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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 8, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Galaxy orbits in the local superclusterA team of astronomers from Maryland, Hawaii, Israel, and France has produced the most detailed map ever of the orbits of galaxies in our extended local neighborhood, showing the past motions of almost 1400 galaxies within 100 million light years of the Milky Way. |
 | JPL deploys a CubeSat for astronomyTiny satellites called CubeSats have attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Besides allowing researchers to test new technologies, their relative simplicity also offers hands-on training to early-career engineers. |
 | Rare glimpse of a black hole's magnetic field could help us to understand how it feedsEncountering a black hole would be a frightening prospect for our planet. We know that these cosmic monsters ferociously devour any object that strays too close to their "event horizon" – the last chance of escape. But even though black holes drive some of the most energetic phenomena in the universe, the physics of their behaviour, including how they feed, remains hotly debated. |
 | Mars atmosphere well protected from the solar windDespite the absence of a global Earth-like magnetic dipole, the Martian atmosphere is well protected from the effects of the solar wind on ion escape from the planet. New research shows this using measurements from the Swedish particle instrument ASPERA-3 on the Mars Express spacecraft. The results have recently been presented in a doctoral thesis by Robin Ramstad, Swedish Institute of Space Physics and Umeå University, Sweden. |
 | Dusty protoplanetary disksPlanetary systems form out of disks of gas and dust around young stars. How the formation proceeds, however, is complex and poorly understood. Many physical processes are involved including accretion onto the star, photoevaporation of material of the disk, interactions of the disk with planetary embryos, growth of the dust grains, settling of the dust to the midplane of the disk, and more. To unravel these various factors, observations of protoplanetary disks at multiple wavelengths are used; the submillimeter wavelength range in particular offers a way to peer through most of the disk to estimate dust masses directly. |
 | First black astronaut honored on 50th anniversary of deathAmerica's first black astronaut is finally getting full honors on the 50th anniversary of his death. |
Technology news
 | AlphaZero algorithm can pick up victory moves in chess(Tech Xplore)—DeepMind AI has claimed a chess crown. Google's DeepMind division played 100 games against Stockfish 8 and won or drew all of them, said the BBC. |
 | Mapping out a biorobotic futureYou might not think a research area as detailed, technically advanced and futuristic as building robots with living materials would need help getting organized, but that's precisely what Vickie Webster-Wood and a team from the mechanical engineering and biology departments at Case Western Reserve University is trying to do. |
 | Virtual reality makes journalism immersive, realism makes it credibleVirtual reality technology may help journalists pull an audience into their stories, but they should avoid being too flashy, or their credibility could suffer, according to a team of researchers. |
 | 'Grinch bots' may steal Christmas by snatching up prized toysIf no one comes to the rescue, an online army of "Grinch bots" may end up spoiling Christmas for many kids by using automated software to scoop up prized toys and other sought-after items for big profit. |
 | South Korea mulling ways to curb craze for bitcoinsSouth Korean is studying ways to regulate speculative trading in crypto currencies as the latest surge in prices stokes a craze over bitcoins. |
 | Unlocking the power of web text dataNUS statisticians have developed the Regularised Text Logistic (RTL) regression model to extract informative word features from digital text for decision-making. |
 | Research team develops novel program to make more cost effective runwaysAn aircraft's impact on the runway is likely the last thing to cross anyone's mind when boarding a flight. The constant taking off and landing of aircraft throughout the day places stress on runway pavement, which needs to be in good condition to ensure the safety of the aircraft and its passengers. |
 | Insights on fast cockroaches can help teach robots to walkUsing the example of cockroaches, the Cologne-based zoologist Dr Tom Weihmann and his team were able to show that quickly running insects change their gait at mid-speed. This behaviour has previously only been observed in fast mammals. This change in gait is similar to the way horses change from trop to gallop. The results of the study have now been published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology. |
 | Will artificial intelligence become conscious?Forget about today's modest incremental advances in artificial intelligence, such as the increasing abilities of cars to drive themselves. Waiting in the wings might be a groundbreaking development: a machine that is aware of itself and its surroundings, and that could take in and process massive amounts of data in real time. It could be sent on dangerous missions, into space or combat. In addition to driving people around, it might be able to cook, clean, do laundry – and even keep humans company when other people aren't nearby. |
 | The robot that detects underground water leaksThe United States faces a looming crisis over its deteriorating water infrastructure, and fixing it will be a monumental and expensive task. |
 | What to teach your preschooler about internet safetyFifteen years ago, parents and caregivers did not have to worry about teaching pre-school aged children about internet safety. A new report prepared for the Children's Commissioner of England suggests this time has passed. |
 | Making interaction with AI systems more natural with textual groundingIn an upcoming oral presentation at the 2017 Neural Information Processing Systems (NIPS) Conference, our teams from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and IBM Research AI have proposed a new supervised learning algorithm to solve a well-known problem in AI called textual grounding. |
 | Pouring cold water on energy mythsFixated on those all-important energy ratings when buying a washing machine or dishwasher? |
 | Tool tests realistic changes to local transit networksHave you ever wanted to change your city's public transit system? A new digital tool developed by an MIT team lets people design alterations to transit networks and estimate the resulting improvements, based on existing data from urban transit systems. The team, led by Christopher Zegras, a professor in MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning, has already tested the tool with residents in four major U.S. cities—Atlanta, Boston, New Orleans, and San Francisco—as well as in London and Santiago de Chile, and is now planning additional projects in Chile, Colombia, and South Africa. Now the researchers have released a report evaluating how the tool, called CoAXs, has fared during these tests. Zegras spoke to MIT News about the project. |
 | New AI algorithm recommends right products at the right timeConsumers everywhere are exposed to AI algorithms that recommend products to them based on their past purchases and those of others. Of course, they don't always hit the mark. My IBM Research AI colleagues, our academic collaborators and I recently developed a new algorithm able to provide more accurate, timely product recommendations. |
 | Should robots have rights?As robots gain citizenship and potential personhood in parts of the world, it's appropriate to consider whether they should also have rights. |
 | Liquefied gas proving to be a natural for energy firmsThe world's energy companies are being increasingly enticed by liquefied natural gas, thanks to an expected rise in global demand and the fuel's flexibility when compared to costly, long-term pipeline projects. |
 | Net neutrality fans speak up as FCC set to strike down rulesNet neutrality is a simple concept but a dense and often technical issue that has been argued over for years in tech and telecom circles. Now everyday folks are talking about it. |
 | France to allow trading of securities via blockchainFrance's finance minister unveiled Friday a decree that would make it the first nation in Europe to allow the trading of some non-listed securities using the blockchain technology that underpins cryptocurrencies. |
 | Hyperspectral content for camerasNew software developed by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers will enable standard cameras and smartphones to capture both hyperspectral images and video with a faster and more cost-efficient approach than what is commercially available today. |
Firewalls – a security risk?Protecting business networks is getting more important. But how well do firewalls actually do in protecting sensitive and confidential information? Configuring firewalls can be complicated, even for system administrators, and that can lead to security risks and opportunities for intruders. | |
Music streaming giants Spotify, Tencent invest in each otherSwedish music streaming service Spotify and Chinese internet company Tencent have struck a deal to take minority stakes in each other. | |
 | Russia claims radioactivity spike not due to nuclear plantRussian authorities denied Friday that a radioactivity spike in the air over Europe this fall resulted from a nuclear fuel processing plant leak in the Ural mountains, saying their probe has found no release of radioactivity there. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Gene variants identified that may influence sexual orientation in men and boys(Medical Xpress)—A large team of researchers from several institutions in the U.S. and one each from Australia and the U.K. has found two gene variants that appear to be more prevalent in gay men than straight men, adding further evidence of sexual orientation having a biological component. In their paper published in Scientific Reports, the group describes their study, which consisted of comparing the genomes of multiple gay men against multiple straight men. |
 | How a seahorse-shaped brain structure may help us recognize othersHow do we recognize others? How do we know friend from foe, threat from reward? How does the brain compute the multitude of cues telling us that Susan is not Erica even though they look alike? The complexity of social interactions—human as well as mammalian—has mystified brain researchers for decades. |
 | Many different types of anxiety and depression exist, new study findsFive new categories of mental illness that cut across the current more broad diagnoses of anxiety and depression have been identified by researchers in a Stanford-led study. |
 | Study sheds light on the voices in our headNew research showing that talking to ourselves in our heads may be the same as speaking our thoughts out loud could help explain why people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia hear voices. |
 | Disease caused by reduction of most abundant cellular protein identifiedAn international team of scientists and doctors has identified a new disease that results in low levels of a common protein found inside our cells. |
 | Brain networks that help babies learn to walk ID'dScientists have identified brain networks involved in a baby's learning to walk—a discovery that eventually may help predict whether infants are at risk for autism. |
 | The mysterious case of the boy missing most of his visual cortex who can see anyway(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with Monash University recently gave a presentation at a neuroscience conference in Australia outlining their study of the brain of a seven-year-old boy who was missing most of his visual cortex but could still see—the first such case ever known. |
 | Researchers discover spinal cord neurons that inhibit distracting input to focus on task at handWe think of our brain as masterminding all of our actions, but a surprising amount of information related to movement gets processed by our spinal cord. |
 | Blood test may help predict which breast cancers will recurA blood test five years after breast cancer treatment helped identify some women who were more likely to relapse, long before a lump or other signs appeared, a preliminary study found. |
 | Taurine lends hand to repair cells damaged in multiple sclerosisNew research suggests that administering taurine, a molecule naturally produced by human cells, could boost the effectiveness of current multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies. Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) found that taurine helps spark a process called remyelination, which is crucial to repairing the nerve cells damaged in multiple sclerosis. |
 | In lab research, scientists slow progression of a fatal form of muscular dystrophyIn a paper published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, Saint Louis University (SLU) researchers report that a new drug reduces fibrosis (scarring) and prevents loss of muscle function in an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), providing a promising approach in designing new medications for those suffering from DMD. |
Leading doctors back legal action to force UK government to cut carbon emissionsLeading doctors are today backing legal action against UK government ministers on the grounds that they have not fulfilled their commitments to cutting carbon emissions in line with the Climate Change Act of 2008 and the Paris Agreement objective of limiting warming to 1.5?C or 'well below' 2?C. | |
Consuming sugary drinks during pregnancy may increase asthma risk in mid-childhoodChildren between the ages of 7 and 9 may be at greater risk for developing asthma if they consumed high amounts of fructose in early childhood or their mothers drank a lot of sugar-sweetened beverages while pregnant, according to new research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. | |
New assay may help predict which pancreatic lesions may become cancerousA report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, describes a new simple molecular test to detect chromosomal abnormalities—biomarkers known as telomere fusions—in pancreatic tumor specimens and pancreatic cyst fluids. This assay may help predict the presence of high-grade or invasive pancreatic cancers requiring surgical intervention. | |
 | Unique pattern of brain inflammation may explain neurocognitive impairment in HIV patients on antiretroviral drugsAlthough combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has improved survival of patients infected with HIV and has reduced the incidence of severe neurologic complications, almost half of cART-treated HIV patients experience some degree of neurocognitive impairment (neuroHIV). To search for underlying pathology, scientists analyzed the brains of monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) then treated with cART. As reported in a new study in The American Journal of Pathology, the majority of the SIV-infected macaque brains showed signs of unusual lymphocyte-dominant inflammation, suggesting that persistent neuroinflammation may underlie cognitive problems in cART-treated HIV patients. |
 | Novel compound restores immune response in patients with melanomaA novel compound may restore immune response in patients with melanoma, according to a study presented at the ESMO Immuno Oncology Congress 2017. |
Researchers discover resistance mechanism to checkpoint inhibitors and how to reverse itResearchers have discovered a mechanism of resistance to checkpoint inhibitors and how to reverse it. The biomarker results from the IMvigor210 study are reported at the ESMO Immuno Oncology Congress 2017. | |
 | Study finds genetic mutation causes 'vicious cycle' in most common form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosisUniversity of Michigan-led research brings scientists one step closer to understanding the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS. |
Uganda Marburg virus outbreak is contained: WHO (Update)Uganda has contained an outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg virus weeks after it emerged, the World Health Organization said Friday, praising improved response systems since the disastrous West African Ebola epidemic. | |
 | Duration of sleep increases while sleeping difficulties decrease after retirementWhen people retire from work life, they sleep approximately 20 minutes longer than before retirement. The quality of sleep also improves, as retired people experience fewer early morning awakenings or nonrestorative sleep, unlike those in their last working years. |
 | Protamine neutralizes CSPG-mediated inhibition of oligodendrocyte differentiationRemyelination is a critical repair process in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), a family of large molecules consisting of a core protein and glycosaminoglycans comsposed of chains of alternating sugars, are enriched in glial scars. In MS lesions, CSPGs accumulate as constituents of demyelinating plaques, which inhibit the migration and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and remyelination. |
 | Long-term prevention of organ rejectionThe Konstanz immunologist Professor Marcus Groettrup and his team have developed a procedure for preventing organ rejection in rats after renal transplantation, and for suppressing the creation of antibodies in the recipients' immune systems. Immunoproteasome inhibition, which suppresses the production of antibodies, is crucial to this process. The research results were published in Kidney International. The title of the original publication is "Immunoproteasome inhibition prevents chronic antibody-mediated allograft rejection in renal transplantation." |
Avoid family burnout during the holiday seasonThe holidays often mean family time, but can you have too much of a good thing? Baylor College of Medicine's Dr. Karen Lawson discusses what you can do to prevent experiencing family burnout. | |
 | Feijoas promise new anti-fungal treatments says researcherMona Mokhtari will graduate with a PhD in Biomedical Science at a Victoria graduation ceremony, after conducting research into the antifungal properties of one of New Zealand's favourite fruits. |
 | Time of day affects test results for asthma, researchers findNew research presented today (Friday 8th December) at the British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting shows the human body clock significantly impacts on sample results used to diagnose and treat asthma when taken at different times of the day. This may have implications for how asthma is diagnosed and treated in the future. |
Medicaid expansion increases use of prescription medications among low-income peopleThere are major barriers in access to prescription medications for the uninsured. New research, published in the December issue of Health Affairs, co-authored by Katherine Baicker, dean of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and the Emmett Dedmon Professor, found that Medicaid coverage significantly increased the use of medications related to the management of serious conditions, including mental health and diabetes. | |
 | Researchers say nutritional labeling for sodium doesn't workPotato chips, frozen pizza, a fast food hamburger-these foods are popular in the American diet and saturated with sodium. Though eating too much can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, 90 percent of Americans eat more than the recommended amount of sodium per day. |
 | Alcohol-abuse drug Antabuse kills cancer cellsA new study in Nature by an international team including researchers from Karolinska Institutet, reports that the alcohol-abuse drug Antabuse is effective against cancer. The study also identifies a potential mechanism of action for the anti-tumour effect. |
 | Moderate delays safe in treating colon cancerDespite longer treatment wait times from diagnosis to surgery for patients with colon cancer – some even exceeding the 28-day recommendation by an additional two months – there seems to be no adverse impact on survival rates, according to a Western-led study. |
 | Study explores 'imposter syndrome' in physiciansEven the most seasoned and successful physicians experience 'imposter syndrome' – that nagging feeling of self-doubt in so many of us – during times of personal struggle or when confronted by an error, according to a new study from the Centre for Education Research & Innovation (CERI) at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. |
 | Losing weight is hard, but not any harder if you have type 2 diabetesA study has found weight loss could reverse type 2 diabetes. The UK clinical trial showed that 46% of people who followed a low-calorie diet, among other measures, for 12 months were able to stop their type 2 diabetes medications. |
Searching out pancreatic cancer riskA prospective study by Wei Zheng, Ph.D., M.D., and colleagues delivers the first direct epidemiological evidence that increased production of a chemical compound called prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), as measured by metabolites in urine (PGE-M), is associated with increased pancreatic cancer risk. | |
 | Observation care may save more than thoughtIn the world of health care spending policy, it usually works that as Medicare goes so goes private insurance on matters of managing the cost and quality of care. |
 | Failure to understand risks may lead to dangerous delay in seeking medical careMaking medical decisions for yourself or a loved one is challenging. Survival statistics, drug effectiveness rates and other numbers that convey risk factors and medical information may seem like they would ease those situations, but they can actually make them more difficult. An international team of researchers discovered that a key reason for this is "innumeracy," or the inability to understand and apply numerical concepts. |
 | Poor sleep could lead to heavier drinking in young adults, study findsA shortened night of sleep may increase young adults' risk of heavier drinking, according to a new Yale study that assessed reciprocal variations in sleep and drinking over time in young adults. |
Early-life trauma may increase heart disease risk in adultsStress in early life may change the immune response in the kidneys, increasing the risk of heart disease later in life, according to a new study. The paper, published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Renal Physiology, was chosen as an APSselect article for December. | |
 | Family members without inherited mutation have increased risk of melanomaIn families who carry certain inherited mutations that increase the risk for melanoma, members who do not carry the mutation also have an increased risk of melanoma, a study from Karolinska Institutet published in Genetics in Medicine reports. The phenomenon, which is called phenocopy, could result from other shared risk-enhancing genes or environmental factors within the families. |
 | Trust in E-cigarette safety varies by worldview, source of messagingPublic health messaging about the safety of e-cigarettes needs to account for the worldviews of the target audience, with different groups displaying varying levels of trust depending on the source of the message, according to a recent study by the School of Public Health at Georgia State University. |
 | How we know where we areThe brain is a personalized GPS. It can keep track of where you are in time and space without your knowledge. |
 | Why do children get cancer?Let's start with the good news. Childhood cancer is rare, and success rates for recovery are high. According to the American Cancer Society, childhood cancers make up less than 1 percent of all cancers diagnosed each year. And thanks to medical advances in recent decades, more than 80 percent of children with cancer now survive 5 years or more—a significant increase from the mid-1970s, when the 5-year survival rate was about 58 percent. |
 | Unfairness at work increases risk of long-term sick leaveStaff who feel they are treated unfairly at work are at increased risk of being off sick more frequently and for longer, according to new research by the University of East Anglia and Stockholm University. |
 | Holiday treats, hectic schedules may increase risk of heart attackBetween the ubiquitous goody trays, unending to-do lists and stressful travel itineraries, it can be tough to stay on track when it comes to health during the holiday season, whether it's sticking to a diet or maintaining an exercise regimen. |
 | Is prescribing drugs 'off label' bad medicine?A woman, let's call her Sarah, is a young actor looking to make her debut at a major theatre. She is fit and healthy, but gets nervous on opening nights and can't sleep. She's tried zopiclone, but it didn't work, so her GP prescribes a course of quetiapine. Quetiapine is usually used to treat bipolar disorder, but the doctor explains to Sarah that he is prescribing it "off label". In other words, for a condition the drug wasn't licensed to treat. |
 | Yoga in the workplace can reduce back pain and sickness absenceBack pain is the single leading cause of disability in the world. In the US, four out of every five people experience back pain at some point in their life. In the UK, back pain is one of the most common reasons for visits to the doctor, and missed work. In fact, absence from work due to back problems costs British employers more than £3 billion every year. |
New treatment reduces self-harm among adolescentsYoung people who demonstrate self-harming behaviours often admit that they have also attempted to take their own lives. Treatment directly aimed at combating self-harm and suicide has shown effective results. | |
Older women with HR-positive breast cancer may receive similar benefit from CDK 4/6 inhibitors as younger womenOlder women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who were treated with cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) achieved progression-free survival at a rate similar to that of younger women, according to data presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 5–9. | |
Postmenopausal women who lose weight may have reduced breast cancer riskPostmenopausal women who lose weight may have a significantly reduced chance of developing breast cancer, according to data presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 5–9. | |
 | Pregnancy expert discusses progress for women with severe pregnancy sicknessSevere pregnancy sickness, or hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), is a debilitating condition that begins in early pregnancy. It is characterised by severe and constant nausea and vomiting, often resulting in dehydration that requires hospital treatment. For this reason, many women with HG will require several hospital admissions during their pregnancy. |
 | Study highlights the importance of continuing medication in pregnancyPregnant women and those who are planning pregnancy should not discontinue their medication without consulting a specialist, says a major new report from researchers at the University of Oxford. |
PARP inhibitor improves progression-free survival in patients with advanced breast cancers and BRCAIn a randomized, Phase III trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the PARP inhibitor talazoparib extended progression-free survival (PFS) and improved quality-of-life measures over available chemotherapies for patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer and mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes. | |
 | How developing visual system axons stay in the correct layerScientists at Tokyo Tech have made an important discovery concerning the development of layer-specific axonal connections in the developing visual system of Drosophila flies. This discovery provides valuable insights into how neurons in the developing brain are wired. The molecular mechanisms we found can serve as a universal principle for wiring axons also in higher animals. We assume our findings help stabilize the regenerating axons to the desired depth in the brain layers, in the case such as neuronal transplantation after injury. |
Children bear the brunt of secondhand smoke in BangladeshResearchers say there is an urgent need for action after 95 per cent of children from 12 primary schools in Dhaka tested positive for recent second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure. | |
 | Study provides hope that schizophrenia isn't as deep-rooted in affected individuals as previously believedA schizophrenia patient's own perceptions of their experiences—and confidence in their judgments—may be factors that can help them overcome challenges to get the life they wish, suggests a new paper published in Clinical Psychological Science from researchers at Penn Medicine's Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center. The findings buck a commonly-held belief about the relationship between so-called "cognitive insight" and neurocognitive performance (behavioral measures of attention, memory, etc.) that have important implications for treating the disorder. |
 | Preventing childhood accidents at home(HealthDay)—As a parent, you may worry most about your kids when they aren't with you. But many of the falls that send a million children to the ER each year happen at home. |
 | Letermovir prophylaxis cuts risk of CMV infection(HealthDay)—For cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seronegative patients undergoing hematopoietic-cell transplantation, letermovir prophylaxis is associated with a lower risk of CMV infection than placebo, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | MedDiet adherence doesn't affect acute heart failure mortality(HealthDay)—For patients with acute heart failure, adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) does not influence long-term mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in JACC: Heart Failure. |
Lymph node surgery may raise risk of arm morbidity in younger womenYounger breast cancer patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection were more likely to experience arm swelling and decreased range of arm motion than patients who received sentinel lymph node biopsies, according to data presented at the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 5-9. | |
 | Study reveals Viagra to be 'ineffective' for fetal growth restrictionA University of Liverpool led international clinical trial has found an anti-impotence drug to be ineffective at improving outcomes for pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction. |
For women with genetic risk, bi-annual MRI beats mammogramsIntensive surveillance including a dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) exam every six months was far more effective in detecting breast cancer in younger women with a high-risk genetic profile than an annual mammogram, according to a research team based at the University of Chicago Medicine and the University of Washington, Seattle. | |
Study results offer another boon for PARP inhibitors in treatment of advanced breast cancerPatients with certain advanced hereditary breast cancers may have new treatments options on the horizon, according to two studies presented this week at the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Susan Domchek, MD, executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, will present new results from the Mediola and OlympiAD trials showing continued success of treating BRCA-related metastatic breast cancer with the PARP inhibitor olaparib with limited side effects for patients. | |
 | US flu season off to an early start; widespread in 7 statesThis year's flu season is off to a quick start and so far it seems to be dominated by a nasty bug. |
 | ORBIT bleeding risk score performs best in A-fib(HealthDay)—Four contemporary clinical bleeding risk scores are able to identify atrial fibrillation (AF) patients at risk for major bleeding and life-threatening bleeding, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in the Journal of Internal Medicine. |
 | Bariatric surgery alters liver fatty acid metabolism(HealthDay)—Bariatric surgery seems to change fatty acid metabolism in the liver, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Novel subcutaneous furosemide may be option in heart failure(HealthDay)—A novel, pH-neutral furosemide formulation administered subcutaneously (SC) in outpatients with worsening heart failure appears to be safe and effective, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in JACC: Heart Failure. |
 | Ovarian CA screening potentially cost-effective in the U.S.(HealthDay)—Multimodal screening (MMS) for ovarian cancer is potentially cost-effective in the United States, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Oncology. |
 | Alternative diagnosis for many referred for optic neuritis(HealthDay)—Almost 60 percent of patients referred for acute optic neuritis have an alternative diagnosis, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
 | No increase in seizure incidence with enzalutamide in mCRPC(HealthDay)—For patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with at least one risk factor for seizure at baseline, treatment with enzalutamide is not associated with increased incidence of seizure, according to research published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Oncology. |
 | Influenza picking up in U.S., predominantly A(H3N2)(HealthDay)—Influenza activity was low during October 2017 but started increasing in November, with influenza A, predominantly A(H3N2), most commonly identified, according to research published in the Dec. 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Women's hands really are colder than men's, scientists confirmLadies, raise a gloved hand if your hands feel as frozen as Elsa's, especially in the winter. |
Potency, purity of drugs reaching even higher levelsTen years ago, the average gram of meth available in the U.S. was 39 percent pure. Today, it is being sold in a nearly pure state, manufactured in Mexican "superlabs" and smuggled across the border to feed an epidemic of addiction. | |
Food? Drug? The FDA says this capsule could cause deadly liver and lung problemsAfter reports of "two serious and potentially life-threatening medical conditions," the FDA this week issued a consumer alert for osteoarthritis capsule Limbrel. | |
 | Eating cheese every day might actually be healthyA nibble of cheese a day keeps the heart disease away. |
About 60 NC State students showing symptoms of norovirusOfficials at North Carolina State University say about 60 students have shown symptoms of norovirus. | |
 | Inflammatory factors linked to inhibition of factor VIII gene therapy in hemophilia AAs a gene therapy cure for hemophilia A moves closer to reality, a new study sheds light on a challenging complication in which a host autoimmune response inhibits the production of normal clotting factor VIII from the transferred FVIII gene. Researchers compared the levels of multiple pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in a mouse model of hemophilia A that received FVIII gene therapy at different ages and either did or did not exhibit FVIII inhibitor formation, as presented in an article published in Human Gene Therapy. |
 | Philippines wants money back from Sanofi for dengue vaccineThe Philippine government will demand a refund of 3.5 billion pesos ($69.5 million) from vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur and look at possible legal action after a study showed the vaccine used in a dengue immunization program could expose some people to severe illness, the health chief said Friday. |
 | New forecast shows 6 million with Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairmentUsing new methodology, scientists calculate that approximately 6 million American adults have Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment, which can sometimes be a precursor to the disease. The estimate, funded by the National Institutes of Health, also forecasts that these numbers will more than double to 15 million by 2060, as the population ages. |
Expert discusses how the opioid epidemic spreadsThe sale of prescription opioids has risen sharply since 1999, and the number of fatal drug overdoses attributed to the drugs has more than quadrupled. We asked Yale SOM's Marissa King, an expert in social networks who has studied the spread of drug addiction, what is driving the crisis and how it can be addressed. | |
 | Research leads to call for lung health screening at top football clubsNew research from the University has discovered that nearly three in 10 elite footballers at top clubs in England have undetected lung and airway problems that could impair their on-field performance. |
 | Deep insight into the heartBy no means are only elderly people at risk from heart diseases. Physically active individuals can also be affected, for example if a seemingly harmless flu bug spreads to the heart muscle. Should this remain undetected and if, for example, a builder continues with his strenuous job or an athlete carries on training, this can lead to chronic inflammation and in the worst case even to sudden death. The latest issue of the "Forschung Frankfurt" journal describes how modern non-invasive examinations using state-of-the-art imaging technology can reduce such risks. |
Including diagnosis related costs, 3-D mammography costs less than digital mammographyAlthough digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), or 3-D mammography, costs more than a digital mammography (DM) screening, it actually may help rein in cancer screening costs, according to preliminary findings (PD7-05) presented by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania during the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The group analyzed 46,483 screening episodes - a single screening mammogram and all subsequent breast diagnosis related costs for the following year - in two hospitals within the University of Pennsylvania Health System in 2012 and 2013. | |
 | How hospitals can go green(HealthDay)—Hospital operating rooms produce thousands of tons of greenhouse gases each year, but changing the type of anesthesia used in surgery can help lower those emissions, researchers report. |
Large proportion of patients experiencing acute exacerbations of COPD are skipping out on pulmonary rehabilitationAcute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) can negatively impact a patient's health-related quality of life, lead to a decline in pulmonary function, and can also cause an increased use of health care resources. On average, patients with COPD have one to three treated exacerbations per year, and up to 25 percent of patients with COPD who are hospitalized for an exacerbation die within a year. In the past, systematic reviews have shown that pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can reduce hospital admissions, but referral rates lacked consistency. Researchers from Imperial College London set out to determine the effect of PR on COPD exacerbation rates. | |
Health risks to farmworkers increase as workforce agesThat bag of frozen cauliflower sitting inside your freezer likely sprang to life in a vast field north of Salinas, Calif. A crew of men and women here use a machine to drop seedlings into the black soil. Another group follows behind, stooped over, tapping each new plant. | |
Straight from the patient's mouth: Videos can clearly state your end-of-life wishesFor years, Wendy Forman, considered how to make her wishes known if she became horribly ill and couldn't speak for herself. | |
Biology news
 | New strategy could enable existing drugs to kill bacteria that cause chronic infectionsMIT researchers have discovered a way to make bacteria more vulnerable to a class of antibiotics known as quinolones, which include ciprofloxacin and are often used to treat infections such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. |
 | The future of crop engineeringPhotosynthesis is the process underlying all plant growth. Scientists aim to boost photosynthesis to meet the increasing global demand for food by engineering its key enzyme Rubisco. Now, researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry have succeeded in producing functional plant Rubisco in a bacterium. This allows genetic engineering of the enzyme. The study could one day lead to better crop yields and plant varieties with increased water-use efficiencies or enhanced temperature resistance. The results were published in Science. |
 | Rethinking transcription factors and gene expressionTranscription—the reading of a segment of DNA into an RNA template for protein synthesis—is fundamental for nearly all cellular processes, including growth, responding to stimuli, and reproduction. Now, Whitehead Institute researchers have upended our understanding of how transcription is controlled and the role of transcription factors in the process. |
 | Can data save dolphins? How scientists are using NASA data to study link between solar storms and animal beachingsThe age-old mystery of why otherwise healthy dolphins, whales and porpoises get stranded along coasts worldwide deepens: After a collaboration between NASA scientists and marine biologists, new research suggests space weather is not the primary cause of animal beachings—but the research continues. The collaboration is now seeking others to join their search for the factors that send ocean mammals off course, in the hopes of perhaps one day predicting strandings before they happen. |
 | Many more bacteria have electrically conducting filamentsMicrobiologists led by Derek Lovley at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, who is internationally known for having discovered electrically conducting microfilaments or "nanowires" in the bacterium Geobacter, announce in a new paper this month that they have discovered the unexpected structures in many other species, greatly broadening the research field on electrically conducting filaments. Details appear online in the International Society of Microbial Ecology Journal. |
 | Like seasoned holiday enthusiasts, majoid crabs decorate their shells'Tis the holiday season and it seems homes are festively trimmed at every turn. Ornaments of all shapes and sizes embellish everything from trees to windows and yards. |
The unique pentraxin-carbonic anhydrase protein regulates the ability of fish to swimA study carried out at the University of Tampere has shown that carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI) is present in some species as a combination of two proteins. According to current data, this "fusion protein," called pentraxin-carbonic anhydrase, has disappeared from the genome of almost all mammals through evolution. | |
 | How toxoplasmosis exploits immune cells to reach the brainThe infection toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and is widespread. It's estimated that 30 to 50 percent of the global human population are carriers. Cats are the parasites' main host, but the infection is also spread among other animals, including humans. A series of studies has previously shown that the parasite affects the brains of infected rats so that they lose fear of cats and even become attracted to cats' scent, making them an easy prey. The parasite spreads by ensuring that the rat is eaten by a cat. Toxoplasmosis is life-threatening to people with impaired immune systems and to unborn foetuses, but causes only mild symptoms in healthy individuals. However, there are studies showing that mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression and anxiety disorder are more common in people who are carriers of Toxoplasma gondii. There are also studies indicating that the parasite may affect aggressive or risky behaviour. |
 | DNA has gone digital – what could possibly go wrong?Biology is becoming increasingly digitized. Researchers like us use computers to analyze DNA, operate lab equipment and store genetic information. But new capabilities also mean new risks – and biologists remain largely unaware of the potential vulnerabilities that come with digitizing biotechnology. |
 | Designer yeast consumes plant matter and spits out fatty alcohols for detergents and biofuelsUsed in laundry detergents, medicines, and biofuels, certain alcohols known as long-chain fatty alcohols, with 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the backbone, are desirable products. These compounds can be made by a yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, yields have remained low, slowing the adoption of microbes as producers of fatty alcohols. Through genetic engineering of S. cerevisiae, scientists improved the concentration and yield of fatty alcohol products from 2 percent to up to 20 percent of the maximum theoretical yield. |
 | Underappreciated microbes now get credit for holding down two jobs in soilIn soil, bacteria and other microbes are well known for their ability to decompose organic materials, releasing carbon to the atmosphere. Less understood is how microbes add persistent carbon compounds to the soil. Scientists reviewed both roles via the concept of a "microbial carbon pump." The pump is proposed as a mechanism for integrating how the contrasting breakdown and synthesis activities of microbes—coupled with the "entombment" of microbial residues—influence carbon levels in the soil. |
 | Jellyfish have superpowers – and other reasons they don't deserve their bad reputationPeople rarely enjoy meeting a jellyfish. On the beach they appear limp, amorphous, and blistered in the sun. In the water it's often a brush of a tentacle on exposed skin followed by a sting. They hardly evoke the serene elegance of a turtle or the majesty of a breaching humpback whale. But despite making a poor first impression, jellyfish are among the most unusual animals on Earth and deserve a second chance to introduce themselves. |
New tool could help maintain quality during cheese productionDutch type cheeses, notably edam and gouda, are made using complex starter cultures, that have been employed for centuries. Due to changes in strain composition within a culture, the quality frequently fluctuates. A team of Norwegian investigators has developed a tool that could be used to monitor the strains within a culture with high resolution, in order to maintain cheese quality. The research is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. | |
 | Algae and krill may be a tough sell for European consumersPeople will need to be persuaded to eat new types of seafood if we are to extract more food from the oceans and feed growing human populations, according to fishing industry experts. |
 | Study shows differences in energy digestibility between sows and giltsGestating sows digest energy in diets more efficiently than growing gilts. A recent study from the University of Illinois is shedding light on some of the reasons why. |
 | Militias, poachers wreak havoc on central Africa's wildlife: monitorSudan's Janjaweed, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army and other notorious militias are wreaking havoc on wildlife in central Africa, poaching and trafficking elephants, hippopotamuses, buffaloes and other animals, a monitor said Friday. |
Bird flu: Dutch farmers ordered to keep poultry indoorsThe Dutch government has ordered the country's farmers to keep all poultry indoors after bird flu was discovered at a duck farm. | |
25 species revealed for 25 Genomes ProjectTo commemorate the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute turning 25 in 2018, the Institute and its collaborators are sequencing 25 new genomes of species in the UK. The final five species have now been chosen by thousands of school children and members of the public around the globe, who participated in the 25 Genomes Project online vote. | |
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