Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 21, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Glass has potential to be stronger, researchers say- Chemists find smallest number of water molecules needed to form an ice crystal
- New planetary boundary to measure effects of human activity
- Marie Curie, go home: Science faculty study shows bias
- Chemists create nanotube structures that can expand and contract without breaking down
- Researchers devise new 'subtractive' type of nanoscale printing
- Maps fiasco mars Apple's big iPhone launch
- Horticultural hijacking: Researchers reveal the 'dark side' of beneficial soil bacteria
- 'Kick-starting' male fertility
- Physicists reveal striking similarities in sporting performance
- Growing corn to treat rare disease
- Research identifies protein that regulates key 'fate' decision in cortical progenitor cells
- Skeptics scoff, privacy advocates protest as biometric IDs advance
- Researchers report novel approach for single molecule electronic DNA sequencing
- Swine flu vaccine linked to child narcolepsy: EU watchdog
Space & Earth news
Astrophysicists help open eye of world's most powerful digital camera
(Phys.org)—University of Michigan physicists built parts of a telescope camera that just captured its first image in a major survey designed to help scientists understand why the universe is expanding at an ever-faster rate.
Australia setting the standard for water information exchange
A new water information standard has been announced today by the international standards body Open Geospatial Consortium. Known as WaterML2.0, the new standard will assist in better management of one of our most valuable natural resources.
First mobile NASA app and QuakeSim share agency's 2012 Software Award
NASA's first mobile application and software that models the behavior of earthquake faults to improve earthquake forecasting and our understanding of earthquake processes are co-winners of NASA's 2012 Software of the Year Award. The award recognizes innovative software technologies that significantly improve the agency's exploration of space and maximize scientific discovery on Earth.
Image: Wildfires in Washington State
The summer of 2012 will unfortunately be known as the "Summer of Devastating Western Wildfires" and practically not one state out west was spared. Washington State has been hardest hit of late. This satellite image shows a rash of wildfires currently burning in the middle of the state.
Lowell's Large Monolithic Imager sees first light on the Discovery Channel Telescope
(Phys.org)—The Large Monolithic Imager (LMI), a camera built at Lowell Observatory and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), recently took a set of first-light images on Lowell's 4.3-m Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT). At the heart of the LMI is the largest charge-coupled device (CCD) that can be built using current fabrication techniques and the first of its kind to be made by e2v. The 36-megapixel CCD's active surface is 3.7 inches on a side. The LMI's ability to provide much more accurate measurements of the faint light around galaxies separates it from cameras that use a mosaic of CCDs to produce images.
Invisible plastic particles in seawater damaging to sea animals
(Phys.org)—Plastic nanoparticles in seawater can have an adverse effect on sea organisms. Particles measuring about a thirty millionth of a millimetre, and therefore invisible to the naked eye, are responsible. Mussels that have been exposed to such particles eat less, and thus grow less well, according to research carried out by scientists and students at Wageningen University and IMARES, both part of Wageningen UR. They wrote about their research in the most recent issue of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
Volcano erupts with smoke, ash in north Indonesia
(AP)—A volcano in northern Indonesia has spewed hot smoke and ash thousands of feet into the air in two new eruptions.
Nunavut's mysterious ancient life could return by 2100
Global climate change means that recently discovered ancient forests in Canada's extreme north could one day return, according to Alexandre Guertin-Pasquier of the University of Montreal's Department of Geography, who is presenting his findings at the Canadian Paleontology Conference in Toronto today.
Shuttle to sightsee around California (Update)
(AP)—Space shuttle Endeavour will spend its last flying day Friday not rocketing into space but doing what most tourists do when visiting California: Taking in the state Capitol, Golden Gate Bridge and the Hollywood Sign.
Cavenauts return to Earth
The international team of astronauts taking part in ESA's caving adventure have returned to Earth after spending six days underground. The voyage to the surface of our planet took them five hours from basecamp.
Scientists discover ageing star destroys planet
(Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers has found evidence that a planet was destroyed by its ageing star. Led by Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) in the United States, the team showed that the missing planet was 'consumed' as the star expanded into a 'red giant', what experts refer to as the advanced age of stars.
Spoiled opportunity: Harvard expert bemoans squandering of model for cap and trade
In 1990, Northeastern lakes were becoming more acidic, threatening fish and other aquatic life and conjuring images of a future where lakes—even those in remote wilderness—were barren.
Next SpaceX launch to ISS set for October 7
There will be more Dragons in space! The SpaceX Dragon's next launch to the International Space Station has been scheduled for Sunday, October 7, 2012, NASA and SpaceX announced today. This will be the first of 12 contracted flights by SpaceX to resupply the space station and marks the second trip by a Dragon to the station, following a successful demonstration mission in May.
Saturn shows off its shadow
Take a look up at the enormous shadow cast by Saturn onto its own rings in this raw image, acquired by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on September 18, 2012.
NuSTAR celebrates first 100 days
(Phys.org)—Today, Sept. 21, 2012, marks 100 days since NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, launched into space from the L-1011 "Stargazer" aircraft. Since completing its 30-day checkout, the telescope has been busy making its first observations of black holes, super-dense dead stars and the glowing remains of exploded stars.
Satellite spots Tropical Storm Nadine and 2 developing lows
NOAA's GOES satellite captured Tropical Storm Nadine in the eastern Atlantic, another low pressure area forming in the central Atlantic, and a developing low in the eastern Pacific. NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that the storms around Nadine's center were waning.
NASA satellite sees Tropical Storm Jelawat form in northwestern Pacific
As another tropical storm was forming in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, NASA's Terra satellite was providing forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center with visible and other data on the storm.
Endeavour lands at Los Angeles airport
Space shuttle Endeavour has landed safely at the Los Angeles International Airport after a whirlwind aerial tour around California landmarks.
White dwarfs' tidal effects may create novae, study says
(Phys.org)—Theoretical physicists at Cornell may have found a new way to explain the formation of novae, stars that suddenly become very bright then quickly fade.
New planetary boundary to measure effects of human activity
(Phys.org)—A US scientist has proposed that a new planetary boundary be used to analyze the effects of human activities on the planet. He warns that there are definite biophysical limits to growth in human population, economies and consumption, and that limits in some variables might already have been reached.
Technology news
Fujitsu introduces new FRAM-based device for radio frequency ID applications
Fujitsu Semiconductor America has introduced a new FRAM-based device with the industry's highest memory capacity for a high-frequency RFID (radio frequency ID) IC.
Italian police 'track mafia with Facebook'
Italian police are making use of Facebook to identify criminal networks and even to catch gangsters who cannot resist posting updates while on the run, L'Espresso weekly reported on Friday.
Container ships become more energy-efficient
Technology and Software from Siemens are making the world's largest container ships more energy-efficient. The Korean shipbuilding company Daewoo is building 20 container ships for the Danish shipping company Maersk, each with a total carrying capacity of 18,000 standard containers. For this project Siemens is supplying the controls for a system that generates electric power from the waste heat of the ship's engine. Siemens also supplies shaft-driven generator motors that are used either to generate electric power or to assist the marine engines. These two technologies together reduce CO2 emissions by 12 percent. Since the efficiency of a ship depends on many different factors, Siemens has also developed a decision support tool to optimize energy consumption.
New fuel cell system generates power on campus
UC Santa Barbara is now host to a unique new energy system that is providing electricity as part of the university's commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability. The new 200-kilowatt Bloom Energy Server is directly connected to Southern California Edison's electric distribution system.
Brussels Philharmonic hits high note with classic ringtones
The Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra has hit a high note by offering free ringtones from its classical repertoire that were downloaded 10,000 times in three days in what it terms an "unexpected success."
One petabit per second fiber transmission over 50 km
NTT and three partners- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Fujikura Ltd., Hokkaido University, and Technical University of Denmark—demonstrated ultra-large capacity transmission of 1 petabit (1000 terabit) per second over a 52.4 km length of 12-core (light paths) optical fiber.
Google says it will shut China music service (Update)
(AP)—Google Inc. said Friday it will close a music download service in China, further reducing its presence in the world's most populous Internet market two years after the company closed its mainland search engine in a dispute over censorship and computer hacking.
Samsung plans to add iPhone 5 to patent war
South Korea's Samsung Electronics said Friday it was considering adding Apple's new iPhone 5 to a patent infringement case as part of a long-running global legal battle between the rival smartphone giants.
Taiwan's AUO to appeal over US price-fixing fine
Taiwan's AU Optronics said Friday it would appeal against a US court decision to fine it $500 million for taking part in what prosecutors called the "most serious price-fixing" case in US history.
High-frequency stock trade risky, unfair: experts
The increasing power of computerized high-frequency trades on US markets has been assailed in Congress as dangerous and unfair, as pressure builds to reel in the powerful industry.
Grey market thrives outside Hong Kong Apple store
A grey market for the iPhone 5 sprang up on the doorstep of Hong Kong's Apple store Friday as it hit shelves for the first time, with resellers offering to pay more than 50 percent above retail price.
Long queues for iPhone 5 rollout despite map glitches (Update)
Apple's iPhone 5 hit stores around Asia, Europe and North America Friday, with long queues of devotees undeterred by a lukewarm welcome from experts and complaints about the smartphone's new mapping system.
Observations of real-life driving behavior enables researchers to recommend life-saving strategies
People do about as much while driving their cars as they do while sitting in their living rooms – eating, reading, talking on the phone. Some of these activities qualify as risky behavior. Dial your phone while watching TV and you may miss a weather alert. Dial while driving and you may crash.
Rensselaer civil engineers help destroy test levee in the Netherlands
(Phys.org)—Civil engineers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute were part of an international research team that collapsed a full-scale dike this week in The Netherlands. The test dike was embedded with advanced sensors and traditional measurement instruments, and results of the study are expected to help validate powerful new technologies for monitoring the health of aging flood-control infrastructure.
3Qs: Facial recognition is the new fingerprint
Earlier this month, the FBI began rolling out a $1 billion update to the national fingerprinting database. Facial-recognition systems, DNA analysis, voice identification and iris scanning will all contribute to the government's arsenal of Next Generation Identification (NGI) data. We asked Raymond Fu, a new assistant professor with joint appointments in the College of Engineering and the College of Computer and Information Science, to explain the science behind one of these new technologies: facial-recognition software.
Microfabrication methods to help navigate a day without GPS
Military missions of all types need extremely accurate navigation techniques to keep people and equipment on target. That is why the Military relies on GPS or, when GPS is unavailable, precise sensors for navigation. These sensors, such as gyroscopes that measure orientation, are bulky and expensive to fabricate. For example, a single gyroscope designed as an inertial sensor accurate enough for a precision missile can take up to 1 month to be hand assembled and cost up to $1 million. DARPA has made progress in developing less expensive fabrication methods for inertial sensors and is making them orders of magnitude smaller and less expensive.
DBToaster breaks up data jams in server farms
Databases have revolutionized the business world. Every bottle of shampoo you buy, every purchase you make, is just one more data point sent out to your bank's and your supermarket's servers. This enormous quantity of detailed information allows merchants to optimize their inventories and displays and bankers to optimize the flow of money. Gigantic farms of servers are deployed in an effort to keep up with this breakneck pace of information storage and transfer. Researchers in EPFL's DATA Laboratory have developed DBToaster, a system that speeds up the pace of operations by a factor of 100 – 10,000. The latest version has just been made available on www.dbtoaster.org.
Apple loses German patent case v Samsung, Motorola
(AP)—A German court has dismissed Apple Inc.'s claim that Samsung Electronics and Google Inc.'s Motorola Mobility infringed patents used in touch-screen devices.
23 nuclear power plants are in tsunami risk areas
The tsunami in Japan in March 2011 unleashed a series of negligence related with the resulting nuclear disaster. A scientific study headed by Spanish researchers has for the first time identified those atomic power plants that are more prone to suffering the effects of a tsunami. In total, 23 plants are in dangerous areas, including Fukushima I, with 74 reactors located in the east and southeast of Asia.
Review: IOS 6 disappointing, but worth downloading
The iPhone 5 isn't the only product Apple is updating this week. On Wednesday it released a new version of iOS, the software that underlies its handheld devices.
Q&A: Microsoft CEO has no fears for Windows 8
This fall, Microsoft is embarking on one of its biggest series of launches ever, with new versions or updates of nearly all its products and services, from Windows to Windows Phone, Office to Windows Server.
Apple to meet Swiss rail firm over clock dispute
Swiss national train operator SBB said Friday it is to meet Apple representatives after the tech giant used without agreement its famous clock design on a new application for iPad and iPhone.
BlackBerry outage in Europe and Africa
(AP)—The chief executive of struggling BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion apologized Friday after an outage in Europe and Africa interrupted service for customers on the very day Apple Inc. released its new iPhone 5.
Facebook switches off facial recognition tool
Facebook said Friday it had switched off the facial-recognition tool that prompts users to "tag" photographs uploaded to its website following a privacy investigation.
Researchers develop prototype of 3-D display screen that physically tilts (w/ Video)
Imagine a mobile device that visually displays a street map and whose screen physically mutates to show the hilly terrain and buildings. A team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, have developed a new type of screen display that not only moves but also physically tilts.
Maps fiasco mars Apple's big iPhone launch
Melting bridges, misplaced landmarks, and major cities disappearing: Apple's glitch-ridden maps program released in its new mobile software has customers fuming and analysts puzzled.
Swiss rail claims Apple copied its iconic clocks (Update)
Switzerland's national rail company accused Apple Inc. on Friday of stealing the iconic look of its station clocks for the iOS 6 operating system used by iPhone and iPad mobile devices.
Energy firms must acknowledge cybersecurity as more than an IT problem, paper claims
(Phys.org)—Energy firms have spent vast sums on the security of their information systems, but they must reorient from a reactive, tactical posture regarding intrusions and attacks to a more strategic, holistic view that expands beyond the categorization of the issue as an IT problem, according to a new paper from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Skeptics scoff, privacy advocates protest as biometric IDs advance
Long envisioned as an alternative to remembering scores of computer passwords or lugging around keys to cars, homes and businesses, technology that identifies people by their faces or other physical features finally is gaining traction, to the dismay of privacy advocates.
Medicine & Health news
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center launches unprecedented Moon Shots Program
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announces the launch of the Moon Shots Program, an unprecedented effort to dramatically accelerate the pace of converting scientific discoveries into clinical advances that reduce cancer deaths.
NYC effort put rats on the run
(HealthDay)—A rat control strategy launched in the Bronx, N.Y., led to a 54 percent reduction in the number of properties with signs of rat activity, a new federal report says.
Replacing intravenous catheters only when clinically necessary is safe and could save
New research published in the third Article in The Lancet surgery-themed issue suggests that the millions of intravenous catheters used each year can be safely changed only when clinically necessary, overturning 40 years of accepted practice involving routine replacement every 3 days. Introducing such a policy would not only prevent unnecessary painful procedures in one fifth of patients but also dramatically reduce equipment and staff costs.
Survival after general anaesthetic dramatically improved worldwide over past 50 years
Survival after a general anaesthetic and within 48 hours of surgery has greatly improved worldwide over the past 50 years, according to the second Article in The Lancet surgery-themed issue.
Europe-wide study finds death rates after surgery double that of recent estimates
National estimates of death following general surgery have been too optimistic, suggests the first large-scale study to explore surgical outcomes across Europe published in the first Article in a special Lancet theme issue on surgery. New estimates generated using a snap-shot of death after surgery in over 46 000 patients from 500 hospitals in 28 European countries indicate that overall crude mortality (death from all causes) is 4%, which is more than double previous estimates.
No buts, in Beverly Hills it has to be a butt job
Forget face lifts or boob jobs—in California the latest cosmetic surgery must-have is the buttock enhancement, whether higher, rounder or just smoother.
Study reveals persistent deprivation for New Zealand children
A sizeable and "difficult to ignore" proportion of New Zealand children have experienced persistent low income and deprivation in recent years, according to a new University of Otago study using seven years of longitudinal survey data.
Stemming the spread of cancer
Okayama University's Masaharu Seno and colleagues have demonstrated in vitro the development of cancer stem cells (CSCs) from a type of normal stem cell exposed to their hypothetical microenvironment of a tumor.
'Queer Bioethics': The birth of a new academic discipline
It's not every day that a new academic discipline is born. But that's exactly what happened in 2010, when the Project on Bioethics, Sexuality and Gender Identity — or "Queer Bioethics," for short—came to life at the University of Pennsylvania.
Advancing the treatment of trauma
(Medical Xpress)—With traumatic injuries claiming almost six million lives a year, improvements in care, including in the challenging areas of brain and bone injuries, and haemorrhage, are urgently needed.
UK: Why 3,000 middle-aged men die by suicide each year?
A new report, published today, provides an in-depth examination into why men from disadvantaged backgrounds in their 30s, 40s and 50s are at higher risk of suicide than the rest of society. Men from low socio-economic backgrounds living in deprived areas are ten times more likely to die by suicide than men from high socio-economic backgrounds living in the most affluent areas.
The Medical Minute: Thyroid cancer on the rise
September is Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month. With cases on the rise locally, nationally and globally, Dr. David Goldenberg, director of Head and Neck Surgery at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, hopes people will become more mindful of the disease.
Low income linked to poorer health in both U.S. and England, despite different health systems
(Medical Xpress)—Although the English are generally healthier than Americans, both countries grapple with large health inequalities. A new study suggests that in both countries, health and wealth are tightly linked.
Alzheimer's disease: preventative measures can delay onset
"We cannot prevent Alzheimer's, but we can delay the onset of the disease until an advanced age with the right measures," says Peter Dal-Bianco, Alzheimer's expert from the MedUni Vienna's University Department of Neurology as part of World Alzheimer's Day on 21st September. The right preventative measures make it possible to delay the onset of the condition. These include, for example, plenty of exercise, not smoking or the increased intake of fruit and vegetables.
New challenges for ex-Olympians
When elite-level athletes retire, they often struggle to adapt to their new lives. When finding that the characteristics that were valuable in sport are not equally useful in 'ordinary' life, they often start experiencing disorientation, depression, self-doubt or even illness. This is concluded in research from the University of Gothenburg.
Addictive properties of drug abuse may hold key to an HIV cure
A Florida State University researcher is on a mission to explore the gene-controlling effects of addictive drugs in pursuit of new HIV treatments.
Duration of antiplatelet drugs for drug-eluting stents studied
(HealthDay)—In patients receiving drug-eluting stents, dual antiplatelet therapy can be safely discontinued during the first year, according to two studies published online Sept. 19 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Suicide now kills more Americans than car crashes: study
(HealthDay)—More Americans now commit suicide than die in car crashes, making suicide the leading cause of injury deaths, according to a new study.
Poorer patients find thyroid cancer at later stage: study
(HealthDay)—Poorer people are more likely than the rich to receive a thyroid cancer diagnosis after the disease has progressed to a more advanced stage, according to a new study.
Sequential oral, topical tacrolimus benefits dermatitis
(HealthDay)—Sequential therapy with oral tacrolimus and topical tacrolimus may be an effective treatment for severe atopic dermatitis (AD), according to a pilot study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Yale researchers develop model for spread of successful health innovations
(Medical Xpress)—Although some family health innovations have proved effective in communities around the globe, many fail to gain widespread use – particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Researchers at Yale's Global Health Leadership Institute (GHLI) examined several maternal and child health programs—such as those promoting breastfeeding and contraception—and produced an integrated and practical model of how to scale-up such programs.
Debt and income concerns deter medical students from primary care careers
(Medical Xpress)—Primary care physicians—America's front line healthcare practitioners—are usually the first to diagnose illness, refer patients to specialists and coordinate care. Yet, despite that critical role, primary care physicians remain among the lowest paid of all doctors at a time when there's an acute primary care shortage.
Key immune cell may play role in lung cancer susceptibility
(Medical Xpress)—Why do many heavy smokers evade lung cancer while others who have never lit up die of the disease? The question has vexed scientists for decades.
Chronic pain and shaking under control using 'pacemaker for the brain'
How does electrical stimulation affect the brain? A project by Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, launched in early 2012, studies the impact mechanism of deep brain stimulation and develops electrochemical sensors for more effective measuring of neurotransmitters in the brain. The long-term goals of the research are more specific treatment for Parkinson's disease and many other diseases of the nervous system.
Most baby boomers 'under the doctor' at retirement
(Medical Xpress)—The vast majority of the post-war baby boomers have had at least one medical condition requiring regular GP visits in the run-up to retirement, and just one in six was completely condition free, according to the latest findings from the UK's oldest birth cohort. Diseases affecting more than 10 per cent of those studied included cancer, osteoporosis, chronic respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease.
Humble hero or hidden villain? The ongoing story of aspirin's powers
The humble aspirin has a remarkable history dating back to ancient Egyptian times when the bark of weeping willow (which contains salicin from which the aspirin formulation is derived) was found to have anti-inflammatory properties. And Hippocrates wrote about the medicinal uses of white willow in the fifth century BC. But this story is not over yet.
Reduced physical activity reduces life span
(Medical Xpress)— A regular exercise regimen will increase life expectancy in the elderly, new research has found.
Relation of poor sleep quality to resistant hypertension
For people who already have high blood pressure, insomnia can have serious consequences, according to a new study presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions.
The effect of body mass index on blood pressure varies by race among children
Obesity in black children more severely impacts blood pressure than in white children who are equally overweight, according to a new study presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions.
Antibiotic use aids MRSA spread in hospital and infection control measures do little to prevent it
The use of a commonly prescribed antibiotic is a major contributor to the spread of infection in hospitals by the 'superbug' MRSA, according to new research. The study also found that increasing measures to prevent infection – such as improved hygiene and hand washing – appeared to have only a small effect on reducing MRSA infection rates during the period studied.
Understanding the chemical mechanism behind antidepressants
(Medical Xpress)—Millions of Americans take antidepressants such as Prozac, Effexor, and Paxil, but the explanations for how they work never satisfied René Hen, a professor of psychiatry, neuroscience and pharmacology.
iPhone attachment designed for at-home diagnoses of ear infections
(Medical Xpress)—A new pediatric medical device being developed by Georgia Tech and Emory University could make life easier for every parent who has rushed to the doctor with a child screaming from an ear infection.
New study documents women's experiences with chromosome abnormalities found in new prenatal test
(Medical Xpress)—We often hear that "knowledge is power." But, that isn't always the case, especially when the knowledge pertains to the health of an unborn child, with murky implications, at best. A new study, led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, begins to document this exception to the general rule.
Vision cells, not brain, to blame for colour blindness
The real culprits of colour blindness are vision cells rather than unusual wiring in the eye and brain, recent research has shown.
Study reveal brain cells' weakest links
(Medical Xpress)—People with degenerative neurological conditions could benefit from research that shows why their brain cells stop communicating properly.
Smoking trends among Mexicans, Mexican-Americans
(Medical Xpress)—Led by UC Davis researchers, the first-ever transnational study of Mexico-U.S. migration and smoking has found that U.S.-born Mexican Americans start smoking at an earlier age but are more likely to quit than their counterparts in Mexico.
Dangerous dreaming: Sleep specialist says rem behavior disorder likely underreported
(Medical Xpress)—A troubling sleep disorder that causes sleepers to physically act out their dreams by kicking, screaming or falling out of bed may be more common than reported, according to Loyola University Medical Center sleep specialist Dr. Nabeela Nasir.
Camptothecin analog FL118 shown to inhibit production of key cancer survival genes
(Medical Xpress)—Some 500,000 people die of cancer in the United States each year, often because their cancers have become resistant to approved therapies. Scientists at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) have made headway in the effort to overcome resistance to treatment, publishing findings about a novel cancer drug that has been shown to inhibit several genes associated with the ability of cancer cells to survive and reproduce.
Evidence does not support spinal manipulation for acute lower back pain
Manipulating or "adjusting" the spine is a popular way to treat occasional or acute lower back pain and is covered by many health insurance plans, but a recent review by The Cochrane Library finds no evidence to suggest it is more effective than other therapy options.
Diet high in total antioxidants associated with lower risk of myocardial infarction in women
Coronary heart disease is a major cause of death in women. A new study has found that a diet rich in antioxidants, mainly from fruits and vegetables, can significantly reduce the risk of myocardial infarction. The study is published in the October issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
Giving lithium to those who need it
Lithium is a 'gold standard' drug for treating bipolar disorder, however not everyone responds in the same way. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Biology of Mood & Anxiety Disorders finds that this is true at the levels of gene activation, especially in the activation or repression of genes which alter the level the apoptosis (programmed cell death). Most notably BCL2, known to be important for the therapeutic effects of lithium, did not increase in non-responders. This can be tested in the blood of patients within four weeks of treatment.
Tick in man's ear gives him tinnitus
(HealthDay)—When a 63-year-old man went to a hospital in Switzerland to report a buzzing in his ear, the staff got more than they bargained for when they looked inside. A tick was attached to his eardrum, and it possibly got there with the help of a friendly feline.
Survival after general anesthesia vastly improved: study
(HealthDay)—The number of people who survive surgery when general anesthesia is used has improved dramatically over the past 50 years, Canadian researchers report.
Denosumab reduces burden of giant-cell tumor of the bone
Treatment with denosumab, a drug targeted against a protein that helps promote bone destruction, decreased the number of tumor giant cells in patients with giant-cell tumor of the bone, and increased new bone formation, according to the results of a phase II study published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Researchers identify predictors for inpatient pain
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified reliable predictors of pain by surveying patients throughout their hospital stays about the severity of their pain and their levels of satisfaction with how their pain was managed by hospital staff. Using this data, interdisciplinary teams treating patients were able to identify patients at higher risk for pain prior to, or immediately upon, their admission to the hospital, and create and implement intervention plans resulting in patients reporting lower levels of pain and higher levels of satisfaction with their pain management. The study is published online in the American Journal of Medical Quality.
Psychiatric group: Parental alienation no disorder
(AP)—Rebuffing an intensive lobbying campaign, a task force of the American Psychiatric Association has decided not to list the disputed concept of parental alienation in the updated version of its catalog of mental disorders.
Anti-clot drug recommended for new approval in EU
(AP)—Advisers to European Union regulators have recommended approval of a new anti-clotting drug for use by adults with a common irregular heart rhythm that boosts risk of strokes or blood clots, drugmakers Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Pfizer Inc. said.
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia pathogenesis studied
(HealthDay)—Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2), which is activated by cowhage, may play a role in central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), the most common cause of scarring hair loss in African-American women, according to research published online Sept. 17 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Leaving balloon in is safe in urinary sphincter revision
(HealthDay)—Intentionally leaving the pressure-regulating balloon in place during a non-infected artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) revision procedure is safe and is not associated with infection or complications, according to research published online Sept. 13 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Patient preference doesn't affect chemo in advanced CRC
(HealthDay)—For patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), most patients are treated with chemotherapy, even if they express negative or marginal preferences, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in Cancer.
Skin cancer incidence up after pancreas transplantation
(HealthDay)—Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) commonly occur after pancreas transplantation (PT), particularly in those who have a history of skin cancer, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Perceived stress linked to asthma, atopic disorders
(HealthDay)—Perceived stress correlates with an increased risk of adult-onset asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis as well as asthma medication use, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in Allergy.
Undertreatment of common heart condition persists despite rapid adoption of novel therapies
A novel blood thinner recently approved by the FDA, dabigatran (Pradaxa), has been rapidly adopted into clinical practice, yet thus far has had little impact on improving treatment rates for atrial fibrillation. This is according to a new study led by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health that examined national trends in oral anticoagulant use. They found that despite rapid adoption of dabigatran for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, a large proportion of patients–two in five–did not receive oral anticoagulant therapy. In addition, although the majority of dabigatran utilization was for its FDA-approved indication, atrial fibrillation, an increasing proportion of use was for off-label indications such as venous thromboembolism. The results are featured in the September 2012 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Mutant parasite could stop malaria in its tracks
(Medical Xpress)—University of Nottingham Malaria experts have found a way of disabling one of the many phosphatase proteins which breathe life into the malaria parasite. The result is a mutant which is unable to complete the complex life cycle crucial to its development. The discovery could help to design drugs to save thousands of lives.
'Kick-starting' male fertility
Adding a missing protein to infertile human sperm can 'kick-start' its ability to fertilise an egg and dramatically increase the chances of a successful pregnancy, a team of Cardiff University scientists have uncovered.
Regular consumption of sugary beverages linked to increased genetic risk of obesity
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health have found that greater consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is linked with a greater genetic susceptibility to high body mass index (BMI) and increased risk of obesity. The study reinforces the view that environmental and genetic factors may act together to shape obesity risk.
Experimental drug could help reduce brain damage, improve motor skills after stroke
(Medical Xpress)—A University of Arizona professor is overseeing the manufacture of an experimental drug that could help reduce brain damage after a stroke.
'Fingerprinting' breakthrough offers improved brain tumour diagnosis
(Medical Xpress)—UK scientists have made a breakthrough in a new method of brain tumour diagnosis, offering hope to tens of thousands of people.
Mosquito virus could lead to new vaccines and drugs
A mosquito sample collected three decades ago in Israel's Negev Desert has yielded an unexpected discovery: a previously unknown virus that's closely related to some of the world's most dangerous mosquito-borne pathogens but, curiously, incapable of infecting non-insect hosts.
Research identifies protein that regulates key 'fate' decision in cortical progenitor cells
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have solved an important piece of one of neuroscience's outstanding puzzles: how progenitor cells in the developing mammalian brain reproduce themselves while also giving birth to neurons that will populate the emerging cerebral cortex, the seat of cognition and executive function in the mature brain.
Swine flu vaccine linked to child narcolepsy: EU watchdog
A swine flu vaccine used in 2009-10 is linked to a higher risk of the sleeping disorder narcolepsy in children and teens in Sweden and Finland, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Friday.
Biology news
Identification of a rice transporter for manganese and cadmium uptake
Rice (Oryza sativa) is an important dietary source of cadmium and can accumulate very high levels of manganese without toxic effects. However so far there has been little understanding of the uptake and transport mechanisms for these minerals. In depth studies by Jian Feng Ma and colleagues at Okayama University in Japan have revealed how OsNramp5, a member of the natural resistance macrophage protein (Nramp) family, enables uptake of specific minerals in rice.
'Forest killer' plant study explores rapid environmental change factors
It's called mile-a-minute weed or "forest killer." Mikania micrantha is an exotic, invasive species that spreads quickly, covering crops, smothering trees and rapidly altering the environment.
Nepal tigers 'take night shift' to avoid humans
Tigers in southern Nepal appear to be changing their habits so they can operate under cover of darkness and avoid coming into contact with humans, scientists said on Friday.
Weevils successfully destroy acres of lake-invading plants
(Phys.org)—A weevil that feeds exclusively on giant salvinia has successfully destroyed about 150 acres of the invasive plant this summer on B.A. Steinhagen Lake near Woodville in East Texas, according to personnel involved in a statewide giant salvinia management program.
Sea-level rise threatens endangered rabbit far more than development, research finds
(Phys.org)—When University of Florida researcher Robert McCleery and a graduate student began looking at why an endangered marsh rabbit's habitat was disappearing in the Florida Keys, they fully expected the blame would fall on development.
New data suggest bacteria have a direct effect on rock weathering
New research shows that in a bid to derive energy from iron, bacteria may be directly responsible for kicking off a cascade of reactions that reduce rocks to soil and free biologically important minerals.
Birds on the move
(Phys.org)—Over the past 60 years, areas that have a climate suitable for certain Australian bird species have shifted much faster than previously thought, and not exactly in the expected direction.
EU seeks to clarify honey
Honey is the purest of foods which under European Commission proposals Friday should remain so once rules about pollen from genetically modified plants found in it are straightened out.
Professor publishes on first-ever imaging of cells growing on spherical surfaces
Shengyuan Yang, Florida Institute of Technology assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, with graduate student Sang Joo Lee, has published a paper on the first-ever imaging of cells growing on spherical surfaces. The paper is published in the online journal, Review of Scientific Instruments, and will appear later in September in the print version.
New turtle tracking technique may aid efforts to save loggerhead
The old adage "you are what you eat" is helping scientists better understand the threatened loggerhead turtle, which is the primary nester on Central Florida's beaches.
Horticultural hijacking: Researchers reveal the 'dark side' of beneficial soil bacteria
(Phys.org)—It's a battleground down there—in the soil where plants and bacteria dwell.
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