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Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for March 22, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Researchers revolutionize closed captioning- A close-up view of Mercury: Researchers find the planet may have had a dynamic past
- Battery cathode made of waste byproducts from paper industry promises sustainable energy storage
- Magnetic cloak: Physicists create device invisible to magnetic fields
- Hunters, not climate change, killed giant beasts 40,000 years ago
- Facebook privacy flaw nailed at Lugano workshop
- Liquid-like materials may pave way for new thermoelectric devices
- New technique lets scientists peer within nanoparticles, see atomic structure in 3-D
- New understanding of Earth's lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary beneath the Pacific Ocean
- Getting the dirt on immunity: Study shows early exposure to germs is a good thing
- Photoacoustic tomography can 'see' in color and detail several inches beneath the skin
- IBM, NYC hospital training Watson supercomputer in cancer
- Standoff sensing enters new realm with dual-laser technique
- Gov't sues AT&T over Internet calls
- Research wrests partial control of a memory
Space & Earth news
Arsenic in Goldfields soil needs monitoring
Exposure to arsenic in soil and mine waste may have contributed to a slight increase in past cancer risk in socio-economically disadvantaged areas in the Goldfields region of Victoria, according to new research published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.
ATV Edoardo Amaldi set for liftoff
ESA’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle, Edoardo Amaldi, is ready for launch to the International Space Station. ESA’s formal Launch Readiness Review on Monday revealed no problems with the vessel. Launch is set for this Friday at 04:34 GMT (05:34 CET).
3Qs: What is 'global weirding'?
Auroop Ganguly — an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering who heads Northeastern’s Sustainability and Data Sciences Lab — explains how global climate change and extreme weather, such as hurricanes and heat waves, could affect water sustainability, critical infrastructures and human health.
The stellar superhighway in the Milky Way
Conventional wisdom suggests that, like planets round the Sun, stars follow approximately circular orbits which cross the spiral arms, and that the Sun presently lies in a spur rather than a major spiral arm.
Expedition to undersea mountain yields new information about sub-seafloor structure
Scientists recently concluded an expedition aboard the research vessel JOIDES Resolution to learn more about Atlantis Massif, an undersea mountain, or seamount, that formed in a very different way than the majority of the seafloor in the oceans.
Seismic survey at the Mariana trench will follow water dragged down into the Earth's mantle
(PhysOrg.com) -- Last month, Doug Wiens, PhD, professor of earth and planetary science at Washington University in St. Louis, was cruising the tropical waters of the western Pacific above the Mariana trench aboard the research vessel Thomas G. Thompson.
Earth's crust slowly being destroyed
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research shows that the Earth’s crust is now undergoing high rates of destruction.
Massive ice avalanches on Iapetus
We've seen avalanches on Mars, but now scientists have found avalanches taking place on an unlikely place in our solar system: Saturn’s walnut-shaped, two-toned moon Iapetus. And these aren’t just run-of-the-mill avalanches: they are huge inundations of debris. These events are specifically known as long-runout landslides — debris flows that have traveled unusually long distances. Just how these avalanches are occurring is somewhat of a mystery, according to Bill McKinnon from Washington University in St. Louis.
Researchers take first-ever measurement of auroral turbulence using a nanosatellite radar receiver
Researchers from SRI International and the University of Michigan have taken the first-ever measurement of naturally occurring auroral turbulence recorded using a nanosatellite radar receiver. The research was done with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) Initiative.
International study estimates ocean value
Professor Robert Diaz of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, is a co-editor of "Valuing the Ocean" a major new study by an international team of scientists and economists that attempts to measure the ocean's monetary value and to tally the costs and savings associated with human decisions affecting ocean health.
NASA reschedules Va. suborbital rocket launches
(AP) -- NASA is again rescheduling the launch of five rockets from Virginia due to bad weather.
Small clique of nations found to dominate global trading web of food, water
It's not easy, or economically feasible, to ship freshwater across the globe. But when scientists use food as a proxy for that water - taking into account how much crops are irrigated and livestock are fed - they can get a glimpse of the flow of freshwater between countries. When one research group studied this "virtual water network," they found that the interconnectedness between countries has almost doubled over the last two decades - potentially lending some resiliency to the water trade. Still, a handful of nations control a majority of the freshwater flow, and some regions, including much of Africa, are left out of the trading loop.
Exercise has benefits, even when it's done in space
Astronauts have been taking part in short spaceflight missions since 1961. They have only recently begun to spend significantly longer times in space, with missions extending for months, since the days of the Russian Mir space station (1986-2001) and extended stays on the International Space Station (ISS; November 2000). Though earlier studies clearly showed that astronauts on these extended missions suffered serious deficits from lengthy times in a low-gravity environment, including dizziness when standing up, considerable loss of bone mass, and impaired muscle function, little was known about the effects of long-term space flight on the heart and vascular system.
Sediment sleuthing: Radioactive medicine being tracked through rivers
A University of Delaware oceanographer has stumbled upon an unusual aid for studying local waterways: radioactive iodine. Trace amounts of the contaminant, which is used in medical treatments, are entering waterways via wastewater treatment systems and providing a new way to track where and how substances travel through rivers to the ocean.
NASA releases new moon pics requested by students
(AP) -- A NASA spacecraft in orbit around the moon has sent back five dozen new images of the lunar surface including a view of the far side with Earth in the distance.
Dawn sees new surface features on giant asteroid
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft has revealed unexpected details on the surface of the giant asteroid Vesta. New images and data highlight the diversity of Vesta's surface and reveal unusual geologic features, some of which were never previously seen on asteroids.
Conservatism saved Iceland from catastrophe
The people of medieval Iceland survived disaster by sticking with traditional practices, an innovative new study suggests.
Jupiter's melting heart sheds light on mysterious exoplanet
Scientists now have evidence that Jupiter's core has been dissolving, and the implications stretch far outside of our solar system.
Trace element plays major role in tropical forest nitrogen cycle
A new paper by researchers from the University of Georgia and Princeton University sheds light on the critical part played by a little-studied element, molybdenum, in the nutrient cycles of tropical forests. Understanding the role of molybdenum may help scientists more accurately predict how tropical forests will respond to climate change. The findings were published March 21 in the journal PLoS ONE.
Runaway planets zoom at a fraction of light speed
Seven years ago, astronomers boggled when they found the first runaway star flying out of our Galaxy at a speed of 1.5 million miles per hour. The discovery intrigued theorists, who wondered: If a star can get tossed outward at such an extreme velocity, could the same thing happen to planets?
Geologists discover new class of landform -- on Mars
(PhysOrg.com) -- An odd, previously unseen landform could provide a window into the geological history of Mars, according to new research by University of Washington geologists.
New understanding of Earth's lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary beneath the Pacific Ocean
Scientists have long speculated about why there is a large change in the strength of rocks that lie at the boundary between two layers immediately under Earth's crust: the lithosphere and underlying asthenosphere. Understanding this boundary is central to our knowledge of plate tectonics and thus the formation and evolution of our planet as we know it today. A new technique for observing this transition, particularly in the portion of Earth's mantle that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean basin, has led Carnegie and NASA Goddard scientist Nick Schmerr to new insight on the origins of the lithosphere and asthenosphere. His work is published March 23 in Science.
A close-up view of Mercury: Researchers find the planet may have had a dynamic past
New observations from a spacecraft orbiting Mercury have revealed that the tiny, pockmarked planet harbors a highly unusual interior — and the craft’s glimpse of Mercury’s surface topography suggests the planet has had a very dynamic history.
Technology news
Multimodal bio-image sensor: Fusion of heterogeneous biochemical information
The use of sensors is important for the quantitative analyses of chemical materials and physical phenomena, with research and development of biosensors for observing cell function being actively pursued.
France gets Toulouse killer Facebook homage page removed
Facebook on Thursday removed a page that paid homage to the young Frenchman who died in a shootout with police after killing seven people, officials said.
Senator: Employers shouldn't seek site passwords
(AP) -- A Democratic senator from Connecticut is writing a bill that would stop the practice of employers asking job applicants for their Facebook or other social media passwords, he told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Megaupload boss allowed $49,000 monthly expenses
A New Zealand court granted Megaupload boss Kim Dotcom NZ$60,000 ($49,000) a month in living expenses Thursday as he awaits a US bid to extradite him on online piracy charges, reports said.
Angry Birds catapult into space - with Nasa's help
Finnish game developer Rovio, which shot to pop culture stardom with the mobile game Angry Birds, launched Thursday a space-age sequel developed with the help of NASA.
Company: Cost of hosting Megaupload data untenable
(AP) -- The company hosting the frozen data of millions of users of the file sharing site Megaupload says somebody needs to pay the company's bill or allow it to delete the data.
Microsoft, TiVo drop suits against each other
(AP) -- Digital video recorder pioneer TiVo Inc. said Thursday that it had reached an agreement with software maker Microsoft Corp. for the companies to drop lawsuits against each other following TiVo's settlement with AT&T Inc.
Airplane rivals launch joint biofuel project
Plane makers and bitter rivals Airbus of Europe, Boeing of the US and Embraer of Brazil announced on Thursday a joint plan to develop affordable biofuels for the airplane industry.
T-Mobile cutting 1,900 jobs nationwide
(AP) -- T-Mobile USA Inc. said Thursday that it is cutting 1,900 jobs nationwide as it consolidates its call centers in an effort to reduce costs and remain competitive.
Calculating the cost of advanced manufacturing
For Tim Gutowski, advanced manufacturing is an opportunity not just to boost employment, but also to improve the environment.
'Hacktivists' biggest data thieves in 2011: Verizon
Activists with hacker skills were behind more than half the data stolen in cyber attacks last year, according to findings released on Thursday by Verizon Communications.
Gov't sues AT&T over Internet calls
(AP) -- The Justice Department has sued to recover millions of dollars from AT&T Corp., alleging the company improperly billed the government for services that are designed for use by the deaf and hard-of-hearing who place calls by typing messages over the Internet.
Facebook privacy flaw nailed at Lugano workshop
(PhysOrg.com) -- As if Facebook has not has enough invasion-of-privacy problems, a pair of researchers have come up with one more reason why Facebook cannot rest. Shah Mahmood and Yvo Desmedt, Chair of Information Communication Technology at University College London, want the wide world of Facebook-account users to know that there is a hole in Facebook's settings that allows stalkers, whether they are personal mischief makers or governments, to spy on accounts without the account holder aware that anything is wrong. The technique is called “cloaking” and it works when the attacker deactivates and reactivates accounts, which Facebook allows.
Researchers revolutionize closed captioning
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ever since closed video captioning was developed in the 1970s, it hasn't changed much. The words spoken by the characters or narrators scroll along at the bottom of the screen, enabling hearing impaired viewers - or all viewers when the sound is off - to follow along. Now a team of researchers from China and Singapore has developed a new closed captioning approach in which the text appears in translucent talk bubbles next to the speaker. The new approach offers several advantages for improving the viewing experience for the more than 66 million people around the world who have hearing impairments.
Medicine & Health news
Chromosome 12 mutation linked to familial diarrhea
(HealthDay) -- An activating mutation in GUCY2C, encoding guanylate cyclase C (GC-C), is thought to cause a novel familial diarrhea syndrome seen in a Norwegian family, according to a study published online March 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Non-drug treatments help alleviate symptoms of treatment-induced menopause in breast cancer patients
Researchers from The Netherlands have found that the menopausal symptoms caused by giving chemotherapy or hormonal therapy to younger women with breast cancer can be ameliorated considerably through the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and physical exercise (PE). These interventions can be effective in dealing with such distressing symptoms as hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, weight gain, urinary incontinence and sexual problems, a researcher will tell the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) today.
Nearly all states have taken action on Affordable Care Act's Patients' Bill of Rights
As the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act approaches, a new Commonwealth Fund report finds that 49 states and the District of Columbia have already taken action supporting the law's implementation, such as passing legislation, issuing regulations or other guidance, or actively reviewing insurer filings. Early insurance market reforms in the law include new rules for insurers such as bans on lifetime limits on benefits and dependent coverage for young adults up to age 26.
Radiotherapy for DCIS still protects against recurrence after 15 years
Radiotherapy treatment (RT) after surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) still has a major protective effect against recurrence more than 15 years later, according to the results of an international trial. Researchers found that the use of RT in addition to surgery could reduce the chances of a local recurrence (the cancer coming back in the same breast) by 50%. Results from the trial, which has one of the longest follow-ups of a large group of patients in the world to date, will be reported today to the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8).
Cancer cells in blood predict chances of survival and can help target breast cancer treatment
Detecting the presence of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in the blood of women with early breast cancer after surgery but before the start of chemotherapy can provide useful information about their chances of surviving the disease. CTCs are cancer cells which are detectable in patients with a solid tumour and their value in the prognosis of metastatic breast cancer has been known for a few years. Until now, however, there has been little information about their role in early disease.
Pediatricians Sound Alarm On Overuse Sports Injuries
(Medical Xpress) -- Baseball shoulder, gymnast wrist, runner’s knee. These are just a few of the labels sports medicine specialists use to describe the increasing number of repetitive-use injuries they see in young children.
UGA heat study guides new GHSA rules aiming to prevent exertional heat illness, deaths
(Medical Xpress) -- High school student-athletes need about 10-14 days to acclimate their bodies to the heat stress in preseason practices in late July and August each year and gradual acclimatization to these conditions can help minimize the risk of exertional heat illnesses, or EHI, according to a three-year study by University of Georgia researchers.
Understanding the double-edge sword of steroids
Glucocorticoids are a type of steroid hormone that are used to treat everything from asthma to arthritis, but the impact of these powerful anti-inflammatory drugs – particularly in prolonged, low-doses – remains to be fully understood.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may help women with chronic pelvic pain
(Medical Xpress) -- Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may have a role to play in the treatment of health problems linked to chronic pelvic pain (CPP), say experts from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in a new opinion paper published today.
Shoes could wipe out tropical disease affecting millions
Wearing shoes could eradicate "in our lifetime" a tropical disease affecting an estimated 4 million people worldwide, according to a medic in the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS).
New genomic test spares patients chemotherapy with no adverse effect on survival
Testing a breast cancer tumour for its genomic signature can help identify which patients will need adjuvant systemic therapy (additional chemotherapy) after surgery, and spare its use in those for whom it is not necessary, according to the results of a study to be presented to the 8th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-8) today. Dr. Sabine Linn, an Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, will say that this is the first study where such a test has been incorporated in decision-making about adjuvant systemic therapy, and that the results are promising.
Antidepressant proves effective in alleviating osteoarthritis pain
Antidepressants can play a key role in alleviating painful conditions like osteoarthritis and may result in fewer side effects than traditionally prescribed drug regimes, such as anti-inflammatories and opioids, according to a perspective paper published online ahead of print publication by the International Journal of Clinical Practice.
Unhealthy behaviors more prevalent in survivors of multiple cancers, study shows
A study published by University of Kentucky researchers shows that survivors of multiple cancers report unhealthier behaviors post-diagnosis than control counterparts.
Employer-sponsored wellness programs on the rise
Organizations in the Chicago area report an increase of health-improvement and wellness programs according to a survey conducted in September 2011 by Aon Hewitt in partnership with Rush Health. The survey results will be released at the 9th annual Employer Symposium at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago on Thursday, March 22.
Mayo Clinic studies climbers on Everest to help heart patients at home
It's a natural laboratory for studying heart disease, lung problems, muscle loss, sleeping disorders and new medical technologies. It's also the highest mountain in the world. Mount Everest's extreme altitude puts climbers under the same conditions experienced by patients suffering from heart disease, obesity or advanced age. To take advantage of that, Mayo Clinic researchers are joining an expedition to Everest with National Geographic, The North Face and Montana State University. The Mayo group will monitor up to nine climbers from base camp for the duration of the climb, which will run from mid-April to mid-May.
Study finds interventions to prevent Type 2 diabetes give good return on investment
Programs to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults would result in fewer people developing diabetes and lower health care costs over time, researchers conclude in a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Major foot-and-mouth outbreak in Egypt threatens region: FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Thursday warned of a major new foot-and-mouth outbreak in Egypt which could threaten the whole of North Africa and the Middle East.
Genomic data on chronic lung disease made readily available on new website
The constant focus on customer needs that drives the design of everything from automobiles to personal computers has now been applied to a field traditionally immune to such concepts: the scientific study of disease.
Live donor's age has little effect on health of a transplanted kidney
People with kidney failure may think that they're better off getting a new kidney from a young and spry donor, but a recent study indicates that for those over 39 years old, the age of a live donor—ranging from 18 to 64 years—has an insignificant effect on the long-term health of a transplanted kidney. The study's results appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).
Huge tumor removed from pregnant Bolivian woman
Bolivian doctors said Thursday they have successfully removed a 15-kilogram (33-pound) tumor from a woman in her 35th week of pregnancy who has since given birth to a healthy baby girl.
Madagascar hospital successfully separates conjoined twins
Surgeons in Madagascar separated a pair of six-month-old conjoined twins who were connected at the stomach, sternum and liver, a hospital official said Thursday.
House votes to repeal part of Obama health care law
The Republican-led House of Representatives voted Thursday to repeal a key measure of US President Barack Obama's health care reform, a symbolic move on the historic law's second anniversary.
Prenatal exposure to combustion-related pollutants leads to anxiety, attention problems in young children
Mothers' exposure during pregnancy to a class of air pollutants called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) can lead to behavioral problems in their children. PAH are released to air during incomplete combustion of fossil fuel such as diesel, gasoline, coal, and other organic material.
Antidepressant use during pregnancy and high blood pressure
Use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants during pregnancy appears to be linked with increased risk of pregnancy induced high blood pressure ("hypertension"), but a causal link has not been established.
Majority of fourth graders are exposed to smoke, study finds
More than 75 percent of fourth-graders in urban and rural settings have measurable levels of a nicotine breakdown product in their saliva that documents their second-hand smoke exposure, researchers report.
People with autism have a greater ability to process information: study
(Medical Xpress) -- People with autism have a greater than normal capacity for processing information even from rapid presentations and are better able to detect information defined as ‘critical’, according to a study published today in the ‘Journal of Abnormal Psychology’. The research, funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Economic and Social Research Council, may help to explain the apparently higher than average prevalence of people with autism spectrum disorders in the IT industry.
Bronchoscopy can guide effective treatment for refractory asthma
(Medical Xpress) -- Using a bronchoscope to visually examine the airways and collect fluid and tissue can help guide effective therapy for difficult-to-treat asthma patients, according to researchers at National Jewish Health. Reporting in the March 2012 issue of the journal Chest, the researchers identified five distinct phenotypes among the refractory asthma patients, and successfully treated four of them, often with reduced asthma medications.
Study provides clues for designing new anti-addiction medications
Scientists are now one step closer to developing anti-addiction medications, thanks to new research that provides a better understanding of the properties of the only member of the opioid receptor family whose activation counteracts the rewarding effects of addictive drugs. The study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Institute of Mental Health, all components of the National Institutes of Health.
When health insurance costs rise slightly, people still shop around
(Medical Xpress) -- Even a $10 increase in premiums can drive people to a different health care plan. That's good news for health care reform, which relies heavily on competition and consumer response to pricing.
Patients who suffer dry eyes find relief from wide-diameter contact lenses
(Medical Xpress) -- Susan Loughman is among the tens of millions of Americans who suffer dry eyes. She has an especially bad condition, which makes it feel like there's sandpaper in her eyes.
How eating bread can lower your blood pressure
(Medical Xpress) -- A new study from the University of Reading has found that even small doses of beetroot juice lower blood pressure. In addition, bread enriched with either white or red beetroot had a similar effect.
Skull resconstruction immediately following traumatic brain injury worsens brain damage
Immediate skull reconstruction following trauma that penetrates or creates an indentation in the skull can aggravate brain damage inflicted by the initial injury, a study by a University of South Florida research team reports. Using a rat model for moderate and severe traumatic brain injury, the researchers also showed that a delay of just two days in the surgical repair of skull defects resulted in significantly less brain swelling and damage.
Researchers discover insight into pregnancy-induced hypertension
Researchers have identified an enzyme linked to pregnancy-induced hypertension – also known as pre-eclampsia – a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and swelling due to fluid retention. The findings could be used to better screen for – and treat – this condition.
What we don't talk about when we don't talk about sex
How often does your doctor ask about your sexual life? Unfortunately, the answer may be: not often enough. Leaving the subject off the check-up checklist could mean missing an important link to overall wellness.
Liver disease deaths jump 25% in England: study
Deaths from liver disease have risen 25 percent in England in less than a decade, mainly due to increased alcohol consumption, a study revealed on Thursday.
Potential biomarkers linked to UTI-related pregnancy complications identified
Investigators in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital have developed a mouse model in which a mother's urinary tract infection negatively affects the offspring, an occurrence anecdotally observed in humans. Using this first-of-its-kind model, they have identified proteins in the blood that may indicate whether such an infection might stunt fetal growth. Study findings have been published in the March 21, 2012, edition of PLoS ONE.
Study: Weight loss won't necessarily help teen girls' self-esteem
Obese white teenage girls who lose weight may benefit physically, but the weight change does not guarantee they are going to feel better about themselves, according to a Purdue University study.
Evaluating the association of alcohol intake with cognitive functioning
Many observational cohort studies have shown that moderate alcohol use is associated with better cognitive function. However, since such studies are vulnerable to residual confounding by other lifestyle and physiologic factors, the authors conducted a Mendelian randomization study, using aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) genotype (AA, GA, or GG) as an instrumental variable in 2-stage least squares analysis. Cognitive function was assessed from delayed 10-word recall score (n = 4,707) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score (n = 2,284) among men from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (2003-2008). The authors had previously reported an association between reported alcohol intake and cognitive function from a larger group of subjects from the same study finding that women reporting occasional alcohol intake and men reporting occasional or moderate intake had better scores related to cognitive function than did abstainers.
Scientists identify new mechanism of prostate cancer cell metabolism
Cancer cell metabolism may present a new target for therapy as scientists have uncovered a possible gene that leads to greater growth of prostate cancer cells.
Liver cancer patients less likely to die on wait list than candidates without carcinomas
New research shows increasing disparity in mortality among candidates with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are on the waiting list for liver transplantation. The study available in the April issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, found that liver cancer patients are less likely to die on the wait list than non-HCC candidates, prompting transplantation specialists to suggest a reevaluation of current allotment criteria for those with HCC.
Noninvasive imaging can detect mutations within a brain tumor
Researchers at Winship Cancer Institute have developed a technique for detecting an "oncometabolite", a chemical produced by some brain tumors' warped metabolism, via non-invasive imaging.
Anxiety boosts sense of smell
Anxious people have a heightened sense of smell when it comes to sniffing out a threat, according to a new study by Elizabeth Krusemark and Wen Li from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US. Their work¹ is published online in Springer's journal Chemosensory Perception. The study is part of a special issue² of this journal on neuroimaging the chemical senses.
Obesity linked to poorer mental skills in seniors
(HealthDay) -- Obesity is associated with reduced memory and thinking skills in adults aged 60 to 70, especially those with greater amounts of abdominal fat, according to a new study.
Margin threshold for women with ductal carcinoma in situ
Negative surgical margins should be attained for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) regardless of radiotherapy, and surgeons should attempt to reach wide negative margins in their first attempt within cosmetic restraint according to a study published March 22 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Circulating endothelial cells potential biomarker for myocardial infarction
(HealthDay) -- Circulating endothelial cell (CEC) counts are elevated among patients with myocardial infarction (MI), and the cells have distinct morphological features, according to a study published in the March 21 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
U.S. tuberculosis cases hit record low, CDC says
(HealthDay) -- Tuberculosis rates fell to an all-time low in the United States in 2011, but the disease continues to disproportionately infect racial and ethnic minorities, those who are foreign-born and people infected with HIV, federal officials reported Thursday.
Diet soda linked to increase in glucagon-like peptide 1 levels
(HealthDay) -- Drinking a diet soda before a glucose load is associated with increased glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion in individuals with type 1 diabetes and healthy controls, but not in those with type 2 diabetes, according to research published online March 12 in Diabetes Care.
Researchers find beta cell stress could trigger the development of type 1 diabetes
In type 1 diabetes (T1D), pancreatic beta cells die from a misguided autoimmune attack, but how and why that happens is still unclear. Now, JDRF-funded scientists from the Indiana University School of Medicine have found that a specific type of cellular stress takes place in pancreatic beta cells before the onset of T1D, and that this stress response in the beta cell may in fact help ignite the autoimmune attack. These findings shed an entirely new light into the mystery behind how changes in the beta cell may play a role in the earliest stages of T1D, and adds a new perspective to our understanding how T1D progresses, and how to prevent and treat the disease.
Can our genes be making us fat?
While high-fat foods are thought to be of universal appeal, there is actually a lot of variation in the extent to which people like and consume fat. A new study in the March issue of the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists, reported that two specific genes (TAS2R38–a bitter taste receptor and CD36–a possible fat receptor), may play a role in some people's ability to taste and enjoy dietary fat. By understanding the role of these two genes, food scientists may be able to help people who have trouble controlling how much fat they eat.
Scientists reprogram cancer cells with low doses of epigenetic drugs
Experimenting with cells in culture, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have breathed possible new life into two drugs once considered too toxic for human cancer treatment. The drugs, azacitidine (AZA) and decitabine (DAC), are epigenetic-targeted drugs and work to correct cancer-causing alterations that modify DNA.
Experimental power pack allows man with artificial heart to leave hospital
Christopher Marshall lost his heart. Most of it, anyway. It was too damaged to keep him alive, so surgeons decided it had to come out. On Feb. 6, in a six-hour operation, surgeons did just that and then implanted an artificial heart in its place.
Statin alternative looks promising in early trials
(HealthDay) -- Administration of REGN727, a monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), significantly reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, according to the results of three phase 1 studies published in the March 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tenecteplase drug bests standard treatment for certain strokes
(HealthDay) -- A medication called tenecteplase may be more effective at treating strokes caused by clots in large blood vessels in the brain than the current standard therapy, Australian researchers report.
Paul Allen donates additional $300 million to brain research facility
(Medical Xpress) -- Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, has added an additional $300 million to the $200 million he’s already given to the brain research facility in Seattle he started back in 2003, the Allen Institute for Brain Science. This new grant is to go towards a new initiative for the Institute, outlined by Christof Koch, chief scientist at the Institute and Harvard neuroscientist R. Clay Reid, (who will be joining the Institute) in a recent comment brief in the science journal Nature. The new funding will go towards studying the visual cortex in the brain, starting with mice, and eventually moving to humans.
Magnetic nanoparticles predict diabetes onset
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a magnetic nanoparticle-based MRI technique for predicting whether—and when—subjects with a genetic predisposition for diabetes will develop the disease. While done initially in mice, preliminary data show that the platform can be used in people as well, so far to distinguish patients that do or do not have pancreas inflammation.
DNA marker predicts platinum drug response in breast, ovarian cancer
Scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and their colleagues have found a genetic marker that predicts which aggressive "triple negative" breast cancers and certain ovarian cancers will likely respond to platinum-based chemotherapies.
Getting the dirt on immunity: Study shows early exposure to germs is a good thing
(Medical Xpress) -- Previous human studies have suggested that early life exposure to microbes (i.e., germs) is an important determinant of adulthood sensitivity to allergic and autoimmune diseases such as hay fever, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease.
Photoacoustic tomography can 'see' in color and detail several inches beneath the skin
Every new imaging technology has an aura of magic about it because it suddenly reveals what had been concealed, and makes visible what had been invisible. So, too, with photoacoustic tomography, which is allowing scientists to virtually peel away the top several inches of flesh to see what lies beneath.
Research wrests partial control of a memory
Scripps Research Institute scientists and their colleagues have successfully harnessed neurons in mouse brains, allowing them to at least partially control a specific memory. Though just an initial step, the researchers hope such work will eventually lead to better understanding of how memories form in the brain, and possibly even to ways to weaken harmful thoughts for those with conditions such as schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder.
Study identifies gene expression abnormalities in autism
A study led by Eric Courchesne, PhD, director of the Autism Center of Excellence at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has, for the first time, identified in young autism patients genetic mechanisms involved in abnormal early brain development and overgrowth that occurs in the disorder. The findings suggest novel genetic and molecular targets that could lead to discoveries of new prevention strategies and treatment for the disorder.
Biology news
CITES seeks tougher limits on coral, shark, dolphin trade
UN wildlife trade regulator CITES said Wednesday that tougher limits should be imposed on trade of aquatic species such as corals, dolphins and sturgeons to protect them from extinction.
False killer whales use acoustic squint to target prey
Hunting in the ocean's murky depths, vision is of little use, so toothed whales and dolphins (odontocetes) rely on echolocation to locate tasty morsels with incredible precision. Laura Kloepper from the University of Hawaii explains that odontocetes produce their distinctive echolocation clicks in nasal structures in the forehead and broadcast them through a fat-filled acoustic lens, called the melon.
The ranchland near Pincher Creek, Alberta, is a hot zone for grizzly bear encounters
The ranchland near the southwestern Alberta town of Pincher Creek is a hot zone for grizzly bear encounters according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Alberta.
Runner's high motivated the evolution of exercise
In the last century something unexpected happened: humans became sedentary. We traded in our active lifestyles for a more immobile existence. But these were not the conditions under which we evolved. David Raichlen from the University of Arizona explains that our hunter-gatherer predecessors were long-distance endurance athletes.
A new shortcut for stem cell programming
Scientists at the Life and Brain Research Center at the University of Bonn, Germany, have succeeded in directly generating brain stem cells from the connective tissue cells of mice.
Cooking better biochar: Study improves recipe for soil additive
Backyard gardeners who make their own charcoal soil additives, or biochar, should take care to heat their charcoal to at least 450 degrees Celsius to ensure that water and nutrients get to their plants, according to a new study by Rice University scientists.
Study shows insect mimic abilities related to size
(PhysOrg.com) -- A group of Canadian researchers who found themselves wondering why some plants or animals are good mimics while others are not, has undertaken a study on the matter and believe they have found the answer. They suggest, as they write in their paper published in Nature, that it has to do with size. The bigger they are, the more payoff for those that wish to eat them, thus the need for better mimicry skills.
Entomologist team discovers reason behind passion-vine butterfly congregation tendencies
(PhysOrg.com) -- Susan Finkbeiner, entomologist and graduate student at the University of California Irvine and colleagues Adriana Briscoe and Robert Reed have discovered the reason behind the passion-vine butterflies tendency to band together in small groups when they bed down for the night. They say, in their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, that it’s to ward off predators, not to communicate, as some have speculated.
Cell protein interactions favor fats
For cells to signal each other to carry out their vital work, could the cell membrane's lipids -- or fats -- play a role in buttering-up the process? A research group led by University of Illinois at Chicago chemistry professor Wonhwa Cho thinks so, and presents detailed findings in the April 27 issue of Molecular Cell, online March 22.
Somatic stem cells obtained from skin cells for first time ever
Breaking new ground, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Münster, Germany, have succeeded in obtaining somatic stem cells from fully differentiated somatic cells. Stem cell researcher Hans Schöler and his team took skin cells from mice and, using a unique combination of growth factors while ensuring appropriate culturing conditions, have managed to induce the cells' differentiation into neuronal somatic stem cells.
Subtle differences can lead to major changes in parasites
Researchers have found the subtle genetic differences that make one parasite far more virulent than its close relative.
Possible new route to fight dengue virus pointed
Researchers have identified enzymes and biochemical compounds called lipids that are targeted and modified by the dengue virus during infection, suggesting a potential new approach to control the aggressive mosquito-borne pathogen.
Pulp NonFiction: Fungal analysis reveals clues for targeted biomass deconstruction
Without fungi and microbes to break down dead trees and leaf litter in nature, the forest floor might look like a scene from TV's "Hoarders."
Hunters, not climate change, killed giant beasts 40,000 years ago
The first Australians hunted giant kangaroos, rhinoceros-sized marsupials, huge goannas and other megafauna to extinction shortly after arriving in the country more than 40,000 years ago, new research claims.
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