Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for May 7, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Anthropologist finds explanation for hominin brain evolution in famous fossil- Researchers use Doppler Effect for computer gesture control
- Sperm crawl and collide on way to egg, researchers say
- Engineers develop novel system for producing conductive films
- A new paper made of graphene and protein fibrils
- Mouse study links delayed female sexual maturity to longer lifespan
- Study solves mystery of horse domestication
- Bisphenol A alters mammary gland development in monkeys
- Clusters of cooperating tumor-suppressor genes are found in large regions deleted in common cancers
- Defective carnitine metabolism may play role in milder forms of autism
- Endangered species, languages linked at high biodiversity regions
- Some giant planets in other systems most likely to be alone
- Lifelong depression may increase risk of vascular dementia
- Not all tumor cells are equal: Study reveals huge genetic diversity in cells shed by tumors
- Rock analysis suggests France cave art is 'oldest'
Space & Earth news
Image: Engine test with a cyclonic twist
Water forms an interesting cyclonic twist as it is intentionally sucked into the test engine of a U.S. Air Force C-17 transport aircraft during the VIPR project engine health monitoring tests conducted by NASA Dryden. The water was contained on a special platform built by NASA Dryden's Fabrication Branch for the tests.
SeaSketch, the next generation of UCSB's MarineMap program, will aid marine spatial planning
Since 2009, a free Web-based marine mapping and spatial planning program created by UC Santa Barbara scientists has proved to be an essential tool for fishermen and other stakeholders along the California coastline. Now, the next-generation tool is going global.
Voyage to the 'front line' of global warming
When Cameron Dueck set sail to the Canadian Arctic to witness what he calls "the front line of climate change", he did so knowing he would have to brave seas that have killed scores of sailors and reduced men to cannibals.
Wettest April in UK since 1767 according to longest rainfall dataset
(Phys.org) -- Last month was the wettest April on record according to data from the UK's longest running rainfall data collection station. Although April 2012 was widely reported to be the wettest drought this century, it is likely to be the wettest April in Oxford for almost 250 years.
Dancing droplets rock out on space station
Expedition 31 Flight Engineer Don Pettit of NASA has taught more than half a million internet viewers how microgravity affects scientific principles by using everyday objects on the International Space Station. In the latest video, Pettit takes his demonstrations to the next level by using sound to oscillate water placed on a speaker and letting the droplets fly.
Black hole caught red-handed in a stellar homicide
(Phys.org) -- Astronomers have gathered the most direct evidence yet of a supermassive black hole shredding a star that wandered too close.
Dry rivers, vibrant with culture and life
'When the River Runs Dry' is a familiar song in Australia. Some rivers in the arid center of the continent flow only after a stiff monsoon season, and smaller tributaries all over the country commonly shrink to puddled potholes and dry river beds during the dry season. But rivers also run dry in more temperate climes. Much of the upper reaches and feeder streams of the great rivers of North America, and even the mighty Amazon, dry out seasonally.
GPS on commercial ships could improve tsunami warnings
Commercial ships travel across most of the globe and could provide better warnings for potentially deadly tsunamis, according to a study published May 5 by scientists at the University of Hawaii – Manoa (UHM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Shell says two new leaks on Nigerian pipeline
Oil giant Shell on Monday said two new leaks had occurred on one of its pipelines in southern Nigeria after similar incidents in recent days blamed on crude theft.
70 percent of beaches eroding on Hawaiian islands Kauai, Oahu, and Maui
An assessment of coastal change over the past century has found 70 percent of beaches on the islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu, and Maui are undergoing long-term erosion, according to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Hawai'i (UH) report released today.
Antarctic octopus tells story of ice-sheet collapse
Scientists have long been concerned that the massive West Antarctic Ice Sheet could collapse if global temperatures keep climbing. If it did, sea levels are predicted to rise by as much as five meters.
Diagnosing a black hole flare
(Phys.org) -- Black holes can come in a wide range of masses. Some, with only about one solar mass, result from the supernova death of a massive star, while those at the center of galaxies (called supermassive black holes) have millions or even billions of solar masses. Supermassive black holes are relatively famous because they are responsible for the powerful jets and other dramatic phenomena seen in some galaxies. The center of our Milky Way galaxy contains a modest-sized supermassive black hole, with about four million solar masses, and (fortunately for us) it is inactive - it lacks the extreme phenomena seen elsewhere.
Signs of ancient flowing water on Mars
(Phys.org) -- ESA’s Mars Express has returned images of a region on the Red Planet that appears to have been sculpted in part by flowing liquid. This again adds to the growing evidence that Mars had large volumes of water on its surface in the distant past.
Gaseous emissions from dinosaurs may have warmed prehistoric earth
Sauropod dinosaurs could in principle have produced enough of the greenhouse gas methane to warm the climate many millions of years ago, at a time when the Earth was warm and wet. That's according to calculations reported in the May 8th issue of Current Biology, a Cell Press publication.
One supernova type, two different sources
The exploding stars known as Type Ia supernovae serve an important role in measuring the universe, and were used to discover the existence of dark energy. They're bright enough to see across large distances, and similar enough to act as a "standard candle" - an object of known luminosity. The 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the discovery of the accelerating universe using Type Ia supernovae. However, an embarrassing fact is that astronomers still don't know what star systems make Type Ia supernovae.
New research brings satellite measurements and global climate models closer
One popular climate record that shows a slower atmospheric warming trend than other studies contains a data calibration problem, and when the problem is corrected the results fall in line with other records and climate models, according to a new University of Washington study.
Some giant planets in other systems most likely to be alone
In the search for Earth-like planets, it is helpful to look for clues and patterns that can help scientist narrow down the types of systems where potentially habitable planets are likely to be discovered. New research from a team including Carnegie's Alan Boss narrows down the search for Earth-like planets near Jupiter-like planets. Their work indicates that the early post-formation movements of hot-Jupiter planets probably disrupt the formation of Earth-like planets.
Technology news
US sex publisher sues Tumblr over copyright
A US sex publisher which fought a long copyright battle with Google has sued the Tumblr social networking site claiming "rampant" illegal use of its photographs, court documents showed.
Twitter plays outsize role in 2012 campaign
(AP) -- (at)BarackObama is on Twitter. So is (at)MittRomney. And so are all the voters following the 2012 presidential contest, whether they know it or not.
AT&T barges into home security and automation
(AP) -- AT&T Inc. will start selling home automation and security services nationwide, taking on incumbents led by Tyco International Ltd.'s ADT.
NREL develops more precise look at cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas emissions for energy technologies
(Phys.org) -- A new approach to assessing greenhouse-gas emissions from coal, wind, solar and other energy technologies paints a much more precise picture of cradle-to-grave emissions and should help sharpen decisions on what new energy projects to build.
Petroleum volume: Getting calibrations in the can
(Phys.org) -- The volume of oil and oil products moving through America’s pipelines, waterways, roads, and rails borders on the unimaginable.
Yahoo shareholder demands records on CEO's hiring (Update)
(AP) -- A major Yahoo shareholder has made a legal demand for internal records about the embattled Internet company's hiring of CEO Scott Thompson.
India launches anti-trust probe into Google
The Competition Commission of India said Monday it had launched an anti-trust probe into Google's online advertising practices, deepening the Internet giant's legal woes in the country.
Dish profit down 34 pct, but adds subscribers
(AP) -- Satellite TV provider Dish Network Corp. said Monday that it added subscribers in the first quarter, but net income dropped 34 percent and revenue growth fell short of Wall Street expectations.
Intel raises dividend by 7 percent to 22.5 cents
(AP) -- Intel Corp. is raising its quarterly dividend by 7 percent to 22.5 cents.
For US Hispanics, a new media outlet -- in English
ABC News and the Spanish-language media group Univision unveiled plans Monday for a new Web service and cable television channel for US Hispanics, mainly in English.
Best websites balance self-expression and functionality: study
Giving people the freedom -- but not too much freedom -- to express themselves may help designers build more interactive web portals and online communities, according to Penn State researchers.
Groupon CEO: Moving fast is key to success
(AP) -- Groupon CEO Andrew Mason says the online deal company's business continues to improve, though he acknowledges in a letter to shareholders that the six months since its initial public offering have been "rocky to say the least."
China firm seeks settlement in iPad row: lawyer
A Chinese computer company which sued Apple over the rights to the iPad trademark in China is now in talks for an out-of-court settlement, a lawyer for the firm said Monday.
Picking the brains of strangers helps make sense of online information
People who have already sifted through online information to make sense of a subject can help strangers facing similar tasks without ever directly communicating with them, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft Research have demonstrated.
Study shows bandwidth caps create user uncertainty, risky decisions
Recently, many U.S. Internet service providers have fallen in line with their international counterparts in capping monthly residential broadband usage. A new study by a Georgia Tech researcher, conducted during an internship at Microsoft Research, shows such pricing models trigger uneasy user experiences that could be mitigated by better tools to monitor data usage through their home networks.
Smartphones the indispensable thing: study
More Americans can't live without their smartphones anymore.
Self-driving cars set for test drive in Nevada
Nevada drivers could soon be sharing the road with vehicles that don't need them.
Google ahead of Facebook in mobile space: US study
Google is leading Facebook in the race for smartphone users, a US survey showed Monday.
Google violated copyright, but no damages: jury
A jury in a high-profile technology case ruled Monday that Google violated copyrights owned by Oracle Corp. for the Android mobile platform, but failed to agree on whether damages should be awarded.
Researchers use Doppler Effect for computer gesture control
(Phys.org) -- Researchers from Microsoft and the University of Washington have together created a system whereby a computer user can use hand gestures to instigate a limited set of computer commands such as scrolling and mimicking mouse double-clicking, that uses nothing but inaudible sound and doesn’t require any hardware other than a standard computer microphone and speakers.
Medicine & Health news
Trial launched into curry chemical's cancer-fighting properties
Compounds found in curry are being investigated as a way of improving drug response in patients with advanced bowel cancer in a new study launched today (Monday).
Smilagenin represents a new approach for treating neurodegeneration disease
Erxi Wu, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences, and Shuang Zhou, a doctoral student in Wu’s lab, co-wrote the article, "Smilagenin Attenuates Beta Amyloid (25-35)-Induced Degeneration of Neuronal Cells via Stimulating the Gene Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor,” which will be published by Neuroscience. They collaborated with Yaer Hu lab at Shanghai Jiaotong University, China, for the publication.
Pro-bowler suicide raises questions of early concussion detection
Before beginning his 20-year career playing football in the NFL, Junior Seau starred at the University of Southern California and in high school. According to Chris Hummel, a certified athletic trainer and clinical associate professor at Ithaca College, “We don’t know yet if Seau’s suicide is directly linked to a history of concussions, but we have seen a few recent cases that makes us suspicious of such a link. What we do know is that concussions can have long term consequences, such as depression.”
Improved treatment for head & neck cancers could soon be on its way, say UK researchers
Engineers and scientists at the University of Glasgow are developing a new method of treating head and neck cancers they believe will make therapy more targeted and effective.
5 Questions: Goodman on recommendations to help FDA detect drug risks earlier
There’s growing concern about how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluates the effects of drugs after it has approved them. The unexpected harms that people have suffered in recent years from taking the antidiabetes drug Avandia, the pain-reliever Vioxx and the cholesterol-reducing drug Crestor have underscored the need for improvements. A report released today by a committee from the Institute of Medicine recommends steps that the agency can take to better identify risks of drugs after FDA approval. Committee co-chair Steven Goodman, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and of health research and policy at the Stanford University School of Medicine, explains the proposed measures and why they are needed. Goodman is also the medical school’s associate dean for clinical and translational research.
New study examines role of intimate partner violence in workplace homicides among U.S. women
Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Injury Control Research Center at West Virginia University (WVU-ICRC) have found that intimate partner violence resulted in 142 homicides among women at work in the U.S. from 2003 to 2008, a figure which represents 22 percent of the 648 workplace homicides among women during the period.
When too much sun is not enough
(Medical Xpress) -- Lupus patients show more severe symptoms of the disease if their vitamin D levels are low, an Australian-first study has found.
US Army examines why some soldiers avoid PTSD care, strategies to keep them in treatment
U.S. Army researcher Maj. Gary H. Wynn, M.D., shared new analysis on why some Soldiers suffering from combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) never seek care or drop out of treatment early during a presentation today at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting. His presentation, "Epidemiology of Combat-Related PTSD in U.S. Service Members: Lessons Learned," also described the approaches the Army is using to address this issue and improve overall patient outcomes.
Overcoming a learning disability will make physician-in-training a better doctor
Overcoming a learning disability to become a physician will actually help in being compassionate toward patients, writes a medical student of his struggle with a severe reading disability in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Brief training program improves resident physicians' empathy with patients
Resident physicians' participation in a brief training program designed to increase empathy with their patients produced significant improvement in how patients perceived their interactions with the residents. This contrasts with several studies showing that empathy with patients usually drops during medical school and residency training. The report from a team of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers will appear in the Journal of General Internal Medicine and has been released online.
Pneumococcal disease: More cases but fewer deaths
The vaccine given to children to immunise against serious pneumococcal disease does not offer full protection, reveals research from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, finding that the number of cases diagnosed has tripled over the past 50 years.
Study shows school-based health centers boost vaccination rates
New research from the University of Colorado School of Medicine shows that school-based health centers are highly effective in delivering comprehensive care, especially vaccines to adolescents.
Biomarkers can reveal irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is hard to diagnose as well as treat, but researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have discovered a way of confirming the disorder using stool samples.
A place to play: Researcher designs schoolyard for children with autism
A Kansas State University graduate student is creating a schoolyard that can become a therapeutic landscape for children with autism.
Team care of chronic diseases seems cost-effective
The collaborative TEAMcare program for people with depression and either diabetes, heart disease, or both appears at least to pay for itself, according to a UW Medicine and Group Health Research Institute report in the May 7 Archives of General Psychiatry. Over two years, after accounting for the $1,224 per patient that the program cost, it may save as much as $594 per patient in outpatient costs.
Consumer-directed health plans could help cut health costs, study finds
If consumer-directed health plans grow to account for half of all employer-sponsored insurance in the United States, health costs could drop by $57 billion annually -- about 4 percent of all health care spending among the nonelderly, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
US urges circumcision for soldiers to fight HIV in Africa
Male circumcision is the best way to prevent new HIV infections in the military, the head of US anti-AIDS efforts told a gathering of top army brass from Africa, Eastern Europe and central Asia.
AGA releases first independently developed ABIM-approved Practice Improvement Module in GI
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute's Procedural Sedation/Patient Safety Practice Improvement Module (PIM) has received approval from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) to be part of ABIM's Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) Pathway. Internal medicine physicians, gastroenterologists and any internal medicine subspecialists using procedural sedation can engage in quality improvement through the AGA Procedural Sedation/Patient Safety PIM to earn maintenance of certification (MOC) practice performance credit.
AMA committee recommendations on doctor fees set by Medicare are followed 9 times out of 10
To calculate physicians' fees under Medicare – which in turn influence some state and private payers' decisions on how they will pay doctors -- the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) relies on the recommendations of an American Medical Association advisory panel. A study led by Miriam Laugesen, PhD at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, found that the Medicare and Medicaid agency closely followed the committee's recommendations on the fees physicians are paid, which are based on an assessment of time and effort associated with various physicians' services.
Diabetic retinopathy research could reduce screening costs
Research carried out at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD), University of Exeter, has concluded that it would be a safe and cost-effective strategy to screen people with type 2 diabetes who have not yet developed diabetic retinopathy, for the disease once every two years instead of annually.
Kids with cerebral palsy may benefit from video game play
Like their healthy peers, children with disabilities may spend too much time in front of a video screen. For children with cerebral palsy (CP), this leads to an even greater risk of being overweight or developing health issues such as diabetes or musculoskeletal disorders. A group of scientists has found that video games such as Nintendo's Wii offer an enjoyable opportunity to promote light to moderate physical activity in children with CP, and may have a role to play in rehabilitation therapy. Their research is published online today in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Genetic abnormalities in benign or malignant tissues predict relapse of prostate cancer
While active monitoring of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in men over 50 has greatly improved early detection of prostate cancer, prediction of clinical outcomes after diagnosis remains a major challenge. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found that a genetic abnormality known as copy number variation (CNV) in prostate cancer tumors, as well as in the benign prostate tissues adjacent to the tumor and in the blood of patients with prostate cancer, can predict whether a patient will experience a relapse, and the nature of the relapse — aggressive or indolent. Their report is published in the June issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
Researchers say step closer to meningitis B vaccine
Researchers said Monday they were a step closer to developing a vaccine against the type of meningitis that mostly affects Europe and North America and kills hundreds every year.
ASBS: mammography beats infrared screening for breast CA
(HealthDay) -- The No Touch Breast Scan (NTBS), an infrared thermography modality, is not as reliable as mammography for detecting breast cancer, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, held from May 2 to 6 in Phoenix.
T cell-based HIV gene therapy safe over long term
(HealthDay) -- T cell-based gene therapy for HIV seems safe, with no evidence of vector-induced cell immortalization more than a decade after treatment, according to a study published in the May 2 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Good vibrations: using sound to treat disease
Many of us love massages, but imagine a massage so deep that tissues, organs and cells could also be ‘massaged’.
Scientists find link between biological processes and young breast cancer patients
Breast cancer in young women is linked to age-related biological processes, a new study shows. Because it is a biologically unique disease, it calls for tailor-made management strategies, researchers reported at the IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference in Brussels, Belgium from 3 to 5 May. The findings, presented in the journal Annals of Oncology, could impact potential treatment methods, especially because breast cancer in young women is often aggressive and diagnosed at an advanced stage. The prognosis for young patients is not good.
Scientists find link between number of friends and physical activity in children
Children with more friends are more physically active than those with less, scientists from the University of Bristol have discovered. Research funded by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI) found that for each additional friend a child spends around an extra ten minutes being physically active at the weekend.
Study finds high rate of victimization among gays, lesbians and bisexuals
(Medical Xpress) -- A new analysis of hundreds of existing research studies shows that lesbians, gays and bisexuals experience high rates of victimization.
Preventing autism after epilepsy
(Medical Xpress) -- Early-life seizures are known to be associated with autism, and studies indicate that about 40 percent of patients with autism also have epilepsy. A study from Boston Children’s Hospital finds a reason for the link, and suggests that an existing drug, already shown to be safe in children, could help prevent autism from developing in newborns who have seizures. Findings were published May 2 in the online journal PLoS ONE.
Skin cancer increasingly common in teens and young adults
(Medical Xpress) -- With summer just around the corner, pediatricians at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center are sounding the alarm on a disturbing trend: A growing number of teenagers and young adults diagnosed with skin cancer.
New measurement tool for clinical trials to help children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
(Medical Xpress) -- An international study led by the University of Sydney and published in the Annals of Neurology has the potential to improve the design of clinical trials for the treatment of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a disorder which affects the peripheral nervous system.
Online retailers, shipping companies give minors access to alcohol, study finds
(Medical Xpress) -- Minors can easily purchase alcohol online as a result of poor age verification by Internet alcohol vendors and shipping companies such as FedEx and UPS, according to a new study from c researchers.
Sugar: UCSF's Lustig on why we love it, and how it's killing us
It’s not calories that are making us obese — it’s sugar. That’s the message one of the nation’s best-known experts on obesity, UCSF’s Dr. Robert Lustig, is spreading far and wide like Johnny with his apple seeds. Thursday, he brought it to UC Berkeley.
The influence of the mother: Maternal epigenetic inheritance
(Medical Xpress) -- A study published in Genes and Development from scientists at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research pinpoints the importance of maternal epigenetic influences during early embryogenesis in mammals. A chromatin regulatory complex in the oocyte ensures that the proper luggage of maternal transcripts and chromatin structures control the first steps in the formation of an embryo. In the absence of this epigenetic regulator the embryo fails to develop correctly.
Active children more likely to argue
(Medical Xpress) -- Preschool children who are more physically active are more likely to show behavioural problems, a study has found.
Avastin has similar effect to Lucentis in treating wet age-related macular degeneration
The one year results from a study into whether two drug treatments (Lucentis and Avastin), are equally effective in treating neovascular or wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), have been reported today at an international research meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The findings will also appear online shortly in the leading journal Ophthalmology.
New research about Facebook addiction
Are you a social media enthusiast or simply a Facebook addict?Researchers from Norway have developed a new instrument to measure Facebook addiction, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale.
Overweight? New research explains how proper sleep is important for healthy weight
If you're counting calories to lose weight, that may be only part of the weight loss equation says a new research report published online in The FASEB Journal. In the report, French scientists show that impairments to a gene known to be responsible for our internal body clocks, called "Rev-Erb alpha," leads to excessive weight gain and related health problems. This provides new insights into the importance of proper alignment between the body's internal timing and natural environmental light cycles to prevent or limit excessive weight gain and the problems this weight gain causes.
Study: More pre-teens get vaccines when middle schools require them
(HealthDay) -- Pre-teens living in states that require vaccinations for incoming middle school students are more likely to be immunized than those in states without such requirements, a new study finds.
Doctors urge routine skin screenings
(HealthDay) -- Adults and children should be screened routinely for changes in the appearance of their skin, experts advise.
Oral zinc may lessen common cold symptoms but adverse effects are common
Oral zinc treatments may shorten the duration of symptoms of the common cold in adults, although adverse effects are common, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
PSA screening to detect prostate cancer can be beneficial to younger and at-risk men: study
Screening younger men and men at risk of prostate cancer can be beneficial in reducing metastatic cancer and deaths and should not be abandoned, states an article published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Death risks higher for heart attack survivors living near major roadways: research
Heart attack survivors who live about 100 meters (328 feet) or less from a major U.S. roadway face increased risk of death from all causes, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
Exercise slows muscle wasting from age and heart failure
Exercise can counteract muscle breakdown, increase strength and reduce inflammation caused by aging and heart failure, according to new research in Circulation, an American Heart Association journal.
Biodiversity loss may cause increase in allergies and asthma
Declining biodiversity may be contributing to the rise of asthma, allergies, and other chronic inflammatory diseases among people living in cities worldwide, a Finnish study suggests. Emerging evidence indicates that commensal microbes inhabiting the skin, airway, and gut protect against inflammatory disorders. However, little is known about the environmental determinants of the microbiome.
The gifts we keep on giving
Birthdays, graduations, Christmas, baby showers, bridal showers, bar and bat mitzvahs, Mother's Day, Father's Day, first marriages (and second.. and third…), wedding anniversaries, the spontaneous friendship gesture, the occasional sorry-about-that gesture, hostess gifts and presents that don't even fall into a recognizable category. The year is filled with opportunities and obligations to give and receive.
New study examines what could predict children's snack choices
Attitudes, relationships, intentions and personal behavior control are all factors that could affect a child's decision in either reaching for an apple or grabbing a bag of chips, according to a new study out of the University of Cincinnati. The research by Paul Branscum, assistant professor of health and exercise science at the University of Oklahoma, and Manoj Sharma, a University of Cincinnati professor of health promotion and education, is published in the International Quarterly of Community Health Education.
Rituximab promotes long-term response for patients with immune destruction of platelets
A new analysis concludes that rituximab, a drug commonly used to treat blood cancers, leads to treatment responses lasting at least five years in approximately one quarter of patients with low platelet counts and a risk of bleeding due to chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). In study results published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), investigators at Weill Cornell Medical College provide the very first long-term outcome data for patients with chronic ITP treated with rituxamab.
Study confirms early elevated HIV infection risk in some Step Study participants
A long-term follow-up analysis of participants in the Step Study, an international HIV-vaccine trial, has confirmed that certain subgroups of male study participants were at higher risk of becoming infected after receiving the experimental vaccine compared to those who received a placebo. The vaccine used in the study did not contain the HIV virus, but it did contain HIV genes which were delivered to cells using a vector that employed a type of cold virus known as adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5).
Happiness model developed by MU researcher could help people go from good to great
The sayings "variety is the spice of life" and "happiness isn't getting what you want, but wanting what you get" seem to have a psychological basis, according to a new study by an MU psychologist who identified two keys to becoming happier and staying that way.
Purpose in life may protect against harmful changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease
Greater purpose in life may help stave off the harmful effects of plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center. The study, published in the May issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, is available online.
Study confirms genetic predictor for Fuchs' corneal dystrophy
Mayo Clinic and University of Oregon researchers have confirmed that a genetic factor called a repeating trinucleotide is a strong predictor of an individual's risk of developing the eye condition Fuchs' dystrophy. The findings were being presented today at the annual conference of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in Orlando, Fla.
Psychopathy linked to specific structural abnormalities in the brain
New research provides the strongest evidence to date that psychopathy is linked to specific structural abnormalities in the brain. The study, published in Archives of General Psychiatry and led by researchers at King's College London is the first to confirm that psychopathy is a distinct neuro-developmental sub-group of anti-social personality disorder (ASPD).
Scientists show how memory B cells stay 'in class' to fight different infections
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have made an important discovery about the internal programming of B cells, the immune cells that make antibodies against infections. The finding opens the way for the development of vaccines that can work more efficiently and hints at therapies for conditions in which B cells cause harm—such as the autoimmune disease lupus erythymatosus, severe allergies, and B-cell lymphomas.
Gut flora affects maturation of B cells in infants
Infants whose gut is colonised by E. coli bacteria early in life have a higher number of memory B cells in their blood, reveals a study of infants carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
New blood test for fetal anomalies being launched
(AP) -- A new, noninvasive test to detect certain fetal abnormalities early in pregnancy is being launched and should be widely available next month.
Researchers discover gene that leads to severe weight gain with antipsychotic treatment
Antipsychotic medications are increasingly prescribed in the US, but they can cause serious side effects including rapid weight gain, especially in children. In the first study of its kind, researchers at Zucker Hillside Hospital and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research identified a gene that increases weight gain in those treated with commonly-used antipsychotic drugs. These findings were published in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Study suggests mid-adolescence is peak risk for extramedical use of pain relievers by young people
Surveys of U.S. adolescents suggest that the estimated peak risk of using prescription pain relievers for extramedical use, such as to get high or for other unapproved indications, occurs in mid-adolescence, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.
Obesity prevention program for girls not associated with significant difference in body mass index
An Australian school-based obesity prevention program for adolescent girls was not associated with statistically significant differences in body mass index (BMI) and other body composition measures, however the small changes may be related to clinically important health outcomes, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The study is part of the Nutrition and the Health of Children and Adolescents theme issue.
Maternal perceptions of toddler body size often wrong
A study of mothers and their toddlers suggests that mothers of overweight toddlers often had inaccurate perceptions of their child's body size, according to a report published in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The study is part of the Nutrition and the Health of Children and Adolescents theme issue.
Study examines associations between TV viewing, eating by school children
Television viewing and unhealthy eating habits in U.S. adolescents appear to be linked in a national survey of students in the fifth to 10 th grades, according to a report published in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The study is part of the Nutrition and the Health of Children and Adolescents theme issue.
'Losing yourself' in a fictional character can affect your real life
When you "lose yourself" inside the world of a fictional character while reading a story, you may actually end up changing your own behavior and thoughts to match that of the character, a new study suggests.
Protein may represent a switch to turn off B cell lymphoma
Researchers studying the molecular signals that drive a specific type of lymphoma have discovered a key biological pathway leading to this type of cancer. Cancerous cells have been described as being "addicted" to certain oncogenes (cancer-causing genes), and the new research may lay the groundwork for breaking that addiction and effectively treating aggressive types of B cell lymphoma.
New study published on fertility awareness among American university students
A groundbreaking study lead by Chapman University professor Brennan Peterson, Ph.D. on fertility awareness of American college students will be published in the May 5th edition of Human Reproduction—a top-tier international journal in reproductive biology. It is the first such study on fertility awareness among American undergraduate university students. In the USA, the postponement of childbearing is reflective of contemporary social norms of delaying marriage, pursuing education and securing economic stability prior to having a baby. However the awareness of the impact of age on fertility among American college students is low.
Diabetes drug could treat leading cause of blindness
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers have discovered that a drug already prescribed to millions of people with diabetes could also have another important use: treating one of the world's leading causes of blindness.
ACOG: Menstrual dysfunction improves post-bariatric surgery
(HealthDay) -- Following bariatric surgery, there is a noticeable improvement seen in menstrual dysfunction and signs of hyperandrogenism, according to a study presented at the annual clinical meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, held from May 5 to 9 in San Diego.
ACOG: Intrauterine device insertion linked to weight loss
(HealthDay) -- Women who undergo postpartum or interval insertion of Levonorgestrel-releasing Intrauterine System (LNG-IUS) or Copper T 380A (CU-T) intrauterine devices experience weight loss in the two years following insertion, according to a study presented at the annual clinical meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, held from May 5 to 9 in San Diego.
Criteria for surveillance of small renal mass examined
(HealthDay) -- Active surveillance of patients with small renal masses is driven by a tumor size less than 3 cm, poor performance score (PS), and an endophytic lesion, among other patient, tumor, and surgeon characteristics, according to research published in the May issue of Urology.
Some HDL, or 'good' cholesterol, may not protect against heart disease
A new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers has found that a subclass of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, may not protect against coronary heart disease (CHD) and in fact may be harmful.
Procedure gives patients with A-fib who can't take blood thinners alternative to reduce stroke
Patients with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) who cannot take blood thinners now have an alternative to reduce their risk of stroke, which is five times more common in people with the rhythm disorder. The non-surgical procedure works by tying off the left atrial appendage (LAA), the source of most blood clots leading to stroke in patients with A-fib. Northwestern Medicine heart rhythm specialists from the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute were the first to perform this procedure in Illinois.
Keeping obesity rates level could save nearly $550 billion over two decades
Researchers have forecast the cost savings and rise in obesity prevalence over the next two decades in a new public health study.
Defective carnitine metabolism may play role in milder forms of autism
The deletion of part of a gene that plays a role in the synthesis of carnitine – an amino acid derivative that helps the body use fat for energy – may play a role in milder forms of autism (non-dysmorphic autism), said a group of researchers led by those at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital.
Mouse study links delayed female sexual maturity to longer lifespan
An intriguing clue to longevity lurks in the sexual maturation timetable of female mammals, Jackson Laboratory researchers and their collaborators report.
Bisphenol A alters mammary gland development in monkeys
A new study finds that fetal exposure to the plastic additive bisphenol A, or BPA, alters mammary gland development in primates. The finding adds to the evidence that the chemical can be causing health problems in humans and bolsters concerns about it contributing to breast cancer.
Biosignatures distinguish between tuberculosis and sarcoidosis
With a range of diseases, doctors need unique features which they can use to unequivocally identify a patient's illness for an appropriate diagnosis. Scientists therefore search for the biomarkers for an illness or a combination of biomarkers, known as biosignatures, which are as easy as possible to measure. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin have now created complete gene and microRNA expression profiles together with important inflammatory mediators in the blood of tuberculosis and sarcoidosis patients. Although they have identified a signature that distinguishes healthy individuals from patients, the biosignatures of both diseases are nevertheless very similar. It is almost impossible, therefore, to distinguish between tuberculosis and sarcoidosis with just a single signature. A set of different biosignatures is better suited for distinguishing in a first step between diseased and healthy individuals and, in a further step, between t! he specific diseases.
Lifelong depression may increase risk of vascular dementia
Depressive symptoms that occur in both midlife and late life are associated with an increased risk of developing vascular dementia, while symptoms that occur in late life only are more likely to be early signs of Alzheimer's disease, according to University of California at San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente researchers.
Clusters of cooperating tumor-suppressor genes are found in large regions deleted in common cancers
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have amassed strong experimental evidence implying that commonly occurring large chromosomal deletions that are seen in many cancer types contain areas harboring multiple functionally linked genes whose loss, they posit, confers a survival advantage on growing tumors.
Not all tumor cells are equal: Study reveals huge genetic diversity in cells shed by tumors
The cells that slough off from a cancerous tumor into the bloodstream are a genetically diverse bunch, Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have found. Some have genes turned on that give them the potential to lodge themselves in new places, helping a cancer spread between organs. Others have completely different patterns of gene expression and might be more benign, or less likely to survive in a new tissue. Some cells may even express genes that could predict their response to a specific therapy. Even within one patient, the tumor cells that make it into circulating blood vary drastically.
Deep brain stimulation may hold promise for mild Alzheimer's disease
A study on a handful of people with suspected mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) suggests that a device that sends continuous electrical impulses to specific "memory" regions of the brain appears to increase neuronal activity. Results of the study using deep brain stimulation, a therapy already used in some patients with Parkinson's disease and depression, may offer hope for at least some with AD, an intractable disease with no cure.
Scientists discover new type of cell with a key role in treatment-resistant asthma
For most people with asthma, a couple of puffs from an inhaler filled with steroids makes breathing easy. But if their lungs become resistant to the calming effect of that medicine, they live in fear of severe asthma attacks that could send them to the hospital – or worse.
Scarring cells revert to inactive state as liver heals
An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, report that significant numbers of myofibroblasts – cells that produce the fibrous scarring in chronic liver injury – revert to an inactive phenotype as the liver heals. The discovery in mouse models could ultimately help lead to new human therapies for reversing fibrosis in the liver, and in other organs like the lungs and kidneys.
People love talking about themselves, brain scans show
(HealthDay) -- Got something to report about yourself? An opinion, perhaps, or a status update? Nobody may care except you, but new brain research suggests you can make yourself feel good simply by sharing.
Sperm crawl and collide on way to egg, researchers say
Scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick have shed new light on how sperm navigate the female reproductive tract, 'crawling' along the channel walls and swimming around corners; with frequent collisions.
Biology news
New rearing system may aid sterile insect technique against mosquitoes
Scientists at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency have developed a larval rearing unit based on a tray and rack system that is expected to be able to successfully rear rear 140,000-175,000 adult mosquitoes per rack.
Taking America's rarest snake back to the woods
On May 1, USDA Forest Service, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Memphis Zoo, and other partners released seven young Louisiana pine snakes on a restored longleaf pine stand in the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana. The release is the fourth in 2 years, part of a plan to restore a very rare snake to its range in Louisiana. Last year the partners released 20 newly hatched snakes; this year's snakes are 6 months old and about 3 feet long.
Biodiversity could be casualty of Myanmar openness
(AP) -- As many as 40,000 gorgeously plumed birds known as the Gurney's pitta thrive in the lowland rainforests of economically backward Myanmar. Across the border, Thailand's last five pairs are guarded around the clock against snakes and human predators.
Africa's last rhinos threatened by poaching
Decades of conservation efforts to save rhinos are coming undone, as surging demand for their horns in Asian traditional medicine has spawned a vast criminal trade powered by poaching.
How the pufferfish got its beak
The origin of the unusual beak of pufferfishes has been discovered, giving new clues about how such unique structures can evolve, scientists report today.
European mountain plant population shows delayed response to climate change
A modeling study from the European Alps suggests that population declines to be observed during the upcoming decades will probably underestimate the long-term effects of recent climate warming on mountain plants. A European team of ecologists around Stefan Dullinger from the Department of Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology of the University of Vienna presents a new modeling tool to predict migration of mountain plants which explicitly takes population dynamic processes into account. Their results are published in Nature Climate Change.
MSU plan would control deadly tsetse fly
For the first time, scientists have created a satellite-guided plan to effectively control the tsetse fly – an African killer that spreads "sleeping sickness" disease among humans and animals and wipes out $4.5 billion in livestock every year.
Separating signal from noise in living cells
A mathematician from the University of Bristol has teamed up with a biologist from the University of Edinburgh to address a major problem in molecular biology.
Molecule necessary for DNA repairs also halts them
(Phys.org) -- Repairing DNA breaks can save a cell’s life—but shutting off the repair machinery can be just as critical. How cells accomplish this feat was unknown. However, new research by Johns Hopkins scientists, published in the February 22 issue of Nature, suggests that shutting down the repair machinery relies heavily on the same molecule used to start repair in the first place.
British ornithologists track cuckoo birds migration route
(Phys.org) -- Nowhere it seems, are bird watchers more enthusiastic than in Britain, where groups congregate to watch and discuss the most intimate details of their favorite fowl. Of consternation to such groups however is the decline of several favorite species, one of which is the cuckoo, which has seen a nearly fifty percent drop in numbers in just the past couple of decades. Making matters even more frustrating has been the lack of data on the birds which might offer clues as to why their numbers are dropping. Now, one group, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has taken matters into its own hands by capturing and fitting five wild cuckoos with tiny radio backpacks to allow for tracking of the birds during their annual migration. The hope is that by tracking the birds to see where some die, efforts can be made to help them survive.
Endangered species, languages linked at high biodiversity regions
Biodiversity hot spots -- the world's biologically richest and most threatened locations on Earth -- and high biodiversity wilderness areas -- biologically rich but less threatened -- are some of the most linguistically diverse regions on our planet, according to a team of conservationists.
Study solves mystery of horse domestication
New research indicates that domestic horses originated in the steppes of modern-day Ukraine, southwest Russia and west Kazakhstan, mixing with local wild stocks as they spread throughout Europe and Asia. The research was published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
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