The EDGE: ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Tuesday, September 4, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Tuesday, September 4, 2012

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High doses of vitamin D help tuberculosis patients recover more quickly (September 3, 2012) -- For decades before antibiotics became generally available, sunshine was used to treat tuberculosis, with patients often being sent to Swiss clinics to soak up the sun's healing rays. Now, for the first time scientists have shown how and why heliotherapy might, indeed, have made a difference. A new study has shown that high doses of Vitamin D, given in addition to antibiotic treatment, appear to help patients with tuberculosis recover more quickly. ... > full story

Mass spectrometry makes the clinical grade (September 3, 2012) -- A new mass spectrometry-based test identifies proteins from blood with as much accuracy and sensitivity as the antibody-based tests used clinically, researchers report. The head-to-head comparison using blood samples from cancer patients measured biomarkers, proteins whose presence identifies a disease or condition. The technique should be able to speed up development of protein-specific diagnostic tests and treatment. ... > full story

Mathematics or memory? Study charts collision course in brain (September 3, 2012) -- You already know it's hard to balance your checkbook while simultaneously reflecting on your past. Now, researchers -- having done the equivalent of wire-tapping a hard-to-reach region of the brain -- can tell us how this impasse arises. ... > full story

Tigers take the night shift to coexist with people (September 3, 2012) -- Tigers don't have a reputation for being accommodating, but a new study indicates that the feared and revered carnivores in and around a park in Nepal are taking the night shift to better coexist with their human neighbors. The revelation that tigers and people are sharing the same space flies in the face of long-held convictions in conservation circles. It also underscores how successful conservation efforts need sciences that takes into account both nature and humans. ... > full story

Research reveals contrasting consequences of a warmer Earth (September 3, 2012) -- A new study involving analysis of fossil and geological records going back 540 million years suggests that biodiversity on Earth generally increases as the planet warms. But the research says that the increase in biodiversity depends on the evolution of new species over millions of years, and is normally accompanied by extinctions of existing species. ... > full story

Improved diagnosis of lung disease: New global benchmarks (September 3, 2012) -- New research has established the first global benchmarks for assessing lung function across the entire life span. The lung growth charts will help healthcare professionals better understand lung disease progression and help raise awareness of lung disease, which is the world's leading cause of death. ... > full story

Parental problems prevent children taking much-needed asthma medication, study finds (September 3, 2012) -- Parental problems and a chaotic home environment could be preventing children from taking their prescribed asthma medication. ... > full story

Marathon running could trigger pulmonary edema development in the lungs (September 3, 2012) -- A new study has found evidence that marathon running could trigger pulmonary edema, where fluid builds up in the lungs. ... > full story

Intelligent self-repairing clothing and sensors will detect potential onset of an epileptic seizure (September 3, 2012) -- Intelligent self-repairing clothing and sensors that can detect the potential onset of an epileptic seizure sound like the stuff of science fiction but designers and engineers are turning them into reality. ... > full story

Peek-a-blue Moon (September 3, 2012) -- Europe's latest weather satellite got a glimpse of the Moon before our celestial neighbour disappeared from view behind Earth on Friday. Since its launch two months ago, MSG-3 has been working well and is on its way to entering service. ... > full story

Web-TV: A perfect match? (September 3, 2012) -- Do you surf the web in front of the TV, or tweet what you are watching? Researchers are creating technologies that combine web, social media and TV to enhance our experience and interactions across media. ... > full story

Molecular signature of hantavirus infection in humans decoded (September 3, 2012) -- Scientists have succeeded in clarifying the molecular signature of the viruses that lead to an increasing size and number of hantavirus outbreaks in Germany. ... > full story

Late motherhood: A selfish choice? (September 3, 2012) -- When women give birth in their late thirties or in their forties, it is not necessarily the result of a lifestyle choice – putting off motherhood for career reasons or from a desire to “have it all”. Nor should they be accused of selfishness or taking undue health risks. ... > full story

Newly identified stem cell population in skin's epidermis responsible for tissue repair (September 3, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a new stem cell population in the skin epidermis responsible for tissue repair. The skin, which is an essential barrier that protects our body against the external environment, undergoes constant turnover throughout life to replace dead cells that are constantly sloughed off from the skin surface. During adult life, the number of cells produced must exactly compensate the number of cells lost. Different theories have been proposed to explain how this delicate balance is achieved. In a new study, researchers demonstrate the existence of a new population of stem cells that give rise to progenitor cells that ensure the daily maintenance of the epidermis and demonstrate the major contribution of epidermal stem cells during wound healing. ... > full story

Broader approach provides new insight into diabetes genes (September 3, 2012) -- Using a new method, diabetes researchers have been able to reveal more of the genetic complexity behind type 2 diabetes. The new research findings have been achieved as a result of access to human insulin-producing cells from deceased donors and by not only studying one gene variant, but many genes and how they influence the level of the gene in pancreatic islets and their effect on insulin secretion and glucose control of the donor. ... > full story

A promising start for new anticancer drug (September 3, 2012) -- Spanish researchers have developed on a nanometric scale a new drug that combines photothermia and chemotherapy to help fight cancer. ... > full story

High levels of DDT in breast milk in mothers living in malaria-stricken villages in South Africa (September 3, 2012) -- The highest levels ever of DDT in breast milk have been measured in mothers living in malaria-stricken villages in South Africa. The values lie well over the limits set by the World Health Organization. DDT has been used for many years in South Africa, sprayed indoors to fight malaria. ... > full story

Israeli cave explorers return from record-breaking expedition in Abkhazia of ‘Everest of the caves’ (September 3, 2012) -- Cavers have just returned from exploring the deepest cave in the world. The cave, known as Krubera-Voronya, is considered the “Everest of the caves” and is in Abkhazia in the south of Russia near the Black Sea. ... > full story

'Triple-threat' approach reduces life-threatening central line infections in children with cancer (September 3, 2012) -- Hospitals can dramatically reduce the number of life-threatening central line infections in pediatric cancer patients by following a set of basic precautions, by encouraging families to speak up when they observe noncompliance with the protocol and by honest analysis of the root cause behind every single infection, according to a new study. ... > full story

Obesity and metabolic syndrome associated with impaired brain function in adolescents (September 3, 2012) -- A new study reveals for the first time that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with cognitive and brain impairments in adolescents and calls for pediatricians to take this into account when considering the early treatment of childhood obesity. ... > full story

Simple CT scan can predict worsening COPD, study suggests (September 3, 2012) -- The respective size of the pulmonary artery compared to the aorta, visible on a CT scan, is a strong predictor of the risk of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to new research from UAB. The research team says that an increase in the size of the pulmonary artery relative to the size of the aorta is a valid indicator that a patient with COPD is at risk for exacerbating their disease. These exacerbations of COPD are associated with accelerated loss of lung function, worsened quality of life and increased risk of death. ... > full story

Children taking steroids for asthma are slightly shorter than peers, study finds (September 3, 2012) -- Children who use inhaled steroid drugs for asthma end up slightly shorter at their full adult height than children who don’t use the drugs, new results from a comprehensive asthma study show. ... > full story

Waste cooking oil makes bioplastics cheaper (September 2, 2012) -- 'Bioplastics' that are naturally synthesized by microbes could be made commercially viable by using waste cooking oil as a starting material. This would reduce environmental contamination and also give high-quality plastics suitable for medical implants, according to scientists. ... > full story

Coconut oil could combat tooth decay (September 2, 2012) -- Digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria that cause tooth decay. It is a natural antibiotic that could be incorporated into commercial dental care products, say scientists. ... > full story

Study sheds light on lung cancers that are undetected by radiograph (September 2, 2012) -- New research has revealed why some lung cancers are undetected by radiograph and helped to identify the type of people who may be at risk of this form of the disease. ... > full story

Respiratory burden ‘high in aging population’ (September 2, 2012) -- People aged 85 years and over have a high burden of respiratory disease, according to new findings. The research has shed light on the health problems likely to be encountered by the aging population. ... > full story

Overactive bladder linked to sleep apnea in women (September 2, 2012) -- Sleep apnoea in women has been linked to overactive bladder syndrome in a new study. ... > full story

Design help for drug cocktails for HIV patients: Mathematical model helps design efficient multi-drug therapies (September 2, 2012) -- For years, doctors treating those with HIV have recognized a relationship between how faithfully patients take the drugs they prescribe, and how likely the virus is to develop drug resistance. New research is helping to explain why those differences exist, and may help doctors quickly and cheaply design new combinations of drugs that are less likely to result in resistance. ... > full story

Ancient enzymes function like nanopistons to unwind RNA (September 2, 2012) -- DEAD-box proteins, which are ancient enzymes found in all forms of life, function as recycling "nanopistons." They use chemical energy to clamp down and pry open RNA strands, thereby enabling the formation of new structures. ... > full story

A new light shed on genetic regulation's role in the predisposition to common diseases (September 2, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered several thousands new genetic variants impacting gene expression some of which are responsible for predisposition to common diseases, bringing closer to the biological interpretation of personal genomes. ... > full story

Can’t smell anything? Discovery may give you hope (September 2, 2012) -- Scientists have restored the sense of smell in mice through gene therapy for the first time -- a hopeful sign for people who can’t smell anything from birth or lose it due to disease. The achievement in curing congenital anosmia may also aid research on other conditions that also stem from problems with the cilia. ... > full story

Heavy drinking rewires brain, increasing susceptibility to anxiety problems (September 2, 2012) -- After chronic alcohol exposure, mice are unable to control a learned fear response, shedding light on the link between alcoholism and anxiety problems like post-traumatic stress disorder. ... > full story

Why children with asthma are more likely to be bullied (September 2, 2012) -- New research has uncovered several factors which could explain why children with asthma are at an increased risk of being bullied. ... > full story

New technique helps determine degree of muscle wasting in critically ill patients (September 2, 2012) -- Researchers have identified a new technique that can help determine the severity of muscle loss in critically ill patients. The breakthrough could lead to new research to help prevent muscle-wasting and new therapeutic interventions to help treat critically ill patients. ... > full story

E-cigarettes can damage the lungs, experts warn (September 2, 2012) -- New research has shown that despite electronic cigarettes being marketed as a potentially safer alternative to normal cigarettes, they are still causing harm to the lungs. ... > full story

Anti-clotting therapy may be used too often following orthopaedic surgery or trauma (September 1, 2012) -- Men and women who undergo joint replacement procedures, as well as those who have significant fractures, tend to be at an increased risk of developing pulmonary emboli (PE), blood clots that travel to the lungs where they may cause serious complications and even death. Patients are often aggressively treated with anticoagulants, or blood thinners, to help prevent the clots from forming, but a new study indicates that some blood clots being identified by today's sensitive testing methods may not require aggressive treatments. ... > full story

Flying high: Researchers decipher manic gene (September 1, 2012) -- Flying high, or down in the dumps -- individuals suffering from bipolar disorder alternate between depressive and manic episodes. Researchers have now discovered, based on patient data and animal models, how the NCAN gene results in the manic symptoms of bipolar disorder. ... > full story

Small male fish use high aggression strategy (September 1, 2012) -- In the deserts of central Australia lives a tough little fish known as the desert goby, and a new study is shedding light on the aggressive mating behaviour of smaller nest-holding males. ... > full story

Chilling methods could change meat tenderness (August 31, 2012) -- Contrary to previous studies, new research shows that a method called blast chilling can affect pork tenderness. This discovery could change pork production and consumer choices at the grocery store. ... > full story

Exposure to common toxic substances could increase asthma symptoms (August 31, 2012) -- Children who are exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were commonly used in a range of industrial products, could be at risk of an increase in asthma symptoms, according to new research. ... > full story

'Missing link' between stem cells and the immune system (August 31, 2012) -- Researchers have discovered a type of cell that is the “missing link” between bone marrow stem cells and all the cells of the human immune system, a finding that will lead to a greater understanding of how a healthy immune system is produced and how disease can lead to poor immune function. ... > full story

Earthquake hazards map study finds deadly flaws (August 31, 2012) -- Three of the largest and deadliest earthquakes in recent history occurred where earthquake hazard maps didn't predict massive quakes. Scientists have recently studied the reasons for the maps' failure to forecast these quakes. They also explored ways to improve the maps. Developing better hazard maps and alerting people to their limitations could potentially save lives and money in areas such as the New Madrid, Missouri fault zone. ... > full story

Genetic link to prostate cancer risk in African Americans found (August 31, 2012) -- Prostate cancer in African-American men is associated with specific changes in the IL-16 gene, and by establishing the link in men of African as well as European descent, researchers may have found a useful new biomarker for prostate cancer. ... > full story

Legislated to health? If people don't take their health into their own hands, governments may use policies to do it for them (August 31, 2012) -- Obesity rates in North America are a growing concern for legislators. Expanded waistlines mean rising health-care costs for maladies such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. One researcher says that if people do not take measures to get healthy, they may find that governments will throw their weight into administrative measures designed to help us trim the fat. ... > full story

A millimeter-scale, wirelessly powered cardiac device (August 31, 2012) -- Electrical engineers overturn existing models to demonstrate the feasibility of a millimeter-sized, wirelessly powered cardiac device. The findings, say the researchers, could dramatically alter the scale of medical devices implanted in the human body. ... > full story

Hubble spots a supernova in NGC 5806 (August 31, 2012) -- A new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows NGC 5806, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo (the Virgin). It lies around 80 million light years from Earth. Also visible in this image is a supernova explosion called SN 2004dg. ... > full story

NASA's GRAIL moon twins begin extended mission science (August 31, 2012) -- NASA's twin, lunar-orbiting Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft began data collection for the start of the mission's extended operations. ... > full story

International collaboration key to science and engineering globalization (August 31, 2012) -- International collaboration is a key aspect of the globalization of science and engineering. A recent report and data evaluation released by the U.S. National Science Foundation showed that one in six scientists and engineers in the United States reported working with individuals in other countries in a given week. ... > full story