Friday, June 15, 2018

Science X Newsletter Friday, Jun 15

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 15, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New form of matter may lie just beyond the periodic table

Future quantum technologies may exploit identical particle entanglement

A way to use underwater fiber-optic cables as seismic sensors

From metabolism to function—the extreme structural adaptations of photoreceptors

Secrets of extinct cow with face like a bulldog revealed

Generation query network lets computer create multi-view 3-D model from 2-D photographs

Squeezing light at the nanoscale—Ultra-confined light could detect harmful molecules

New ID pictures of conducting polymers discover a surprise ABBA fan

Researchers can count on improved proteomics method

Hawking's voice beamed into space during London burial (Update)

Observing brain plasticity during cello training

Brain matures faster due to childhood stress

Upgrade to boost capacity of CERN's giant particle smasher (Update)

Quantum transfer at the push of a button

Minimalist biostructures designed to create nanomaterials

Astronomy & Space news

Exploring planetary plasma environments from your laptop

A new database of plasma simulations, combined with observational data and powerful visualisation tools, is providing planetary scientists with an unprecedented way to explore some of the Solar System's most interesting plasma environments.

A deep space communications hub in the desert

When NASA engineers were looking for a place to build a network of large radio antennas in the 1950s, they knew they needed somewhere quiet. They were going to build a series of antennas with huge parabolic dishes and receivers that could detect extremely faint radio signals.

What's the minimum number of people you should send in a generational ship to Proxima Centauri?

Humanity has long dreamed about sending humans to other planets, even before crewed spaceflight became a reality. And with the discovery of thousands exoplanets in recent decades, particularly those that orbit within neighboring star systems (like Proxima b), that dream seems closer than ever to becoming a reality. But of course, a lot of technical challenges need to be overcome before we can hope to mount such a mission.

NASA's record-breaking spacewoman retires as astronaut

NASA's record-breaking astronaut, Peggy Whitson, retired Friday less than a year after returning from her last and longest spaceflight.

Sounding rocket takes a second look at the Sun

Tom Woods knows about space gunk.

Technology news

Generation query network lets computer create multi-view 3-D model from 2-D photographs

A team of researchers working with Google's DeepMind division in London has developed what they describe as a Generation Query Network (GQN)—it allows a computer to create a 3-D model of a scene from 2-D photographs that can be viewed from different angles. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes the new type of neural network system and what it represents. They also offer a more personal take on their project in a post on their website. Matthias Zwicker, with the University of Maryland offers a Perspective on the work done by the team in the same journal issue.

Researchers investigate potential threat to speech privacy via smartphone motion sensors

Could smartphone motion sensors be used by cybercriminals to record speech? It is a question that many academic and industry researchers are working to answer in order to ward off this kind of malicious use before it happens.

AT&T closes mega-merger with Time Warner

Wireless and broadband colossus AT&T on Thursday announced the close of its $85 billion merger with media-entertainment conglomerate Time Warner.

Chicago airport plan is one of many Musk dream projects

A newly announced project by billionaire innovator Elon Musk for a tunnel transit system that would carry travelers to and from Chicago O'Hare International Airport at up to 150 mph (241 kph) is just another project on a growing list of Musk dream projects.

Elon Musk firm tapped to build Chicago high-speed transit

Elon Musk's The Boring Company has been tapped to build a high-speed underground transportation system for Chicago—the first US city to bank on the entrepreneur's futuristic concept for mass transit.

Snapchat aims to spread reach to other apps

Snapchat messaging service on Thursday set out to spread its reach, and panache, to other smartphone apps with a software kit that promised to share little data about users.

'Fortnite' frenzy reigns at E3 gaming expo

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) wrapped up in Los Angeles on Thursday with the video game "Fortnite" knocking out other contenders to emerge as the star of a show which highlighted the surging interest in competitive eSports.

Fitbit employees charged with having stolen trade secrets

U.S. prosecutors have charged one current and five former employees of San Francisco-based Fitbit, Inc. with possessing trade secrets stolen from rival company Jawbone.

Is the energy-storing solar cell soon to be reality?

Storing solar energy is the central challenge facing energy researchers. Alongside traditional solutions such as solar cells or batteries, creative chemical concepts for storing energy are paving the way for entirely new opportunities. Intramolecular reactions are making it possible to transform solar energy and store it in a singular molecule. This may form the basis for constructing energy-storing solar cells.

Football through the eyes of a computer

Football on TV: A pass to the left, a gap in the defence, an open striker at the edge of the penalty area. Suddenly, the picture freezes. Lines and diagrams appear between the players. An arrow indicates the trajectory of a safe pass to the open striker, others highlight possible goal-scoring trajectories. Such graphic analyses have become indispensable for professional football broadcasters. They help viewers understand the dynamics and tactics of the match as well as the decisions made by the players.

Orange, tea tree and eucalyptus oils sweeten diesel fumes

Waste oil from orange, tea tree and eucalyptus essential oil production mixed with diesel provides a sweet-smelling biofuel blend with comparable performance to diesel-only fuel.

Assessing what state in­sti­tu­tions can do to com­bat cy­ber­at­tacks

When a cyberattack has been orchestrated by a state actor, people may be tempted to call it "war". After all, it's an attack waged on national infrastructures by a foreign power. But the term "cyber war" has been used so often for dramatic effect that I don't just want to warn against hype. It's also time to dampen expectations regarding the scope of governmental intervention.

Thailand to buy Airbus satellite as junta chief visits France: source

Thailand's junta chief will secure the purchase of a $215 million observation satellite from Airbus during his trip to France this month, a diplomatic source said Friday, as Europe re-engages with the kingdom following a chill in relations after a 2014 coup.

Germany wants EU-wide safety system for truck 'blind spots'

Germany's transport minister wants trucks fitted with compulsory 'blind spot' safety systems to prevent pedestrians and cyclists from being killed by careless drivers.

Renault to stay in Iran despite US sanctions: CEO

French carmaker Renault will maintain its presence in Iran while taking measures to avoid the risk of penalties for breaching renewed US sanctions, CEO Carlos Ghosn said Friday.

Oprah Winfrey to produce shows for Apple

Television personality Oprah Winfrey has agreed to produce shows for Apple as the iPhone maker prepares to make a push into original content.

The intersection of 3-D printing and machine learning

In the past the applications of metal additive manufacturing, otherwise known as 3-D printing, have primarily been confined to prototyping. Recently, the field has begun to undergo a major transition, as researchers push closer to developing metal 3-D printing as a reliable form of industrial manufacturing. However, there are still major obstacles to tackle before the field can fully make the leap, especially in high-risk applications such as aviation components.

EU clears Comcast bid for Sky in takeover tussle with Murdoch

The EU on Friday cleared US cable giant Comcast's bid for pan-European TV group Sky, paving the way for an epic multi-billion-dollar takeover tussle with Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox.

Boeing, others assessing impact of US-China tariffs

US trade groups and some large companies such as Boeing said Friday they were beginning to evaluate how new tariffs in the US-China trade spat could affect their operations.

Medicine & Health news

Observing brain plasticity during cello training

Music acquisition provides an excellent model of neural plasticity, and has become a hot research subject in neurology. Music performance provides an unmatched array of neural complexities revealing how neural networks are recruited, and how these dynamics vary between individuals. Observing the brain activity of performing musicians via fMRI has yielded insights into the coactivated auditory and motor neural systems and opened pathways to deeper understanding of neural plasticity.

Brain matures faster due to childhood stress

Stress in early childhood leads to faster maturation of certain brain regions during adolescence. In contrast, stress experienced later in life leads to slower maturation of the adolescent brain. This is the outcome of a long-term study conducted by researchers of Radboud University in which 37 subjects have been monitored for almost 20 years. The findings will be published in Scientific Reports on 15 June.

161 genetic factors for myopia identified

The international Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia (CREAM) recently published the largest-ever genetic study of myopia in Nature Genetics. Researchers from the Gutenberg Health Study at the Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz participated in this study, which identified 161 genetic factors for myopia. This quadruples the number of known genetic risk factors playing a role in all retinal cell types. Most of them are involved in processing light. This supports the assumption that insufficient sunlight is an important trigger in the development of myopia.

Researchers peer inside cells to spy on cancer's on-off switch

Forty years after researchers first discovered it in fruit flies, a once-obscure cluster of proteins called PRC2 has become a key target for new cancer-fighting drugs, due to its tendency—when mutated—to bind to and silence tumor suppressing genes.

Non-coding DNA reveals a route by which advanced prostate cancer resists treatment

Two research teams converge on epigenetic switches that feed treatment-resistant metastatic prostate tumors. This research highlights the value of exploring gene regulation and large-scale structural changes in the cancer genome.

Poker has a 'tell' about strategic thinkers

In competitive environments, success is not just about playing your cards right, but also playing your opponents right.

New compound shown to be as effective as FDA-approved drugs against life-threatening infections

Purdue University researchers have identified  a new compound that in preliminary testing has shown itself to be as effective as antibiotics approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat life-threatening infections while also appearing to be less susceptible to bacterial resistance.

Success is not just how you play your cards, but how you play your opponents

In high-stakes environments, success is not just about playing your cards right, but also playing your opponents right.

Early birds less prone to depression

Middle-to-older aged women who are naturally early to bed and early to rise are significantly less likely to develop depression, according to a new study by researchers at University of Colorado Boulder and the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Study questions the benefits of abdominal aortic aneurysm screening in men

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm—swelling of the major artery in the abdomen, which can cause sudden death if it ruptures—may not substantially reduce deaths from the condition, according to a Swedish cohort study of more than 130000 men published in The Lancet. The findings question the need for the screening, which is also conducted in the UK and USA.

Both quantity and quality of sleep affect cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents

A study from a research team led by a MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) physician finds that both the quantity and quality of sleep—the amount of time spent sleeping and the percentage of sleep that is undisturbed—in young adolescents have significant effects on aspects of cardiovascular health such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and abdominal fat deposition. Their report has been published online in the journal Pediatrics.

JAK inhibitors associated with aggressive lymphoma

Austrian researchers have discovered that a small number of patients taking targeted drugs known as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors to treat myelofibrosis may develop aggressive lymphomas.

ICU telemedicine reduces interhospital ICU transfers of critically ill patients

Only a minority of intensive care units (ICUs) in smaller, community, and regional ICUs in the United States hire intensivists to provide advanced critical care, but many employ ICU telemedicine (Tele-ICU) to help fill the gap. The Veteran's Administration (VA) has implemented a Tele-ICU program to provide remote access to comprehensive acute care expertise for smaller, community, and regional ICUs in its health system. A new study in the journal Chest examined transfers of ICU patients to acute care centers before and after the VA implemented its Tele-ICU program. Investigators found that hospitals using Tele-ICU support experienced a greater reduction in transfers of ICU patients to other facilities than hospitals that did not use the services. Additionally, mortality did not change when more patients were treated locally through Tele-ICU.

Targeted therapy in patients with PIK3CA-related overgrowth syndrome

Dr. Guillaume Canaud at the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital and his team recently demonstrated the efficacy of a specific inhibitor called BYL719 in a cohort of 19 patients suffering from congenital lipomatous overgrowth-vascular malformation-epidermal nevi-spinal anomaly syndrome (CLOVES) and similar disorders. This medication is currently undergoing therapeutic oncology trials (phase I/II). No significant side effects have been observed 18 months after commencement of treatment. This study, published in the journal Nature, is an example of precision medicine and demonstrates the major benefits of this therapeutic strategy for these patients, who show significantly improved health and quality of life.

New discovery about the brain's water system may prove beneficial in stroke

Water is transported from the blood into the brain via an ion transporter, according to a new study on mice conducted at the University of Copenhagen. If the mechanism can be targeted with medicine, it may prove relevant for treating disorders involving increased intracranial pressure, including brain oedema in connection with stroke, and hydrocephalus, also known as "water in the head."

A new method for testing vaccine safety

Scientists from the Institut Pasteur, the CNRS and Sanofi Pasteur have recently developed a novel alternative method to animal testing that can be used to verify the safety of vaccines such as yellow fever vaccine. This original approach is based on the development of an in cellulo device using a 3-D culture model, the BBB-Minibrain, to evaluate the safety of live vaccines for human use. The model was developed by the Institut Pasteur. It raises hopes for a reduction in the use of animals in quality control, especially in the tests carried out by the pharmaceutical industry to meet the requirements of regulatory authorities. The results of this research were published in the journal Biologicals in May 2018, and online on March 24th.

Girls with high level of vitamin D have stronger muscles

Girls are stronger with higher levels of vitamin D, but this association is not found in boys. These are the results from a new large study from the Odense Child Cohort, recently published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Impostor syndrome—when self-doubt misjudges achievement

Individuals who have a pervasive sense that their reputations are not justified by their achievements may suffer from impostor syndrome. In such a case, a new study shows, negative feedback can lead to a real deterioration in performance.

Heart disease sufferers not exercising enough

Evidence shows that people with existing heart problems or who are at risk of developing them, are ignoring medical advice and not taking enough exercise. New medical treatments have helped people to live longer despite these health problems, but this is causing an escalating burden on public health systems worldwide.

Study of Netflix show about suicide leads to additional resources

Each episode of the second season of 13 Reasons Why, which first aired in May, starts with a warning from the actors that the show tackles tough topics like sexual assault, substance abuse and suicide.

Genetic disorder identified in children

A genetic defect affecting normal development in children has been identified by a study involving University of Queensland researcher and alumnus Professor David Coman.

Novel infection fighter

Hospital-acquired infections are a serious threat to patient lives, especially with the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. One drug that may prove helpful in the fight against these infections is monophosphoryl Lipid A (MPLA).

Risk of burnout can be estimated by analysing saliva samples

According to calculations from the World Health Organisation, depression occupies first place in the global "disease burden" and, by 2030, experts estimate that there will be three mental illnesses in the Top 5: depression, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia and alcohol addiction. Even Austria is seeing an increase in mental problems such as burnout and, since 2010, these have been the main reason for invalidity retirement. Researchers from MedUni Vienna and the Health Insurance Agency's Health and Prevention Center have now shown that burnout can be identified by means of a simple saliva test. The hormone cortisol is the marker used for this.

What does the PREDIMED trial retraction and reboot mean for the Mediterranean diet?

A very influential nutrition trial just tanked. It was retracted from the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) on 13 June, and re-published with new analyses and toned-down conclusions.

Liver cancer rates vary widely among patients of Asian descent, study finds

Identifying patients at a greater risk for specific illnesses could be greatly improved by breaking down broad ethnic and racial categories into more specific groups, according to findings in a research paper published by Keck School of Medicine of USC student Christopher Pham.

Opioid overdose responsible for over 500,000 years of life lost in Ohio

More than 500,000 years of life expectancy were lost in Ohio during a seven-year period, according to a study conducted by The Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health (OAIPH)—a collaborative initiative formed by Ohio University's College of Health Sciences and Professions and the University of Toledo's College of Health and Human Services.

Preventing hearing damage during summer activities

For many, summer means the sweet sounds of live concerts, fireworks, lawnmowers and splashing water. To optimize the fun summer sounds, here are some preventative measures to protect your hearing during these outdoor activities.

Getting hot and sweaty—how heat and spice might affect our appetite

Do you feel less peckish when it's hot or after a sweaty workout or spicy food? New research has discovered how body temperature might help control appetite through heat sensors in the brain.

Spinal manipulation and exercise for low back pain in adolescents

Low back pain affects almost a third of Americans. While there is a long-standing belief that low back pain is limited to adults, research has shown it develops with increasing frequency during adolescence. With the increasing concern about opioid prescription rates, including among U.S. youth—up to 40 percent with low back pain receive opioids as part of their treatment—there is heightened urgency to identify safe and effective non-drug treatment options. Spinal manipulation and exercise are two such approaches which are recommended for adults with low back pain. Little is known, however, regarding the effectiveness of these treatments for adolescent low back pain sufferers.

Drowning can be fast and silent, but it can be prevented, too

Just back from a run with her husband, Laura Metro faced a parent's worst nightmare: Her 6-year-old daughter, Maison, ran to her screaming, "I think Clay died! I think Clay died!"

Initiative aims to lower heart disease, stroke risk among millions with diabetes

During her first pregnancy in 1994, Sophia Boulanger developed gestational diabetes and was later diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Then in 2011, Boulanger was told she had 90 percent blockages in all five vessels supplying blood to the heart.

Alcohol withdrawal can be deadly – here's why

Alcohol damages the brain, heart, liver and pancreas, and it increases the risk of some cancers, such as mouth and bowel cancer. It also weakens the immune system, making people more vulnerable to infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Taken in excess, it can kill.

The secret information hidden in your hair

Your hair can say a lot about you. It doesn't just give people clues about your personality or your taste in music. It can also record evidence of how much you drink, whether you smoke or take drugs, and perhaps even how stressed you are. My colleagues and I research how hair can be used to provide more accurate testing for these attributes. And a recent court case shows how far the technology has come.

Laser-sonic scanner aims to replace mammograms for finding breast cancer

For women over 40, mammography is a necessary yet annoying procedure to endure every year or two. The technique, while valuable for reducing breast cancer deaths, is less than ideal because it exposes patients to X-ray radiation and requires their breasts to be painfully squished between plates. The plates flatten the breast so the X-rays can more easily pass through it and produce a clear image.

How other people's looks affect what we eat

When you next pop into a café for a snack or lunch, you may not be aware of how your food choice is influenced by the appearance of the waitress or waiter.

New study reveals time and day women are most likely to give birth

A new study has found that the time and day that women give birth can vary significantly depending on how labour starts and the mode of giving birth.

How can a baby have 3 parents?

It seems impossible, right? We have been taught from the time we were young that babies are made when a sperm and an egg come together, and the DNA from these two cells combine to make a unique individual with half the DNA from the mother and half from the father. So how can there be a third person involved in this process?

Pancreatic cancer patients with BRCA mutation may benefit from targeted drug

A physician-scientist at the University of Arizona Cancer Center investigated a novel treatment for pancreatic cancer patients whose tumors exhibited a harmful genetic mutation.

Study confirms that bromeliads contribute to mosquito breeding in Miami

With vector-borne diseases posing an increasing public health threat to communities in South Florida and elsewhere, a new study led by public health researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has revealed that ornamental bromeliad plants contribute to breeding of the Aedes aegypti mosquito—a key culprit for the Zika outbreak that hit Miami-Dade County and other areas of Florida and the Americas in 2016.

Kellogg's honey smacks cereal recalled due to salmonella risk

(HealthDay)—The Kellogg Company announced Thursday it was recalling certain boxes of Honey Smacks cereal due to the possibility of contamination with salmonella.

When DEA cracked down on opioids, abusers moved to black market: study

(HealthDay)—Illegal opioid sales on the internet have surged in the wake of U.S. government crackdowns on prescriptions for the highly addictive painkillers, a new study shows.

Liver cancer a big threat to U.S., other developed nations

(HealthDay)—Liver cancer cases in several developed countries have doubled in the past 25 years, due to the continuing obesity epidemic and a spike in hepatitis infections, new research suggests.

Strategies to avoid sunburn

(HealthDay)—If you could protect yourself from cancer, you'd do it, right? Yet most Americans still aren't taking the easiest step to prevent the most commonly diagnosed type—skin cancer, which will affect one in five people at some point in their lives.

Children can drink clear fluids until one hour before anesthesia

(HealthDay)—On the day of surgery it is practical to allow children to drink until one hour before anesthesia, according to a special interest article published online April 27 in Pediatric Anesthesia.

AMA president calls physicians to lead in addressing gun violence

(HealthDay)—The issue of gun violence must be addressed by the physician leadership scientifically, in an evidence-based manner, according to remarks issued by the president of the American Medical Association (AMA) at the organization's annual meeting.

AMA: Federal government must tackle rising insulin prices

(HealthDay)—U.S. officials need to take action to control spiking insulin prices, the American Medical Association (AMA) says.

Quality of diet still poor for SNAP participants

A new Food-PRICE study finds persistent nutritional disparities within the food choices of those receiving assistance under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) compared to those not receiving SNAP assistance. The study is published today in JAMA Network Open.

The water's great. Just don't overlook safety.

(HealthDay)—More than a half million people are treated for swimming-related accidents in the United States in a given year.

Walk test IDs risk of cognitive dysfunction post cardiac surgery

(HealthDay)—The six-minute walk distance (6MWD) test is useful in identifying patients with a higher likelihood of developing postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) following cardiac surgery, according to a study published online May 9 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Elevated NT-proBNP found to up cardiovascular risk in T2DM

(HealthDay)—Elevated baseline N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is independently associated with development of major cardiovascular (CV) events, in particular hospitalization for heart failure, according to a study published online May 30 in Diabetes Care.

VTE linked to acute decline in physical function in women

(HealthDay)—For women, venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with acute decline in physical function, according to a study published online June 8 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Pediatric kidney recipients often have subclinical inflammation

(HealthDay)—For pediatric kidney recipients, subclinical inflammation is associated with increased risk for acute rejection and allograft failure, according to a study published online May 15 in the American Journal of Transplantation.

NIH to end industry-funded study of alcohol's benefits

The U.S. government is shutting down a study that was supposed to show if a single drink a day could prevent heart attacks, saying ethical problems with how the research was planned and funded undermine its credibility.

Greater levels of vitamin D associated with decreasing risk of breast cancer

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine suggest higher levels of vitamin D are associated with decreasing risk of breast cancer. Their epidemiological study is published in the June 15 online issue of PLOS ONE, in collaboration with Creighton University, Medical University of South Carolina and GrassrootsHealth, an Encinitas-based nonprofit organization that promotes vitamin D research and its therapeutic benefits.

Florida's obesity rate may be higher than originally thought, new study finds

Florida's obesity rate may be higher than originally thought. A widely used national health survey puts the overall obesity rate in the state at 27.8 percent, but a new study based on an analysis of a robust clinical data repository shows a rate of 37.1 percent—nearly 10 percentage points higher.

Study with implications for opioid crisis finds opioids raise risk of fracture nonunion

Dr. Robert Zura, Professor and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, was part of a research team reporting that not only may opioid use increase the risk of bone fractures, but opioids may also impair healing. The authors also question their effectiveness in controlling pain. Dr. Zura is a coauthor of the "Article in Press" available online in the journal, Injury.

When can ads intensify unhealthy cravings?

The obesity epidemic is no longer strictly an American problem. Statistics suggest that many populations around the world are increasingly prone to overeating and excessive weight gain.

Tick-borne meat sensitivity linked to heart disease

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have linked sensitivity to an allergen in red meat—a sensitivity spread by tick bites—with a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries of the heart. This buildup may increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke.

Researchers find combination can enhance ipilimumab immunotherapy

Using a targeted therapy to block a protein that suppresses T cell activity could improve cancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

PIM-2 protein kinase regulates T-cell activity differently than PIM-1 or PIM-3 isoform

The PIM-2 protein kinase negatively regulates T cell responses in transplantation and tumor immunity, while PIM-1 and PIM-3 are positive regulators, report Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) investigators in an article published online on May 21, 2018 by The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI). Blocking PIM-2 in allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) dramatically accelerated graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In adoptive immunotherapy with autologous T cells, silencing PIM-2 on T cells produced robust tumor immunity, highlighting the importance of PIM-specific inhibition.

Studies provide new insights into the role of sleep in chronic pain

The results of two studies presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) provide insight into the role of sleep in chronic pain. The first study demonstrates a predictive role of sleep problems for chronic pain1 and the second provides insight into chronic pain and sleep in adolescents.2

Obesity in childhood and adulthood shown to increase risk of knee and hip osteoarthritis

The results of a study to be presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) suggest childhood and adult obesity increase the risk of developing hip osteoarthritis (OA) and knee OA but not hand OA.

Rates of depression and anxiety may correlate with disease activity in early RA

The results of a study to be presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) suggest that rates of anxiety and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis correlate with measures of disease activity over the first year following diagnosis.

Gum disease may be a key initiator of rheumatoid arthritis related autoimmunity

The results of a study presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) demonstrates increased levels of gum disease, and disease-causing bacteria, in individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Gout in the elderly linked to higher risk of dementia

The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) suggest that gout is associated with a 17-20% higher risk of dementia in the elderly.

Study suggests siblings of people with RA are at increased risk of acute coronary syndrome

The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) demonstrate an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in siblings of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), suggesting shared susceptibility between the two diseases.

Obesity in women and current smoking in men predict lack of remission in early RA

The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) report that obesity in women and current smoking in men were the strongest predictors of not achieving remission in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) within a year.

Integrated lead discovery: An evolving toolbox

A new SLAS Discovery review article by GlaxoSmithKline researchers in the U.S. and U.K. offers an informative guide to the established and emerging tools available for early drug discovery and screening, and provides illustrative scenarios demonstrating considerations that drive decisions on choice of lead discovery tactics.

Rapid genetic testing can prevent hearing loss in newborns treated for sepsis

Sepsis is believed to be responsible for more than 1 million neonatal deaths worldwide each year. In the U.K., there are approximately 90,000 admissions to neonatal intensive care units per year. Nearly all these patients receive antibiotic therapy during their hospital stay, but babies with a specific genetic change can suffer irreversible hearing loss as a result. Now, in a collaboration between Manchester-based geneticists and a molecular diagnostics company, a rapid test for distinguishing those infants who will have this adverse reaction to the antibiotic gentamicin has been developed.

Alaska fishermen suffer high rate of health problems, according to study

Alaska salmon fishermen have a significantly higher rate of health problems than the general population, according to a new study conducted by the University of Washington School of Public Health in partnership with Alaska Sea Grant. The health issues include noise-induced hearing loss, upper extremity disorders and fatigue possibly associated with sleep apnea.

Team to study new gene associated with Parkinson's disease

A multidisciplinary team of researchers at Purdue University and the University of Bordeaux in France has received a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease to study a new gene associated with Parkinson's disease, which was linked to the disease using novel big data methodologies.

Stay healthy during World Cup

If you've got a case of World Cup fever, you might find yourself attending watch parties or even kicking around a soccer ball with friends and family over the next few weeks. However you decide to join in on the excitement, try these tips from other sporting events that our Baylor College of Medicine experts recommend to stay healthy.

Jacket for cardiorespiratory monitoring of laboratory animals

To meet their objective of offering connected devices for the physiological monitoring of laboratory animals without recourse to anesthesia or surgery, researchers from the TIMC-IMAG laboratory (CNRS / Université Grenoble Alpes / Grenoble INP / VetAgro Sup) have developed a jacket that measures rodent cardiac and respiratory activity. This patented tool soon to be released by Etisense, a TIMC-IMAG spin-off company, paves the way for enhancing the quality of research data and advancing animal welfare.

New treatment for phenylketonuria (PKU) clears brain fog

In the 1959 novella Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (and the 1968 film Charly), 32-year-old Charlie Gordon, a janitor at a New York City bakery, undergoes experimental surgery that has boosted the intelligence of a laboratory mouse, Algernon. Soon, Charlie is devouring books, asking questions, and even solving problems at work. But then Algernon dies, and in a short while Charlie returns to his normal state of intellectual dullness. But now he becomes distraught, recognizing his limitations in a way that he didn't before the surgery.

Protein analysis may reveal new cancer treatment targets

Researchers have used lab technology called mass spectrometry to study the proteins expressed by human cancer cells. The advance, which is described in a new Molecular Oncology article, allows for the quantitation of thousands of tumour proteins over the course of several hours.

Leading health organizations collaborate with industry on new initiative to combat growing diabetes

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) today announced the start of a new multi-year collaborative initiative supported by founding sponsors Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), and Novo Nordisk. The initiative's goal is to help people with type 2 diabetes reduce their risk of disability and death due to cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. Additional support for the initiative is provided by national sponsor Sanofi.

New treatment lenebasum shows promise for diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc)

The results of an open label extension of a phase II study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) demonstrate that lenabasum continues to have acceptable safety and tolerability in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) with no severe or serious adverse events (AE).

Zoledronic acid has no effect on knee pain or bone marrow lesions in knee OA after two years

The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) show that a one-yearly infusion of zoledronic acid (ZA) did not significantly reduce knee pain or bone marrow lesion (BML) size overall in knee osteoarthritis patients over two years. However, it may have symptomatic benefit in milder disease.

Canakinumab shown to reduce rates of gout in atherosclerosis by more than half

The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) demonstrate that canakinumab significantly reduced the rate of gout by more than half compared to placebo, regardless of baseline serum urate level.

Early, intensive treatment of RA offers long-term benefits, may normalise mortality rates

The results of a 23-year, follow-up study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) suggest early, intensive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has long-term benefits including the normalisation of mortality to levels consistent with the general population.

American Academy of Ophthalmology reiterates long-standing guidance on LASIK education

The American Academy of Ophthalmology, the world's leading professional association of eye physicians and surgeons, today reiterated its long-standing guidance for patients considering LASIK vision correction surgery.

More than 4 million eggs recalled in Poland

Poland's veterinary service on Friday recalled some 4.3 million eggs contaminated with an antibiotic, just days after Dutch eggs were pulled from supermarket shelves in Germany.

Biology news

From metabolism to function—the extreme structural adaptations of photoreceptors

One of the most puzzling aspects of cancer is how cells inevitably manage to reactivate precisely those few genes that can turn them into tumors. One example, discussed at length here yesterday, is the restoration of telomerase or alternative telmore repair enzymes that enable indefinite chromsome replication. Another example is the emergency drafting of backup hexokinases to kick off supplementary glycolysis.

eDNA analysis—a key to uncovering rare marine species

The days of searching the oceans around the world to find and study rare and endangered marine animals are not over. However, an emerging tool that can be used with just a sample of seawater may help scientists learn more about rare marine life than ever before. According to Ellen Pikitch, Ph.D., of Stony Brook University's School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), this 21st Century tool that holds such promise is eDNA analysis. Her explanation was published in a perspectives piece on June 15 in Science.

Flatworms found to win most battles with harvestmen

A trio of researchers with Universidade de São Paulo has documented evidence of flatworms and harvestmen engaging in battle in the forests of Brazil. In their paper published in the Journal of Zoology, M. S. Silva. R. H. Willemart and F. Carbayo describe what they observed in the wild and what they saw when they brought samples of the combatants into their lab.

Critical plant gene takes unexpected detour that could boost biofuel yields

For decades, biologists have believed a key enzyme in plants had one function—produce amino acids, which are vital to plant survival and also essential to human diets.

Strategic strikes by mantis shrimp smash shells selectively

For a tiny crustacean, Caribbean rock mantis shrimp (Neogonodactylus bredini) pack a ferocious punch. Bludgeoning the shells of snails and other crustaceans to gain access to the tasty snail within, mantis shrimp flick their cudgel-like claws at accelerations approaching those of a bullet exiting a gun. Yet, Rachel Crane from Stanford University, USA, explains that the ballistic shrimp is the odd one out in the world of snail and crustacean demolishers: 'Animals like crabs and fish slowly crush shells'. However, despite the wealth of high-speed information about the mantis shrimp's pulverising attacks, little was known about their overall strategies. Would the smashing crustaceans strike shells haphazardly or would they precisely pinpoint their assaults? And could they change their plan of attack if thwarted? Intrigued, Crane and her PI, Sheila Patek from Duke University, USA, began investigating the feisty creatures' striking strategy and discovered that they specifically strike the most fragile regions of the shell. They published the discovery in Journal of Experimental Biology.

Mexico jaguar population grows 20% in eight years

Mexico's population of wild jaguars has grown 20 percent in the past eight years, according to a study released Thursday, a bit of good news for an iconic species whose numbers have been declining.

Rescued seahorse released into the wild in Florida

Swim free, Frito the tiny seahorse.

Researchers unlock how seaweed is digested

Cattle on the Prairies are hundreds of kilometres from the coast and yet it's possible that seaweed could make its way into their diet as an additive.

Fish suffer stage fright?

Archerfish, famed for their ability to hunt prey by shooting them down with jets of water, seem to suffer social inhibition, according to new research led by the University of St Andrews.

Researchers study lanternfly's potential to harm grapevines

The spotted lanternfly is starting to sour the grape and wine industries in southeastern Pennsylvania, and research underway in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences aims to spoil the invasive pest's party.

Warming oceans will affect sharks' brains

Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change will not only be felt by smaller organisms like coral, but will also impact apex predators, according to new research.

Researchers use metagenomics to discover thousands of new marine microorganisms

While many students spend their spring break on a cruise ship, Elaina Graham chose a different kind of get-away. There was no swimming pool. No steel drum band. No all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, her month-long voyage across the Atlantic was riddled with bacteria.

To avoid humans, more wildlife now work the night shift

For their first 100 million years on planet Earth, our mammal ancestors relied on the cover of darkness to escape their dinosaur predators and competitors. Only after the meteor-induced mass extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago could these nocturnal mammals explore the many wondrous opportunities available in the light of day.

Researchers describe abundant marine life at the 'White Shark Café'

In May 2018, an interdisciplinary group of researchers from Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, MBARI, the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI), and other organizations conducted a month-long research cruise to the "White Shark Café." Half way between California and Hawaii, this remote part of the Pacific Ocean is a gathering area for white sharks, and the researchers were trying to find out why.

Primates in peril

Primates are fascinating. They are intelligent, live in complex societies and are a vital part of the ecosystem. Lemurs, lorises, galagos, tarsiers, monkeys and apes are our closest biological relatives and just like them, humans are also primates. However, while the human population spread to all corners of the earth, many of our closest relatives are under serious threat.

Fat and carb combo creates stronger food craving

When fat and carbohydrates are combined in a single food they are more rewarding, calorie for calorie, than foods with either energy source alone, a Yale-led study published June 14 in the journal Cell Metabolism shows.


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