Surrey have found a protein inside blood vessels with an ability to protect the body from substances which cause cardiovascular disease.
A lifetime of research may be leading to a life-saving treatment for shock
A 200-patient Phase 2 clinical pilot study will be initiated this month to test the efficacy and safety of a new use, and method of administering, an enzyme inhibitor for critically ill patients developed by University of California, San Diego Bioengineering Professor Geert Schmid-Schönbein. Conditions expected to qualify for the study include new-onset sepsis and septic shock, post-operative complications, and new-onset gastrointestinal bleeding.
More children now living with 'life-limiting' conditions
The number of children with conditions such as muscular dystrophy, neurodegenerative disorders or severe cerebral palsy who are surviving into adulthood has been underestimated, a new study shows.
Circumcision may help protect against prostate cancer
A new analysis led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that circumcision before a male's first sexual intercourse may help protect against prostate cancer. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study suggests that circumcision can hinder infection and inflammation that may lead to this malignancy.
New weight loss surgery folds stomach into smaller size
(Medical Xpress) -- Patients seeking a weight-loss surgery that does not require an implanted device or permanent change to their anatomy, have a new clinical trial option at UC San Diego Health System. Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of minimally invasive surgery, and his team, now offer gastric plication, a novel surgery that folds the stomach into a smaller, more compact size.
3Qs: It may be daylight saving, but we're losing an hour
This weekend we turn the clocks forward an hour for the return of daylight saving time, which means we lose an hour of sleep. We also have to do things an hour earlier than we did before relative to the natural light and dark cycles of the day and relative to our internal body clocks. Biology professor Fred Davis shares how daylight saving time affects our bodies and how simple adjustments can make the transition smoother for us.
Researchers discover mechanism in cells that leads to inflammatory diseases
Cedars-Sinai researchers have unlocked the mystery of how an inflammatory molecule is produced in the body, a discovery they say could lead to advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Type 2 diabetes and numerous other chronic diseases that affect tens of millions of people.
Powerful treatment provides effective relief for urinary incontinence
The biggest study into the treatment of urinary incontinence with botulinum toxin (trade name Botox) has demonstrated that it is effective in treating overactive bladder (OAB) - a debilitating common condition which can affect up to 20% of people over the age of 40.
Reducing academic pressure may help children succeed
Children may perform better in school and feel more confident about themselves if they are told that failure is a normal part of learning, rather than being pressured to succeed at all costs, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
Beliefs about genes, God, can change health communication strategies
Beliefs about nature and nurture can affect how patients and their families respond to news about their diagnosis, according to Penn State health communication researchers.
Mini-molecule governs severity of acute graft vs. host disease, study finds
Researchers have identified a molecule that helps control the severity of graft-versus-host disease, a life-threatening complication for many leukemia patients who receive a bone-marrow transplant.
New study identifies pockets of high cervical cancer rates in North Carolina
A study of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in North Carolina has revealed areas where rates are unusually high.
New research could provide roadmap for more effective drug discovery for cystic fibrosis
A recent study led by Gergely Lukacs, a professor at McGill University's Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, and published in the January issue of Cell, has shown that restoring normal function to the mutant gene product responsible for cystic fibrosis (CF) requires correcting two distinct structural defects. This finding could point to more effective therapeutic strategies for CF in the future.
Potential role of parents' work exposures in autism risk examined
Could parental exposure to solvents at work be linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their children? According to an exploratory study by Erin McCanlies, a research epidemiologist from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and colleagues, such exposures could play a role, but more research would be needed to confirm an association. Their pilot study is published online in Springer's Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
The reality of 'low T'
A middle-aged man goes to see his doctor, complaining of a host of vague symptoms: He's lethargic, somewhat depressed and feeling a little anxious about his manliness.
Aged garlic may ease cold symptoms
Cold and flu symptoms have a significant impact on our economy.
Major study stops bladder cancer from metastasizing to lungs
The diagnosis of localized bladder cancer carries an 80 percent five-year survival rate, but once the cancer spreads, the survival rate at even three years is only 20 percent. A major study published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation not only shows how bladder cancer metastasizes to the lungs but pinpoints a method for stopping this spread.
Medically prescribed heroin more effective, less costly than current methadone treatment
Medically prescribed heroin is more cost-effective than methadone for treating long-term street heroin users, according to a new study by researchers at Providence Health Care and the University of British Columbia.
Researchers find Epstein Barr-like virus infects and may cause cancer in dogs
More than 90 percent of humans have antibodies to the Epstein Barr virus. Best known for causing mononucleosis, or "the kissing disease," the virus has also been implicated in more serious conditions, including Hodgkin's, non-Hodgkin's and Burkitt's lymphomas. Yet little is known about exactly how EBV triggers these diseases.
New study examines how medical symptoms presented online makes a difference in health-care choices
Maybe you've had a reoccurring sore throat or frequent headaches. Perhaps the pain in your leg won't go away. In the past, you might have gone to a doctor's office to diagnose symptoms.
New study examines stair-related injuries among children in the US
A new study by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that from 1999 through 2008, more than 93,000 children younger than 5 years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments for stair-related injuries. On average, this equates to a child younger than 5 years of age being rushed to an emergency department for a stair-related injury every six minutes in the U.S.
Canadian trial against Big Tobacco starts
Nearly two million Canadians claimed $27 billion from leading tobacco companies at a trial that opened Monday for allegedly failing to adequately warn them about the danger of smoking.
FDA panel to weigh second chance for new class of painkillers
(HealthDay) -- A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Monday will weigh the wisdom of allowing new clinical trials of a class of powerful painkillers for osteoarthritis. The drugs may have worked so well for some patients that those patients wound up needing knee replacement surgery because they overworked their already damaged joints.
Staph sepsis increases mortality in preterm infants
(HealthDay) -- Only about 1 percent of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants develop methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, and the morbidity and mortality are similar to that seen in infants with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) infections, according to a study published online March 12 in Pediatrics.
Calcium, vitamin D modulate human energy metabolism
(HealthDay) -- There is considerable evidence that calcium and vitamin D intake are influential in modulating energy metabolism in humans, according to a study published online March 2 in Obesity Reviews.
Smartphones more accurate, faster, cheaper for disease surveillance
Smartphones are showing promise in disease surveillance in the developing world. The Kenya Ministry of Health, along with researchers in Kenya for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that smartphone use was cheaper than traditional paper survey methods to gather disease information, after the initial set-up cost. Survey data collected with smartphones also in this study had fewer errors and were more quickly available for analyses than data collected on paper, according to a study presented today at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta.
Study reports steady increases in long-term survival among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
A study by the Children's Oncology Group (COG) reported that five-year survival for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, the most common type of pediatric cancer) among children treated through COG clinical trials increased from 83.7 percent during the period 1990-1994 to 90.4 percent in the period 2000-2005. The improvements in survival were observed among all children over age 1 regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, or subtype of ALL. This analysis, which is the largest study to date of ALL survival, showed similar gains in 10-year survival. The findings are published March 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Lifestyle changes for obese patients linked to modest weight loss
A program that helps obese patients improve healthy behaviors is associated with modest weight loss and improved blood pressure control in a high-risk, low-income group, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Duke University, Harvard University and other institutions.
Personal mobile computing increases doctors' efficiency
Providing personal mobile computers to medical residents increases their efficiency, reduces delays in patient care and enhances continuity of care, according to a "research letter" in the March 12, 2012, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Statin use appears associated with modest reduction in Parkinson's disease risk
Regular use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may be associated with a modest reduction in risk for developing Parkinson disease, particularly among younger patients, according to a study in the March issue of Archives of Neurology.
Prescribing opioids for pain after short-stay surgery appears associated with long-term use
Prescribing opioids for pain to older patients within seven days of short-stay surgery appears to be associated with long-term analgesic use compared to those patients who did not receive prescriptions for analgesics after surgery, according to a study published in the March 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to increased risk of heart disease in men
Men who drank a 12-ounce sugar-sweetened beverage a day had a 20 percent higher risk of heart disease compared to men who didn't drink any sugar-sweetened drinks, according to research published in Circulation, an American Heart Association journal.
Latest data confirms high failure rates for metal-on-metal hip replacements
Ten days after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that patients who have received stemmed metal-on-metal (MOM) hip replacements will need annual check-ups, The Lancet publishes "unequivocal evidence" from the largest database on hip replacements in the world, confirming that stemmed MOM implants are failing at much higher rates than other types, particularly those with larger head sizes and those implanted in women, in whom failure rates are up to four-times higher. The authors call for a ban on the use of stemmed MOM hip implants.
Preemies still receive inhaled nitric oxide despite lack of supporting evidence and standards
Many premature infants throughout the United States continue to receive inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) during their NICU stay, despite the lack of evidence to support its use. Whether or not a preemie will receive iNO treatment, when and for how long, varies greatly throughout the country, as its use in premature infants appears to be unstandardized. These are the findings of a Nationwide Children's Hospital study appearing in the journal Pediatrics.
Tweens just say 'maybe' to cigarettes and alcohol
When it comes to prevention of substance use in our tween population, turning our kids on to thought control may just be the answer to getting them to say no.
British court: Right-to-die case can proceed
(AP) -- In a case that challenges Britain's definition of murder, a severely disabled man who says his life has no "privacy or dignity" will be granted a hearing on his request that a doctor be allowed to give him a lethal injection.
India licenses generic copy of patented Bayer drug
(AP) -- India effectively ended Bayer's monopoly on a patented cancer drug Monday, licensing a much cheaper generic under a unique law aimed at keeping costs affordable.
Exercise might boost kids' academic ability
(HealthDay) -- Promoting physical activity among young school kids can end up improving their academic performance, a new study suggests.
Sending out an SOS: How telomeres incriminate cells that can't divide
The well-being of living cells requires specialized squads of proteins that maintain order. Degraders chew up worn-out proteins, recyclers wrap up damaged organelles, and-most importantly-DNA repair crews restitch anything that resembles a broken chromosome. If repair is impossible, the crew foreman calls in executioners to annihilate a cell. As unsavory as this last bunch sounds, failure to summon them is one aspect of what makes a cancer cell a cancer cell.
New rabies virus discovered in Tanzania
(Medical Xpress) -- A new type of rabies virus has been discovered in Tanzania by scientists from the University of Glasgow and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA).
Researchers discover molecular basis of autistic symptoms in children with rare bone disorder
Children with multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE), an inherited genetic disease, suffer from multiple growths on their bones that cause pain and disfigurement. But beyond the physical symptoms of this condition, some parents have long observed that their children with MHE also experience autism-like social problems. Buoyed by the support of these parents, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) used a mouse model of MHE to investigate cognitive function. They found that mice with a genetic defect that models human MHE show symptoms that meet the three defining characteristics of autism: social impairment, language deficits, and repetitive behavior. The study, published online the week of March 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, also defines the molecular and physiological basis of this behavior, pinpointing the amygdala as the region of the brain causing autistic symptoms.
More red meat consumption appears to be associated with increased risk of death
Eating more red meat appears to be associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, but substituting other foods including fish and poultry for red meat is associated with a lower mortality risk, according to a study published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Health insurance premiums will surpass median household income in 2033: study
(HealthDay) -- If current trends continue, health insurance premiums will surpass the median U.S. household income in 2033, a new study says.
New research advances understanding of size perception
Neuroscientists from Western University have taken the all-important first step towards understanding the neural basis of size constancy or the ability to see an object as having the same size despite the fact that its image on the retina changes constantly with viewing distance.
Study finds how to correct human mitochondrial mutations
Researchers at the UCLA stem cell center and the departments of chemistry and biochemistry and pathology and laboratory medicine have identified, for the first time, a generic way to correct mutations in human mitochondrial DNA by targeting corrective RNAs, a finding with implications for treating a host of mitochondrial diseases.
Biology news
Forage, corn feed alternative for cattle may come from biodiesel industry
Crude glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, could be an economical ingredient in cattle diets, according to studies by Texas AgriLife Research and West Texas A&M University personnel.
Defect in transport system causes DNA chaos in red blood cells
Within all our cells lies two meters of DNA, highly ordered in a structure of less than 10 micro meters in diameter. Special proteins called histones act as small building bricks, organising our DNA in this structure. Preservation of the structure is necessary to maintain correct function of our genes, making histones detrimental for maintaining a healthy and functional body. The research group of Associate Professor Anja Groth from BRIC, University of Copenhagen, has just elucidated a function of the protein Codanin-1, shedding light on the rare anemic disease CDAI where development of the red blood cells is disturbed. The new results also contribute with important knowledge on how our DNA-structure is maintained and how our genes are regulated.
Smithsonian NEMESIS tracks marine invaders online
Mitten crabs, zebra mussels and rock vomit: These and hundreds of other non-native species have invaded coastal regions throughout the United States, often causing dramatic changes to coastal ecosystems and significant economic costs. The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center has now created NEMESIS (National Estuarine and Marine Exotic Species Information System), an online public database to provide key information about the non-native marine species throughout the nation.
Increasing genetic diversity of honey bees needed
(PhysOrg.com) -- Increasing the overall genetic diversity of honey bees will lead to healthier and hardier bees that can better fight off parasites, pathogens and pests, says bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey of the University of California, Davis, and Washington State University.
Researcher uses medical imaging technology to better understand fish senses
University of Rhode Island marine biologist Jacqueline Webb gets an occasional strange look when she brings fish to the Orthopedics Research Lab at Rhode Island Hospital. While the facility's microCT scanner is typically used to study bone density and diseases like osteoporosis, it is also providing new insights into the skull structure and sensory systems of fish.
A new view of DNA
While it’s clear that DNA sequencing has been an indispensable tool in understanding any number of biological processes, new research from Harvard suggests that how DNA is packed into cells may be at least as important as the biological coding it contains.
Genetic analysis of ancient 'Iceman' mummy traces ancestry from Alps to Mediterranean isle
The Iceman mummy, also known as Otzi, is about 5,300 years old. Scientists studying his body since his discovery in the Italian Alps in 1991 have learned many things, including the cause of his death (an arrow to the back) and his last meal (ibex meat). An analysis of the corpse’s chemical composition suggested that he was born and lived his entire life in the Tyrol area where his body was found. Now they’re delving deeper to unearth more clues in the mummy’s DNA.
Birds' diverse traits survive Amazon fires
Research in the Amazon has shown that wildfires are less of a threat to the functional diversity of rainforest birds than you might expect.
Insulin, nutrition prevent blood stem cell differentiation in fruit flies
UCLA stem cell researchers have shown that insulin and nutrition keep blood stem cells from differentiating into mature blood cells in Drosophila, the common fruit fly, a finding that has implications for studying inflammatory response and blood development in response to dietary changes in humans.
Extensive taste loss in mammals: Animals live in surprisingly different sensory worlds
Scientists from the Monell Center report that seven of 12 related mammalian species have lost the sense of sweet taste. As each of the sweet-blind species eats only meat, the findings demonstrate that a liking for sweets is frequently lost during the evolution of diet specialization.
Scientists document first consumption of abundant life form, Archaea
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of scientists has documented for the first time that animals can and do consume Archaea – a type of single-celled microorganism thought to be among the most abundant life forms on Earth.
Increased honey bee diversity means fewer pathogens, more helpful bacteria
A novel study of honey bee genetic diversity co-authored by an Indiana University biologist has for the first time found that greater diversity in worker bees leads to colonies with fewer pathogens and more abundant helpful bacteria like probiotic species.
Common North American frog identified as carrier of deadly amphibian disease
Known for its distinctive "ribbit" call, the noisy Pacific chorus frog is a potent carrier of a deadly amphibian disease, according to new research published today in the journal PLoS ONE. Just how this common North American frog survives chytridiomycosis may hold clues to protect more vulnerable species from the disease.
Study of ribosome evolution challenges 'RNA World' hypothesis
In the beginning – of the ribosome, the cell's protein-building workbench – there were ribonucleic acids, the molecules we call RNA that today perform a host of vital functions in cells. And according to a new analysis, even before the ribosome's many working parts were recruited for protein synthesis, proteins also were on the scene and interacting with RNA. This finding challenges a long-held hypothesis about the early evolution of life.
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