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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 1, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Water detected in the atmosphere of hot Jupiter exoplanet 51 Pegasi b(Phys.org)—Astronomers have detected the presence of water molecules in the atmosphere of a nearby hot Jupiter exoplanet known as 51 Pegasi b (51 Peb b for short). The discovery sheds new light on the nature of the exoworld's atmosphere and indicates that the star-planet system is a double-lined spectroscopic binary. The findings were presented Jan. 25 in a paper published on arXiv.org. |
 | Celestial cat meets cosmic lobsterAstronomers have for a long time studied the glowing, cosmic clouds of gas and dust catalogued as NGC 6334 and NGC 6357, this gigantic new image from ESO's Very Large Telescope Survey Telescope being only the most recent one. With around two billion pixels this is one of the largest images ever released by ESO. The evocative shapes of the clouds have led to their memorable names: the Cat's Paw Nebula and the Lobster Nebula, respectively. |
 | Astronauts' brains change shape during spaceflightMRIs before and after space missions reveal that astronauts' brains compress and expand during spaceflight, according to a University of Michigan study. |
 | Space travel visionaries solve the problem of interstellar slowdown at Alpha CentauriIn April last year, billionaire Yuri Milner announced the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative. He plans to invest 100 million US dollars in the development of an ultra-light light sail that can be accelerated to 20 percent of the speed of light to reach the Alpha Centauri star system within 20 years. The problem of how to slow down this projectile once it reaches its target remains a challenge. René Heller of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen and his colleague Michael Hippke propose to use the radiation and gravity of the Alpha Centauri stars to decelerate the craft. It could then even be rerouted to the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri and its Earth-like planet Proxima b. |
 | Mind the gap—Rapid Burster behaviour explainedScientists observing a curious neutron star in a binary system known as the 'Rapid Burster' may have solved a forty-year-old mystery surrounding its puzzling X-ray bursts. They discovered that its magnetic field creates a gap around the star, largely preventing it from feeding on matter from its stellar companion. Gas builds up until, under certain conditions, it hits the neutron star all at once, producing intense flashes of X-rays. The discovery was made with space telescopes including ESA's XMM-Newton. |
 | Britain to lose Northern Lights due to solar winds of changeBritain may lose the magic of the Northern Lights by the middle of the century due to major shifts in solar activity, scientists have discovered. |
 | Research finds evidence of 2 billion years of volcanic activity on MarsAnalysis of a Martian meteorite found in Africa in 2012 has uncovered evidence of at least 2 billion years of volcanic activity on Mars. This confirms that some of the longest-lived volcanoes in the solar system may be found on the Red Planet. |
 | Image: Solar array drive mechanism on microvibration unitThe smooth running of the mechanism that will align the solar wings powering Europe's latest weather satellite has been demonstrated using ESA's new microvibration unit. |
 | A new tool to study galaxy evolutionRemoveYoung is a new tool developed by Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) astronomers Jean Michel Gomes and Polychronis Papaderos. It is designed to suppress the luminosity contribution of young stars from galaxy images. This new tool was presented yesterday by Gomes in an advanced course on stellar populations in galaxies, at the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Vienna. |
A down-to-Earth approach to understanding gravityWhat more is there to say about gravity? Extensive astronomical observations by Galileo and Tycho Brahe laid the foundations for Kepler to formulate his laws of planetary motion and then for Newton to come up with his theory of gravity. In the twentieth century Einstein recognised that the universe is not a clockwork machine and that it has no fixed frame of reference, everything is relative. Then we had black holes, planetary precession, gravitational waves and the enigma that is sub-atomic quantum theory that we cannot yet square with the cosmic scale. | |
Technology news
 | Transparent hydrogel-based robots can catch and release live fishEngineers at MIT have fabricated transparent, gel-based robots that move when water is pumped in and out of them. The bots can perform a number of fast, forceful tasks, including kicking a ball underwater, and grabbing and releasing a live fish. |
 | Giant wind turbine breaks 24-hour power record(Tech Xplore)—Turbines that can produce clean energy are always a point of interest and a Denmark-based company is in the news on two counts: a recent launch and the fact that it sets a new world record for wind power from a single turbine in a space of 24 hours. |
 | Scientists design electricity generator that mimics treesMoney doesn't grow on trees, but electricity might someday. |
 | Wearable AI system can detect a conversation's toneIt's a fact of nature that a single conversation can be interpreted in very different ways. For people with anxiety or conditions such as Asperger's, this can make social situations extremely stressful. But what if there was a more objective way to measure and understand our interactions? |
 | Self-driving car prototypes need less human help, data showSelf-driving car prototypes appear to be getting better at negotiating California streets and highways without a human backup driver intervening, according to data made public Wednesday by California transportation regulators. |
 | Advanced robotic bat's flight characteristics simulates the real thingBats have long captured the imaginations of scientists and engineers with their unrivaled agility and maneuvering characteristics, achieved by functionally versatile dynamic wing conformations as well as more than forty active and passive joints on the wings. However, their wing flexibility and complex wing kinematics pose significant technological challenges for robot modelling, design, and control. |
 | Team reduces structural vibrations with simple, groundbreaking deviceA revolutionary portable device invented by Virginia Tech architecture professor Mehdi Setareh with help from students promises to make structural vibration-reducing technology universally accessible. |
 | How to improve data management in the supercomputers of the futureResearchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) are establishing new foundations for data management in the supercomputing systems of the future. In recent decades, many scientific discoveries have depended on the analysis of an enormous volume of data, which is done essentially through computational simulations performed on a large scale in supercomputers. This type of machine is used to study climate models, the development of new materials, research into the origin of the universe, the study of the human genome and new applications in bioengineering. |
 | New smartphone app looks inside objectsA new app from Fraunhofer development engineers looks directly inside objects and displays specific constituents. It has numerous uses: For instance, apples can be scanned for pesticide residues. Applications will be added successively following the Wikipedia principle. |
 | Analysis software uses algorithms to visualize complex learning processesNeural networks are commonly used today to analyze complex data – for instance to find clues to illnesses in genetic information. Ultimately, though, no one knows how these networks actually work exactly. That is why Fraunhofer researchers developed software that enables them to look into these black boxes and analyze how they function. The researchers will present their software at CeBIT in Hannover from March 20 to 24, 2017 (Hall 6, Booth B 36). |
 | Complex 3-D data on all devicesA new web-based software platform is swiftly bringing the visualization of 3-D data to every device, optimizing the use of, for example, virtual reality and augmented reality in industry. In this way, Fraunhofer researchers have brought the ideal of "any data on any device" a good deal closer. |
 | Automatically darkening windows in a wide range of colorsElectrochromic glass darkens automatically when the sun shines and keeps the heat out. Previously it was available only in blue, and switching times were also long. Now, a new process makes it possible to manufacture other glass colors for the first time. And compared to previous models, switching is nearly ten times faster. |
Consumers have poor understanding of tracking methods used by online advertisersA recent study published by researchers from the School of Information Studies (iSchool) reveals that the general public has a poor understanding of the workings of online behavioral advertising, and the privacy implications behind the information that advertisers gather. | |
 | Tesla, BMW electrics fall short of highest crash-test ratingTwo luxury electric vehicles—the Tesla Model S and the BMW i3—fell short of getting the highest safety ratings in new crash tests by the insurance industry. |
 | 'Dieselgate' drags on for VW and Bosch with new payoutsGerman carmaker Volkswagen and auto parts supplier Bosch on Wednesday announced payouts to US buyers of vehicles affected by the "dieselgate" scandal, in a bid to put the American chapter of the tale behind them. |
 | New project transforms social housing into energy efficient smart homesA ground-breaking pilot scheme transforming social housing into energy efficient smart homes has seen energy consumption slashed by over 80 per cent. |
 | How a larger windscreen could improve lorry safetyThe size of a lorry's windscreen can have a dramatic impact on the safety of other road users, according to a series of experiments conducted by psychologists at the University of Leeds. |
 | Facebook beats Street 4Q earnings, revenue forecastsFacebook blew past Wall Street's expectations yet again with its quarterly earnings report, despite some concerns that its "ad load," or the number of advertisements it can show users without clogging up their feed, has reached its limit. |
 | Harvard scholars: Travel ban deprives US of best, brightestHarvard Medical School professor Thomas Michel was so excited about recruiting Iranian researcher Soheil Saravi, he put Saravi's name on the door of his Boston lab when his new hire got his visa. |
 | New York pumps up gambling treatment as it expands gamblingThousands of new slot machines and table games debuting this month as part of New York state's casino growth spurt are bringing not only more chances to gamble, but also millions of dollars more to help problem gamblers. |
 | Tokyo 2020 asks public to donate old phones for medalsTokyo Olympic organisers on Wednesday called on the Japanese public to donate old smartphones and other old electronic devices to help make medals for the 2020 Games. |
Why Bill Belichick cast down his tabletAs the New England Patriots' 10th appearance in a Super Bowl approaches, sports fans are eager to see the legendary pairing of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick take on the Atlanta Falcons. Whatever the Patriots accomplish, though, won't be thanks to all that fancy new technology assisting the Falcons and other NFL teams. | |
NY attorney general sues internet provider over speed claimsNew York's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Charter Communications alleging the cable and internet provider failed to deliver on promised internet speeds and reliability. | |
 | Sandia's solar glitter closer to market with new licensing agreementAn Albuquerque company founded by a Sandia National Laboratories scientist-turned-entrepreneur has received a license for a "home-grown" technology that could revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used. The licensing agreement was signed Jan. 23 between mPower Technology Inc. and Sandia for microsystems enabled photovoltaics (MEPV). |
 | Reporters' spy saga gives glimpse of UK surveillance cultureBritish journalist Julia Breen's scoop about racism at her local police force didn't just get her on the front page, it got her put under surveillance. |
Dutch ballots to be counted by hand amid hacking fearsThe Dutch government announced Wednesday it is scrapping computer software used to tally and transmit election results amid reports that the software is outdated and could easily be hacked. | |
Millions of Charter cable customers lose Univision channelsSpanish-language broadcast network Univision and the company's cable channels have gone dark for millions of Charter customers because of a payment dispute. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Team uses Google analytical tool to gauge vaccine effectivenessUsing a statistical method initially developed by Google, a Yale School of Public Health-led research team has devised a novel way to better analyze the impact of vaccines. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Researchers investigate 'life-review experience' in near-death people(Medical Xpress)—A trio of researchers with Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Israel has found that many people do experience unusual memory events near death. In their paper published in the journal Consciousness and Cognition, Judith Katz, Noam Saadon-Grosman and Shahar Arzy describe the study they carried out and how their findings compare to descriptions of the phenomenon in literature and art. |
 | Fast food packaging contains potentially harmful chemicals that can leach into foodMany Americans, with the start of the New Year, will resolve to cut back on fast food to avoid an overload of fat and calories. Yet, there is another reason to resist the temptation to indulge in fast food. The greaseproof packaging holding your burger and fries may contain potentially harmful fluorinated chemicals that can leach into food, according to a new peer-reviewed study. |
 | Can a novel combination of treatments help eradicate HIV?A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researcher has received a $2.5 million grant from Gilead Sciences, a California-based biopharmaceutical company, to see if two so-far separately-used AIDS treatments are even more effective when used as a pair. |
 | Targeting Parkinson's-linked protein could neutralize two of the disease's causesResearchers report they have discovered how two problem proteins known to cause Parkinson's disease are chemically linked, suggesting that someday, both could be neutralized by a single drug designed to target the link. A report on their discovery appears in the Jan. 24 issue of Cell Reports. |
 | Potential new drug class hits multiple cancer cell targets, boosting efficacy and safetyMYC is a regulator gene. It controls the expression of other genes and codes transcription factors or proteins involved in many fundamental cellular processes. It's also among the most frequently altered genes found in cancer, making it a profoundly attractive target for cancer therapies. |
 | Research says teens, young adults explore differentlyThe adolescent and college years are often regarded as periods of exploration—when teens and young adults begin to make decisions on their own for the first time. |
 | Study provides new evidence that exercise is not key to weight controlAn international study led by Loyola University Chicago is providing compelling new evidence that exercise is not the key to controlling weight. |
 | Discovery of new T-cell subtype opens window on rheumatoid arthritisA research team led by scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) has carefully scrutinized the immune cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, revealing a striking new subset of T-cells that collaborate with other immune cells to drive inflammation in peripheral tissues. The work, which was propelled by technologies that enable the detailed analysis of even a handful of cells, opens a critical window on the biology of the disease and suggests a strategy for the development of more precise, powerful treatments. The study appears in the February 1st advance online edition of the journal Nature. |
 | 83 new genetic variants that strongly influence human height revealed in global study of 700,000 peopleIn the largest, deepest search to date, the international Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium has uncovered 83 new DNA changes that affect human height. These changes are uncommon or rare, but they have potent effects, with some of them adjusting height by more than 2 cm (almost 8/10 of an inch). The 700,000-plus-person study also found several genes pointing to previously unknown biological pathways involved in skeletal growth. Findings were published online by Nature on February 1. |
 | Scientists identify key defect in brain tumor cellsIn a new study, Yale researchers identified a novel genetic defect that prevents brain tumor cells from repairing damaged DNA. They found that the defect is highly sensitive to an existing FDA-approved drug used to treat ovarian cancer—a discovery that challenges current practice for treatment of brain tumors and other cancers with the same genetic defect, said the scientists. |
 | Drug combination effective against chikungunya arthritis in miceCombining a drug for rheumatoid arthritis with one that targets the chikungunya virus can eliminate the signs of chikungunya arthritis in mice in the disease's earliest stage, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. |
 | Revolutionary approach for treating glioblastoma works with human cellsIn a rapid-fire series of breakthroughs in just under a year, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have made another stunning advance in the development of an effective treatment for glioblastoma, a common and aggressive brain cancer. The work, published in the Feb. 1 issue of Science Translational Medicine, describes how human stem cells, made from human skin cells, can hunt down and kill human brain cancer, a critical and monumental step toward clinical trials—and real treatment. |
 | Researchers identify gene that protects against inflammatory bowel diseaseUT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a gene that protects the gut from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). |
 | Scientists show deep brain stimulation blocks heroin relapse in ratsScientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) can greatly reduce the compulsion to use heroin in standard rat models of addiction. |
 | Big data brings breast cancer research forwards by 'decades'Scientists have created a 'map' linking the shape of breast cancer cells to genes turned on and off, and matched it to real disease outcomes, which could one day help doctors select treatments, according to a study published in Genome Research today. |
Dying at home or in hospital dependent on wealth, location and number of diseasesWhere people die is often important to them and their families, as well as being important for planning health care services. Most people want to die at home, but most die in hospital. | |
Experts recommend a shift in national priorities to prevent mental disorders among youthGrowing up is hard enough, even under ideal circumstances. But when there is ongoing conflict or chaos in homes or communities, or when parents are mentally ill, growing up can feel almost impossible. As a result of such pressures, thousands of today's children suffer serious psychological and psychiatric difficulties ranging from depression to substance abuse, which not only impede their own growth and development but also come at great cost to society. | |
 | Better sleep can lead to better sexSleep disturbance is common for many women during menopause, creating an array of adverse health outcomes such as heart disease, hypertension, and depression. A new study shows that sleep problems can also interfere with a woman's level of sexual satisfaction. The study outcomes are being published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). |
 | Older Canadians skip meds due to cost, putting them at risk for complicationsOne in 12 Canadians aged 55 and older skipped prescriptions due to cost in 2014, the second-highest rate among comparable countries, new UBC research has found. |
Low socioeconomic status reduces life expectancy and should be counted as a major risk factor in health policyLow socioeconomic status is linked to significant reductions in life expectancy and should be considered a major risk factor for ill health and early death in national and global health policies, according to a study of 1.7 million people published by The Lancet. | |
 | Low thyroid hormone before birth alters growth and development of fetal pancreasLevels of thyroid hormone in babies influence insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas, according to a new study published in the Journal of Physiology. |
 | Understanding when eating soy might help or harm in breast cancer treatmentGeorgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have used animal models to reveal new information about the impact - positive and negative - that soy consumption could have on a common breast cancer treatment. |
India pledges to eradicate TB, leprosy within decadeIndia Wednesday set deadlines to eradicate a range of deadly diseases that afflict tens of millions of its poorest people, unveiling a major boost to health spending in the annual budget. | |
 | Does genetics cause aversion to eating vegetables?As part of BBC Learning's Terrific Scientific campaign – and with the guidance of Coventry University – young scientists have been eating kale every day in an effort to prove that there may be a genetic reason as to why some people don't enjoy their green vegetables. |
 | Anti-inflammatory medication appears to reduce alchohol cravings, improve moodUCLA researchers have found that an anti-inflammatory drug primarily used in Japan to treat asthma could help people overcome alcoholism. |
 | Self-build projects can transform lives of homeless veterans, researchers findA unique self-build project undertaken by homeless former military personnel has the potential to be expanded nationwide, according to experts from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). |
 | Startup aims to predict behavior of trillions of microorganismsA new University of Chicago startup is working to better predict the behavior of the trillions of microorganisms living inside the human body and harness them to treat disease. |
 | Intimate partner violence among youth linked to suicide, weapons and drug useAdolescents who are violent toward their romantic partners are also more likely to think about or attempt suicide, carry a weapon, threaten others with a weapon and use drugs or alcohol than peers in non-violent relationships, according to new research from the University of Georgia. |
 | Study finds divorce increases risk for developing alcohol use disordersDivorce is causally related to a significant increase in risk for development of alcohol use disorders, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University and Lund University in Sweden. |
 | Brain scans may indicate clues to later problemsEarly predictors of anxiety and depression may be evident in the brain even at birth, suggests a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. |
 | New non-invasive test to detect bladder cancer could spare patients cystoscopyA new test for bladder cancer could enable GPs to test a urine sample and spare patients the discomfort of a cystoscopy in hospital, according to UCL research published today in Clinical Epigenetics. |
 | New spin-out firm tackles diet-related diseaseA new spin-out company, Dietary Assessment Ltd, has formed to help track and analyse dietary intake. |
 | Risk of liver cancer low in patients with cirrhosis, study findsThe results of a study by researchers at The University of Nottingham suggest that the risk of liver cancer in patients with cirrhosis may be much lower than previously thought. |
 | Assessing the epidemiological situation of Chagas disease among German citizens of Bolivian originHow does one combat a tropical disease when most of those infected are unaware that they carry the pathogen responsible? How can one reach, test and treat the population at risk? A pilot study by LMU researchers suggests possible answers. |
 | Is gun violence a public health issue?The national debate surrounding firearms violence is a fiercely contentious political topic that pits policymakers against one another and rarely sees compromise. Hala Madanat wants to change that. The San Diego State University director of the Graduate School of Public Health and professor of health promotion is part of a coalition of public health researchers across the country that is trying to reframe discourse around gun violence as a public health issue. The group, led by Boston University epidemiologist Sandro Galea, published an editorial in the March issue of the American Journal of Public Health calling for public health researchers to lead the way by generating more research on gun violence, seeking funding from private foundations, building relationships with industry and policymakers on both sides of the aisle and strengthening state-level initiatives. |
 | Befriending services could boost new mothers' mental healthWomen experiencing mental health difficulties directly before and after giving birth could benefit from a charity's befriending service, a University of Stirling report has revealed. |
 | Poverty impacts on type of dental care receivedAdults from highly deprived areas are less likely to receive prevention care and advice and more likely to have a tooth extracted, compared to those from the least deprived, according to new research. |
Paving the way for research on combination therapiesPatients have long benefited from combination treatments—whether combining surgery with chemotherapy and radiation, or combining chemotherapy agents in succession. Building on the logic that attacking cancer from multiple angles is often better, scientists are researching whether promising immunotherapy drugs used in combination could impact patient survival. | |
Infections, diabetic nerve damage, deformities among foot problems of homeless peopleAs many as two-thirds of the homeless population suffers some form of foot problem at any given time, according to research two Dalhousie medical students recently published in the international scientific journal, PLOS ONE. | |
Large Finnish genetic study uncovers potential new treatments for inflammatory diseasesResearchers from the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Turku, Finland, have studied over ten million DNA variations and found new links between the human genome and inflammation tracers. The study uncovered new possibilities for treatment of diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and coeliac disease. | |
Why thick skin develops on palms and soles, and its links to cancerScientists from Queen Mary University of London have discovered that foot callouses/keratoderma (thickened skin) can be linked to cancer of the oesophagus (gullet), a disease which affects more than 8000 people in the UK each year. | |
 | 'Love hormone' from insects as potential drug lead for inhibiting preterm labourIn a recent study published in Scientific Reports, an international team of researchers led by MedUni Vienna report that an oxytocin-like neuropeptide ("inotocin") exhibited a specific pharmacological profile for the human receptors of oxytocin (known as the "love hormone") and vasopressin. At the same time, the researchers were able to show that a synthetic analogue of inotocin serves as a molecular tool for the fundamental understanding of biochemical signalling processes of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors and could possibly be used as drug lead molecule to develop pharmaceuticals for inhibiting preterm labour, for example. |
 | Here's what we can learn from people with synaesthesiaImagine what the world would be like if numbers had specific spatial locations, music had shapes, or colours made sounds. Perhaps you'd experience the bass in the Jamie xx track Gosh as cuboid, metallic and heavy, with spiralling ribbons of synthesiser in the background. |
 | An impulsive cognitive style comes with implications, researchers sayKnow anyone who would rather have $40 right now than $80 next month? Psychology researchers have just published a sprawling study about such folks. It shows them to have a mild but consistent set of tendencies—the scientists call it a "surprisingly broad cognitive phenotype"—to take the quicker and simpler path when thinking about logical challenges, the people around them, the societies they live in and even spiritual matters. |
 | Hand-grip test can indicate decline in physical function of Parkinson's patientsUBC researchers Jenn Jakobi and Gareth Jones, both Health and Exercise Sciences professors at UBC's Okanagan campus, recently completed a study that examined the methods used to monitor the progressive advancement of Parkinson's disease (PD)—a degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system. |
Adults with autism see interests as strengths, career pathsAdults on the autism spectrum see their interests as possible fields of study and career paths, as well as ways to mitigate anxiety, finds a study by NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. | |
Non-severe infections can cause serious mental disordersA new study shows that non-severe infections that do not require hospitalisation can also increase the risk of subsequently developing schizophrenia or depression. | |
10,000 Medicare patients die in the seven days after discharge from the EDNearly one in five Americans will visit an emergency department (ED) each year, meaning that physicians make the decision to admit or discharge a patient from the ED hundreds of thousands of times daily, but little is known about how patients fare after they are sent home from the ED. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital measured how often generally healthy Medicare enrollees died in the seven days after being discharged home, by tracking over 16 million visits to U.S. EDs. | |
 | 'Mirror game' test could secure early detection of schizophrenia, study showsVirtual reality could hold the key to unlocking an affordable, reliable and effective device to provide early diagnosis and management of schizophrenia. |
Scientists discover peptide that could reduce the incidence of RSV-related asthmaA research report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows that it may one-day be possible to reduce the incidence of asthma related to infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Specifically, the researchers found that a peptide, called STAT6-IP, when delivered to the lungs of neonatal mice at the time of first RSV exposure reduces the development of allergic-type lung inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness ("twitchy" airways) in mice when they are "re-challenged" with RSV as young adults. | |
Habitual e-cigarette use associated with risk factors linked to increased cardiovascular riskIn a study published online by JAMA Cardiology, Holly R. Middlekauff, M.D., of the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues examined whether habitual users of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are more likely to have risk factors associated with increased cardiovascular risk. | |
 | Food insecurity: A threat to the developmental and psychosocial health of childrenHousehold food insecurity (FI) (without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food, even for a temporary period), is associated with children's behavioral, academic and emotional problems beginning as early as infancy. |
Nearly 100 mentally ill patients died in S.Africa fiascoAt least 94 mentally ill patients died after South African authorities moved them last year from hospital to unlicensed health facilities that were compared to "concentration camps", a government investigation revealed Wednesday. | |
 | New type of PET imaging identifies primary and metastatic prostate cancerIn the featured article from the February 2017 issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers document the first-in-human application of a new imaging agent to help find prostate cancer in both early and advanced stages and plan treatment. The study indicates that the new agent—a PET radiotracer—is both safe and effective. |
 | Shape of prostate and compartments within may serve as cancer indicatorsPreliminary computerized imaging reveals the shape of the prostate and a compartment within the gland—called the transitional zone—consistently differ in men with prostate cancer than those without the disease, according to new research led by Case Western Reserve University. |
 | Sperm changes documented years after chemotherapyA Washington State University researcher has documented epigenetic changes in the sperm of men who underwent chemotherapy in their teens. |
Seven heart-healthy habits could save billions in Medicare costsMore than $41 billion a year in Medicare costs could be saved if all beneficiaries achieved ideal levels for five to seven heart-healthy habits to reduce cardiovascular risk, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
Parents of children with serious heart defects may be at risk of PTSDParents of children with "critical" congenital heart defects - which require at least one cardiac surgery - are at high risk for mental health problems, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression, according to research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
Soccer ball heading may commonly cause concussion symptomsFrequent soccer ball heading is a common and under recognized cause of concussion symptoms, according to a study of amateur players led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers. The findings run counter to earlier soccer studies suggesting concussion injuries mainly result from inadvertent head impacts, such as collisions with other players or a goalpost. The study was published online today in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
Smaller, more focused insurers earning profits in new market"Success and Failure in the Insurance Exchanges," a New England Journal of Medicine Perspective article released today, examines whether the financial struggles of some major insurers under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reflect a policy failure that should be addressed via repeal or reform, or a mismatch of these firms' capabilities and strategies to a newly created market. | |
 | New treatment regimen extends life for some men with recurrent prostate cancer, study findsAdding hormonal therapy to radiation treatment can significantly improve the average long-term survival of men with prostate cancer who have had their prostate gland removed, according to a new Cedars-Sinai study published in the Feb. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The regimen also can reduce the frequency of spread of the cancer, the study found. |
More dialysis does not deliver benefits, study findsDoubling the amount of dialysis did not improve overall quality of life for patients with kidney failure, a study conducted by The George Institute for Global Health has found. | |
A multiple drug approach to preventing sickle cell crisisSickle cell disease is characterized by recurrent episodes of "sickle crisis," also known as vaso-occlusive crisis, in which a patient's red blood cells change shape, clump together and block the flow of blood in small vessels resulting in pain and organ damage. | |
Older adults who take many medications have a higher risk for becoming frailAs we age, we tend to develop a number of chronic health conditions and concerns. Often, managing health problems can mean that older adults may take many different medications. When older adults take five or more medicines (a scenario called "polypharmacy" by health experts), it can increase the risk for harmful side effects. | |
 | Scientists prove new approach to Polio vaccines worksScientists have identified new ways to provide vaccines against polio, which do not require the growth of live virus for their manufacture. |
 | Increased food assistance benefits could result in fewer ER visitsIn 2014, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal program to address food insecurity in the United States, provided $70 billion in nutrition support to 46.5 million families and children living in 22.7 million American households. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP benefits reduced the incidence of extreme poverty by 13.2 percent and child poverty by 15.5 percent between 2000 and 2009. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri have found that SNAP benefits also may be beneficial in reducing visits to the emergency room, saving money for families, health care facilities and taxpayers. |
 | Social biases contribute to challenges for those with autismA new study by a UT Dallas professor found that negative first impressions formed by potential social partners may reduce the quality of social experiences for people with autism. |
Vitamin C may decrease the risk of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgeryAF is a common cardiac rhythm disturbance that can lead to severe consequences such as stroke and heart failure. AF can be triggered by various stressful conditions and about 30% of patients undergoing cardiac operations suffer from post-operative AF. | |
Mayo Clinic tests vaccine to provide immune response against early breast lesionOnly about 35 percent of precancerous breast lesions morph into cancer if untreated, but physicians cannot identify which lesions are potentially dangerous. So all women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ undergo traditional therapy of surgery and possibly hormonal therapy and radiation. Now, Mayo Clinic researchers are about to test a vaccine that they hope will replace standard therapies and prevent recurrence for some, if not all, these patients. | |
 | No women's Zika vaccine likely before 2020: WHOAbout forty potential vaccines for the Zika virus are being tested, but none are likely to be available for women of childbearing age before 2020, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. |
 | What you don't know about cancer can kill you(HealthDay)—Cancer isn't inevitable, but many Americans don't know that several lifestyle factors affect their risk of developing the disease, a new survey finds. |
 | BMI linked to risk for orthostatic intolerance post bariatric Sx(HealthDay)—Lower body mass index (BMI) and body fat is associated with increased risk of orthostatic intolerance (OI) and predisposition to noncardiac syncope (NCS) following bariatric surgery, according to research published online Jan. 23 in Obesity Reviews. |
 | Relapse risk up with low vitamin D levels in ulcerative colitis(HealthDay)—For patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), serum vitamin D levels ≤35 ng/mL are associated with increased risk of clinical relapse, according to a study published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | Benefits for intensive BP lowering in older HTN patients(HealthDay)—For older patients with hypertension, intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering strategies are associated with reduced risk of certain cardiovascular events, according to research published in the Feb. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Smartphone app can help cut length of stay after C-section(HealthDay)—A smartphone app developed as part of a Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH) program is associated with shorter length of stay after cesarean section, according to a study presented at the American Society of Anesthesiologists PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 2017 meeting, held from Jan. 27 to 29 in Grapevine, Texas. |
 | HbA1c, waist-to-height ratio predict dyslipidemia in T1DM(HealthDay)—For youth with type 1 diabetes, hemoglobin A1c (A1C) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are modifiable risk factors that predict change in dyslipidemia, according to a study published online Jan. 26 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Obese who self-stigmatize may have higher cardiometabolic risk(HealthDay)—Attempts to shame an overweight or obese person into losing weight won't motivate them to do so, and may even raise their risk for cardiovascular disease and other health problems, according to research published online Jan. 30 in Obesity. |
Travel restrictions 'a step backward' for US medical education, research and health careThe executive order restricting individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US is 'a step backward,' for medical education, patient care and biomedical research in this country, write medical department leaders from Massachusetts General Hospital and six other major academic medical centers. | |
 | Malaria superbugs threaten global malaria controlA lineage of multidrug resistant P. falciparum malaria superbugs has widely spread and is now established in parts of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, causing high treatment failure rates for the main falciparum malaria medicines, artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), according to a study published today in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. |
Stem cell transplants may induce long-term remission of multiple sclerosisNew clinical trial results provide evidence that high-dose immunosuppressive therapy followed by transplantation of a person's own blood-forming stem cells can induce sustained remission of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system. | |
When sex development goes awry: Is it a girl or a boy?Few conditions underscore the importance of bedside manner quite like differences and disorders of sex development (DSD). Doctors faced with DSD patients must collaborate to recommend tailored and timely management plans covering medical, psychological, and social cofactors of the most intimate nature. Standards of care are ever evolving, but now front-line pediatricians from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have assembled the latest data about the varied causes of DSD, complete with clinical vignettes and appropriate management plans. Their comprehensive review was included in a special issue of Birth Defects Research Part C: Embryo Today. | |
Poor metabolic health in some normal-weight women may increase risk for colorectal cancerEven though poor metabolic health is usually associated with obesity, 30 percent of normal-weight adults are believed to be metabolically unhealthy worldwide, according to Liang. | |
Italy's military 'narcos' cook up cannabis curesIt's every stoner's nightmare: marijuana plants as far as the eye can see and not a spliff in sight. | |
 | More providers of safe abortion care can save thousands of women's livesA change in attitudes, increased knowledge and more non-physician healthcare providers trained to perform safe abortions – this is the recipe for increasing the number of caregivers offering abortion care and fighting global maternal mortality, according to a doctoral thesis from Karolinska Institutet on abortion care in India, Sweden and elsewhere. Unsafe terminations claim tens of thousands of lives, particularly in the poorer parts of the world. |
Mary Tyler Moore's death a reminder of the toll of diabetesMary Tyler Moore debuted on television in the 1950s, appearing in commercials that aired during a popular show. Her star continued to rise until Moore landed the eponymous sitcom that became a staple of 1970s pop culture. | |
 | Exploring vaccine safetyWhen a vaccine is given, there's always a risk of side-effects since it induces an immune response. The BIO-department is involved in the largest vaccine project ever, with the aim to develop new tools for monitoring vaccine safety. |
 | Long layover? How about a workout at an airport gym?Work out while waiting for your flight? That's an option now at Baltimore Washington International Airport, where the only gym at a U.S. airport past security opened this week with plans to open 20 more at airports by 2020. |
What to expect from big pharma in 2017Last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved just 22 new therapeutic drugs, which is less than half the number approved in 2015. The cover story in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, explains why 2016 was such a lackluster year for new medicines, and whether it was an anomaly or the start of a longer term pharmaceutical slow-down. | |
 | Eating the placenta after childbirth—researchers explore perceptions of health benefits and risksPlacentophagy—maternal consumption of the placenta—has become increasingly prevalent in the past decade among women seeking to promote health and healing during the postpartum period. But how much do clinicians or patients really know about the potential positive and negative health effects associated with this practice? A new study that assesses patient and physician attitudes toward placentophagy is published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. |
Mexico seizes almost 47,000 faulty HIV test kitsThe latest in a series of medicine scandals is hitting Mexico with the government's seizure of almost 47,000 Chinese-made HIV testing kits that it says could give false negative results. | |
Lower incidence of esophagitis in elderly NSCLC patients undergoing definitive radiationElderly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing definitive radiation have a lower incidence of esophagitis compared to younger patients and tolerate aggressive standard treatment regimens. | |
 | Researchers examine millennial generation's learning preferences in medical educationThe classroom can reflect its students' learning preferences, and a study published today in Mayo Clinic Proceedings demonstrates evidence of this in medical education. At Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, Alexandra Wolanskyj, M.D., senior associate dean for Student Affairs, and Darcy Reed, M.D., senior associate dean for Academic Affairs, collaborated with Janeve Desy, M.D., of the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine to assess the education methods preferred by the generation that makes up the highest population of medical learners. |
Experts develop evidence-based clinical practice guideline on rhinoplastyThe American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation addresses the limited literature and availability of multi-disciplinary clinical practice guidelines accessible to clinicians and patients regarding rhinoplasty, with the development of the Clinical Practice Guideline: Improving Nasal Form and Function after Rhinoplasty, published today in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. | |
Biology news
 | Reversible saliva allows frogs to hang on to next mealA frog uses its whip-like tongue to snag its prey faster than a human can blink, hitting it with a force five times greater than gravity. How does it hang onto its meal as the food rockets back into its mouth? |
 | Urgent need to check how males and females respond differently to ocean acidificationClimate change can have a different impact on male and female fish, shellfish and other marine animals, with widespread implications for the future of marine life and the production of seafood. |
 | Acid trip makes clumsy cone snails miss their preyDeadly cone snails are too clumsy to catch their prey when exposed to the levels of ocean acidification expected under predicted climate change, according to new research published in Biology Letters. |
 | Tuberculosis-resistant cows developed for the first time using CRISPR technologyCRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology has been used for the first time to successfully produce live cows with increased resistance to bovine tuberculosis, reports new research published in the open access journal Genome Biology. |
 | Beleaguered bees hit by 'deformed wing virus'A wing-deforming virus shortens the lifespan of wild honeybees already contending with a startlingly long list of existential threats, researchers said Wednesday. |
 | Newly discovered breathing molecule vital to treating respiratory conditionsRespiratory conditions could be better targeted and treated, thanks to the discovery of the vital molecule which regulates breathing – according to research by the University of Warwick. |
 | Is Australia the birthplace of birds nests?The most common birds nests found today had their birthplace in Australia, and these nests may be key to many of our birds' success, according to new research from Macquarie University, released today. |
 | Removing invasive plant species shown to improve outlook for native species(Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from the U.K., Germany, Denmark and The Seychelles has found that physically removing all of the invasive plants in a given area allows native plants and pollinators to regain at least some of their former vitality. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes a study they carried out in the mountains in Seychelles, what they found, and what their results suggest about other efforts to improve the outlook for native plant species across the globe. |
 | Nucleolus forms via combination of active and passive processesResearchers at Princeton found that the nucleolus, a cellular organelle involved in RNA synthesis, assembles in part through the passive process of phase separation – the same type of process that causes oil to separate from water. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to show that this happens in living, intact cells. |
 | DNA reveals seasonally shifting populations in an iconic Snowdonia lakeAn iconic lake at the foot of Mount Snowdon has played a vital role in improving how lakes and rivers can be monitored in the future. |
 | Tiny component of cells indicates size of overall animalA tiny speck inside the cells of a tiny worm is shedding new light on the underlying mechanism that determines the size of various organisms. |
 | Animals retain long-term memory of the biggest and best sources of foodNew research shows that red-footed tortoises can remember the location of their favourite food sources and the biggest stashes for at least 18 months. |
 | Cocktail of bacteria-killing viruses prevents cholera infection in animal modelsOral administration of a cocktail of three viruses, all of which specifically kill cholera bacteria, prevents infection and cholera-like symptoms in animal model experiments, report scientists from Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) and the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts in Nature Communications on Feb. 1. The findings are the first to demonstrate the potential efficacy of bacteria-killing viruses—known as bacteriophages, or phages—as an orally administered preventive therapy against an acute gastrointestinal bacterial disease. |
 | First functional fish head joint discovered in deep-sea dragonfishes in museum collectionsScientists with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and the French Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle are the first to describe and illustrate an evolutionary novelty among fishes—a unique, flexible connection between the skull and vertebral column in barbeled dragonfishes, a group of closely related deep-sea predatory fishes. The description details the first and only example of a complex, flexible head joint among fishes known to science. |
 | Complex bacterium writes new evolutionary storyA University of Queensland-led international study has discovered a new type of bacterial structure which has previously only been seen in more complex cells. |
 | Gull decline on Scottish island linked to decline in fishing discardsThe research, published in the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) journal Bird Study, looked at the breeding populations of three species of large gull; Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Hebridean island of Canna, and the relationship between these gull populations and the fall in the quantity of fish landed in the nearby harbour of Mallaig. |
 | Scientists show how cells communicatePrimary cilia are antenna-like structures present on the surface of most cells in the human body. The cilia are essential mediators of communication between cell types in the body. If the cilia are defective, this communication is disrupted, and the cells are unable to appropriately regulate important cellular processes, which ultimately can lead to severe diseases that may affect nearly every organ and tissue in developing embryos as well as adults. |
 | Puff adder snakes use 'lingual luring' to attract amphibian prey closerOne of Africa's iconic snakes, the puff adder use what is termed "lingual luring" to attract amphibian prey closer, and increase the odds of catching it. |
 | FAU first to video newly discovered population of monkeys thought to be nearing extinctionIf a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound? Not only does the tree make a sound, so do the creatures inhabiting the forest—or in this case—the rainforest deep in the heart of Africa. Using remote sensing cameras and sound recorders, researchers from Florida Atlantic University are the first to capture rare video footage of a newly discovered population of critically endangered monkeys in one of the most remote regions in the world. |
 | Dolphins following shrimp trawlers cluster in social groupsBottlenose dolphins near Savannah, Georgia are split into social groups according to whether or not they forage behind commercial shrimp trawlers, according to a study published February 1, 2017 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Tara Cox from Savannah State University, USA, and colleagues. |
 | Searching for a better way to breed chickpeasThe small but mighty chickpea packs a dietary and environmental punch. They are an important source of nutrition, especially protein, for billions of people across the world. Additionally, bacteria that live in root nodules of chickpea plants pull in atmospheric nitrogen, increasing soil productivity. |
 | Researchers highlight alarming link between feral pigs and vampire batsThe number of vampire bats, which transmit rabies and are a concern for livestock breeders, may be increasing in Brazil and the Americas along with growth in the populations of invasive feral pigs and wild boars (Sus scrofa). |
 | Algae survive heat, cold and cosmic radiationIn a long-term experiment on the International Space Station, Fraunhofer researchers studied how the extreme conditions in space affect algae. Fraunhofer conducted this experiment in close cooperation with German and international partners. Research findings could benefit industrial applications and perhaps a mission to Mars. |
 | Ollie the bobcat gives US zoo the slipA dash for freedom by an elusive feline from Washington's National Zoo triggered a three-day cat hunt in the nation's capital—and an online sensation—until the search was called off Wednesday, and Ollie the bobcat was declared free. |
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