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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 30, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Space station reports 'leak', crew not in dangerThe International Space Station crew on Thursday was repairing a small "leak" most likely caused by a collision with a small meteorite, the head of the Russian space agency said, adding the incident presented no danger. |
 | Researchers find solar eruptions may not have slinky-like shapes after allAs the saying goes, everything old is new again. While the common phrase often refers to fashion, design, or technology, scientists at the University of New Hampshire have found there is some truth to this mantra even when it comes to research. Revisiting some older data, the researchers discovered new information about the shape of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – large-scale eruptions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun – that could one day help protect satellites in space as well as the electrical grid on Earth. |
 | Image: ESA propulsion laboratory's water hammer test benchPart of ESA's Propulsion Laboratory, this Water Hammer Test Bench simulates the vital moment early in a satellite's life when propellant is first pumped through its propulsion system. |
 | Researcher reports new information about black holesNew research by College of Charleston physics and astronomy professor Chris Fragile may help scientists discover more about intermediate mass black holes and the activities surrounding them. |
 | The satellite on the edge of spaceGOCE (pronounced go-chay), the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer, was one of ESA's most remarkable missions. Operating in the lowest-ever orbit of any Earth observation satellite, GOCE was on the edge of space; flying at an altitude of just 224 km. |
 | Small air leak in Russian capsule patched at space stationAstronauts scrambled Thursday to patch a tiny hole in a Russian capsule that was allowing air to leak from the International Space Station. |
Technology news
 | Future construction team: As robots move, they work on single-piece structureThe construction industry of the future will increasingly turn to 3D printing, as researchers go from strength to strength in devising printing systems suited for building structures. The latest buzz looks at what a Singapore team has accomplished, in showing moving robots at work. |
 | Model improves prediction of mortality risk in ICU patientsIn intensive care units, where patients come in with a wide range of health conditions, triaging relies heavily on clinical judgment. ICU staff run numerous physiological tests, such as bloodwork and checking vital signs, to determine if patients are at immediate risk of dying if not treated aggressively. |
 | Neural network learns speech patterns that predict depression in clinical interviewsTo diagnose depression, clinicians interview patients, asking specific questions—about, say, past mental illnesses, lifestyle, and mood—and identify the condition based on the patient's responses. |
 | Dual-layer solar cell sets record for efficiently generating powerMaterials scientists from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have developed a highly efficient thin-film solar cell that generates more energy from sunlight than typical solar panels, thanks to its double-layer design. |
 | Useful or creepy? Machines suggest Gmail repliesGoogle is toeing the line between helping you save time and creeping you out as it turns to machines to suggest email replies on your behalf. |
Robot butlers are coming to this downtown hotel. Is Miami ready for robo-room service?Welcome to the 21st century, where a request for extra towels in your hotel room may be answered by a roughly 4-foot-high purple robot on wheels. | |
 | S. Korea police raid BMW office over car firesSouth Korean police raided German carmaker BMW's Seoul headquarters Thursday in connection with dozens of engine fires. |
Vacuum maker Dyson plans expansion for UK electric car siteDyson, the British company best known for its ground-breaking vacuum cleaners, said Thursday that it plans to build auto test tracks as it expands electric vehicle development at a former Royal Air Force airfield. | |
 | Swedish study notes surge in automated Twitter accountsA Swedish government study says there's been a recent surge in the number of automated Twitter accounts ahead of the Sept. 9 election, noting that 40 percent of them are more likely to support the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party, expected to make gains. |
 | Top trends at Berlin's IFA tech fairEurope's biggest tech fair, Berlin's IFA, opens its doors Friday with a flood of new product launches. Here are some of the top trends making waves along the aisles: |
 | Using deep-learning techniques to locate potential human activities in videosWhen a police officer begins to raise a hand in traffic, human drivers realize that the officer is about to signal them to stop. But computers find it harder to work out people's next likely actions based on their current behavior. Now, a team of A*STAR researchers and colleagues has developed a detector that can successfully pick out where human actions will occur in videos, in almost real-time. |
 | Are we ready for the digital tsunami?How do we prepare for and manage what's known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution? |
 | New solar cells offer you the chance to print out solar panels and stick them on your roofAustralia's first commercial installation of printed solar cells, made using specialised semiconducting inks and printed using a conventional reel-to-reel printer, has been installed on a factory roof in Newcastle. |
 | Novel architecture boosts energy and spectrum efficiency for Internet of Things wireless communicationThe collection of data that will benefit societies relies on the wireless connections of billions of low-cost battery-powered sensors. An EU initiative has developed a novel architecture that combines energy and spectrum efficiency for Internet of Things (IoT) wireless communication. |
 | The energy industry is being disrupted – and traditional firms can't keep upThe electricity sector is experiencing a profound disruptive shock. This is due to technological innovation including the falling costs of renewables and energy storage, along with tougher environmental policies and regulatory reform. |
 | Tough nuts, cracked in a smart wayWelding, printing, crushing concrete – an Empa team monitors noisy processes with the help of artificial intelligence. This way you can literally hear production errors and imminent accidents. |
 | Microsoft to contractors: Give new parents paid leaveMicrosoft will begin requiring its contractors to offer their U.S. employees paid leave to care for a new child. |
 | What teenagers need to know about cybersecurityNow that school is back in session, many high schoolers have new phones, new computers and new privileges for using their devices – and new responsibilities too. High schoolers today are more technology-savvy than average adults. While many people think that young people use their devices primarily for video games and social networking, the reality today is that high schoolers use technology for learning as much as for entertainment. |
 | Apple expected to unveil new iPhones at September 12 eventApple on Thursday sent out invitations to a September 12 event at which it is expected to unveil new additions to its money-making iPhone line-up. |
Hack causes major apps to show anti-Semitic nameTechnology users got a surprise Thursday morning when their social and lifestyle apps seemingly labeled the United States' most populous city with an anti-Semitic header. | |
 | Twitter to verify those behind hot-button US issue adsTwitter on Thursday started requiring those behind hot-button issue ads in the US to be vetted as part of the effort by the social network to thwart stealth campaigns aimed at influencing politics. |
Hackers? No, human error plagues Arizona primary votingFor all the worries about Russian hackers and other cyber-vandals, voting problems this week in Arizona served as a reminder that one of the biggest threats to fair elections is plain old human error. | |
 | Panasonic to move UK headquarters on Brexit fearsPanasonic plans to move its European headquarters from Britain to the Netherlands later this year over concerns about potential tax issues related to Brexit, a company spokeswoman said Thursday. |
 | Air raid warning tech gives Syrians life-saving minutesKhaled al-Idlibi was still speeding away with his brother perched on the back of his motorbike when he heard the air strike that levelled his neighbours' house in northwest Syria. |
 | TPG Telecom and Vodafone Hutchison Australia in $11 bn mergerVodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG Telecom announced plans Thursday to merge into a Aus$15 billion (US$11 billion) unit to take on key rivals Telstra and Optus as competition heats up in the telecommunications sector. |
 | Trump idea on regulating Google 'unfathomable'His attacks on Google drew headlines, but President Donald Trump would face an impossible task if his administration tried to regulate the leading internet search engine and its news results. |
 | Nigeria orders S.Africa's MTN to refund $8.13 blnNigeria's central bank has ordered South African telecoms giant MTN to refund $8.13 billion (6.96 billion euros) that it allegedly illegally repatriated and fined four banks involved in the transfer. |
 | Ryanair recognises cabin crew union in IrelandRyanair said Thursday it has agreed to recognise Ireland-based cabin crew who have union membership, stepping up a drawn-out process to improve workers' conditions and avert strikes. |
 | Small city grants can help tiny tech companies buy time to growA city program that recently handed out money to tech groups would hardly make an impact on most companies' budgets, with the highest award being $10,000. |
 | Qatar World Cup workers given 'cooling vests' to combat heatThousands of World Cup stadium workers in Qatar have been handed "cooling vests" to help them cope with building tournament venues in the desert country's extreme temperatures. |
 | Senior Republican calls for reopening of Google probeA senior Republican senator on Thursday urged US regulators to reopen an antitrust investigation into Google, citing "important developments" since the review was closed in 2013. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Changes in breakfast and dinner timings can reduce body fatModest changes to breakfast and dinner times can reduce body fat, a new pilot study in the Journal of Nutritional Sciences reports. |
 | Great minds may think alike, but all minds look alikeThe brain is a complex network containing many billions of neurons. Each neuron is connected to thousands of others via links (synapses) which can be strong or weak. A strong link indicates a significant influence between connecting neurons unlike a weak link, which could be tens of thousands of times weaker than a strong one. |
 | CRISPR halts Duchenne muscular dystrophy progression in dogsScientists for the first time have used CRISPR gene editing to halt the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in a large mammal, according to a study by UT Southwestern that provides a strong indication that a lifesaving treatment may be in the pipeline. |
 | Simple test detects disease-carrying mosquitoes, presence of biopesticideA new diagnostic tool has been developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin that can easily, quickly and cheaply identify whether a mosquito belongs to the species that carries dangerous diseases such as Zika virus, dengue, chikungunya or yellow fever. It can also determine whether the bug has come into contact with a mosquito-control strategy known as Wolbachia. |
 | Structure of tau filaments in patients with Pick's disease determinedA team of researchers with the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the U.K. and Indiana University School of Medicine in the U.S. has determined the structure of tau filaments in patients with Pick's disease. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes the technique and technology they used to discover the shape of the folds in the brain and what they found. |
 | Polio is not going away without a fight – it's vital we step up our defencesThe global initiative to eradicate polio has been extraordinarily successful. |
 | When neurons turn against themselvesRasmussen's encephalitis is a rare autoimmune disease that primarily affects children and can lead to seizures. As the disease is resistant to drug treatments, it frequently requires surgical interventions to remove or disconnect the affected part of the brain. |
 | New pathway in body's immune response uncoveredA new understanding of one of the body's immune defence mechanisms could lead to the development of novel therapeutic targets for conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases, a University of Queensland study has revealed. |
 | Children's bone cancers could remain hidden for years before diagnosisScientists have discovered that some childhood bone cancers start growing years before they are currently diagnosed. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Canada discovered large-scale genetic rearrangements in Ewing Sarcomas and other children's cancers, and showed these can take years to form in bone or soft tissue. This study will help unravel the causes of childhood cancers and raises the possibility of finding ways to diagnose and treat these cancers earlier in the future. |
 | Predicting how splicing errors impact disease riskNo one knows how many times in a day, or even an hour, the trillions of cells in our body need to make proteins. But we do know that it's going on all the time, on a massive scale. We also know that every time this happens, an editing process takes place in the cell nucleus. Called RNA splicing, it makes sure that the RNA "instructions" sent to cellular protein factories correspond precisely with the blueprint encoded in our genes. |
 | Inhibiting NF-kB improves heart function in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophyDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating genetic disease that impairs cardiac and skeletal muscle development. People with DMD gradually lose ambulation in childhood, acquire respiratory and heart failure in young adulthood and succumb to the disease by their mid-thirties. Until recently, there has been no effective treatment for the characteristic muscle-wasting progression of this disease. Provisional FDA approval of the first DMD therapy (eteplirsen) and improved disease management strategies have extended the life span of DMD patients and expanded the field of DMD research into later-stage outcomes such as cardiomyopathy (heart failure). |
 | Mechanism of Marburg virus sexual transmission identified in nonhuman primatesResearch published today by a team of Army scientists sheds light on the mechanism of sexual transmission of filoviruses, including Ebola and Marburg virus, which have been shown to persist in the testes and other immune privileged sites. Their work appears online in the journal Cell Host and Microbe. |
 | Genetic susceptibility to lower vitamin D levels and calcium intake not linked to fractureHaving a genetic predisposition to lower vitamin D levels and calcium intake is not associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture, conclude researchers in The BMJ today. |
 | UK mulls ban on sale of energy drinks to kidsBritain's government launched a public consultation Thursday over plans to ban the sale of energy drinks to young people, as it grapples with some of Western Europe's worst child obesity rates. |
Financial disclosure lacking in publication of clinical trialsA substantial proportion of pharmaceutical industry payments to authors of oncology clinical trials published in major scientific journals are not disclosed, new research shows. The publications focused on clinical trials that tested new cancer drugs. | |
 | Mom's use of opioids in pregnancy may stunt kids' learningLearning disabilities and other special education needs are common in children born with opioid-related symptoms from their mother's drug use while pregnant, according to the first big U.S. study to examine potential long-term problems in these infants. |
 | How damaging immune cells develop during tuberculosisInsights into how harmful white blood cells form during tuberculosis infection point to novel targets for pharmacological interventions, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Valentina Guerrini and Maria Laura Gennaro of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, and colleagues. |
 | Study illustrates challenges of lowering tetanus mortalityThe overall mortality in patients suffering non-neonatal tetanus is high. Efforts to reduce mortality in one sub-Saharan African intensive care unit (ICU) by implementing a standard tetanus protocol did little to change mortality rates, although they shifted causes of deaths, researchers have now reported in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. |
 | Requiring insurers to cover retail pharmacy vaccinations for adult Californians could save lives, study findsRequiring health insurers to pay for adult vaccinations given at retail pharmacies could help prevent the spread of deadly communicable diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal infection and human papillomavirus, according to a new study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. |
 | Recent measles case in Santa Monica sheds light on risk of outbreakThe recent news about an international tourist with measles who visited Santa Monica raised anew concerns about the potential for an outbreak of the disease, which has been all but eradicated in the United States. |
 | Using 3-D printers to create medical imaging phantomsPurdue University researchers have devised a way to use 3-D printers to ensure that medical imaging techniques offer the best performance. |
 | Children suffering from tics helped by both group and individual therapyAround 15 percent of all children have tics, and up to one percent of these children have tics that are classified as chronic. In the case of Tourette's syndrome, tics continue for more than a year and include both vocal and motor tics. This disorder can be debilitating for a child, according to Danish researcher Judith Becker Nissen. |
 | Ultralaser treatment for fibromyalgia yields 75 percent pain reduction when applied to the handsA new device that combines low-intensity laser light and therapeutic ultrasound considerably reduces the pain experienced by patients with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease that involves widespread nonarticular high-intensity pain lasting longer than three months. It affects 3 percent to 10 percent of the adult population, with a higher prevalence in women. Although patients experience pain in practically the entire body, they do not present with injuries, inflammation or tissue degeneration. Its cause is unknown, and no cure has been found so far. |
 | Unique mechanism of action inhibiting paracellular phosphate absorptionArdelyx, Inc. today announced that the novel mechanism of action for tenapanor for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia, or elevated serum phosphorus, has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Translational Medicine. Tenapanor is a sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) inhibitor currently being evaluated in a second Phase 3 registration trial, the PHREEDOM trial, for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on dialysis. The paper, titled "Inhibition of sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 in the gastrointestinal tract by tenapanor reduces paracellular phosphate permeability," can be accessed in the current online edition of the publication. |
 | Presynapses come in a packet—scientists identify the components and architecture of neuronal contact sitesSynapses are the interfaces for information exchange between neurons. A German research collaborative now reports on the materials that form new presynapses for the release of neurotransmitters. The findings may help to design better nerve-regenerating therapies in the future. |
 | Is your kid glued to his phone? It may be key way to deal with chaotic worldParents might shake their heads at their kids huddled in the corner of a restaurant booth, playing Fortnite on their tablets. But actually, the kid might be creating a comfortable space in a chaotic world that he or she is not yet prepared to manage. |
 | Hip fracture patients leaving hospital need osteoporosis planPatients leaving hospital after a hip fracture should be given an osteoporosis plan as a priority, says the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry, based at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA). |
 | New personality test is faster, tougher to trickPsychology researchers have developed a new personality test that is both faster to take and much harder to manipulate by those attempting to control the outcome. |
 | Building new tools to study the epigenomeResearchers know that the epigenome plays a key role in how DNA is expressed, and have linked changes in the epigenome to a wide variety of health problems – from cancers to autoimmune disorders. But not only is there a lot we still don't know about the epigenome, we don't even have the tools to find out. |
 | Assay combines microfluidics and next-generation sequencing to reveal more mutations than existing testsA new diagnostic test developed at A*STAR is helping researchers around the world identify gene mutations that put people at risk of severe eczema and other chronic skin diseases. |
 | Clarifying the role of a protein released by immune 'dendritic' cells could yield better treatmentsInflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which afflicts millions of people worldwide, arises when the immune system mounts an overly aggressive response against microorganisms, dietary substances, or cells of the gut. A*STAR researchers have identified specific cells and molecular signals that maintain appropriate immune activity, and that may be disrupted when IBD develops. The insights open possibilities for new treatments to combat IBD. |
 | As the keto diet gains popularity, scientists explain what we do and don't knowAs Silicon Valley trendsetters, famous actors, and online health sites tout the low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic, or "keto," diet, scientists are working to study it – from how it impacts inflammation in the brain to its effects on weight and heart health, as well as any other potential health risks. |
 | Tailored drug cocktails offer hope to kids with aggressive brain tumorsUCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals are harnessing next-generation genomic technology to develop individualized drug cocktails in a new trial for children with a type of malignant brain tumor. This precision-medicine approach offers a new strategy in the treatment for high-grade glioma, an intractable brain cancer in which survival has plateaued for decades. |
 | Surgery often sufficient to avoid recurrence in colon cancerA new study from Uppsala University shows that many patients with colon cancer do not need any chemotherapy and that among patients who benefit from chemotherapy it does not have to be as intense for everyone. |
 | How scientists developed a breakthrough drug for multiple sclerosisImagine waking up to a world that blurs in front of you. Heading to the kitchen for breakfast, you're hit with a wave of exhaustion, and your arms and legs feel like lead. This is the reality for the more than 400,000 people living with multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most common neurological conditions in the United States. MS causes progressive nerve and brain damage as the body attacks the protective covering around each of its own nerve cells (called the myelin sheath). It causes vision loss, weakness and numbness in legs, and eventual disability. There are two types: relapsing-remitting and primary-progressive. In relapsing-remitting MS (the more common form), patients experience episodes of symptoms, followed by periods of recovery. In primary-progressive MS, there are no periods of relapse and the patient's condition steadily declines. |
 | The connecting power of TwitterTwitter, often discounted for its brevity and superficiality, is offering people with traumatic brain injuries powerful new ways to communicate, connect and enjoy everyday life. It's all part of a technological shift that's turning traditional speech pathology on its head. |
 | Sex, technology and disability – it's complicatedPeople living with disability are largely excluded from conversations about sexuality, and face overlapping barriers to sexual expression that are both social and physical. |
 | The God of small thingsNew research suggests people who are religious gain happiness from believing there is a deeper meaning to everyday events. |
 | Better assessments for early age-related macular degenerationThe European MACUSTAR consortium is conducting a multi-country clinical study on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) coordinated by the University of Bonn. The clinical study focuses on the intermediate stage of the disease, in which a person's vision under low-light and low-contrast conditions is impaired. Throughout Europe, a total of 20 study centers will recruit and follow-up with 750 patients. The study rationale and protocol has recently been published in the journal Ophthalmologica. |
 | Potential drug to cure ciliopathiesCiliopathies are rare disorders involving functional and structural abnormalities of cilia. Although they are rare, they may reach 1 in 1,000 births. Unfortunately, there are no small-molecule drugs for treating ciliary defects. A KAIST research team conducted successful research that introduces a potential treatment that will be a foundation for developing drugs to treat the disease as well as a platform for developing small-molecule drugs for similar genetic disorders. |
 | Brain implant could stop epilepsy seizuresFor many people who suffer from neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, there are no viable treatment options. In our latest research, we developed an implantable device that may one day offer relief. We show that the implant can treat problems in the brain, such as epileptic seizures, by delivering brain chemicals – known as neurotransmitters – directly to the cells in the brain that cause the problem. |
 | Study shows how our brain and personality provide protection against emotional distressIf you feel anxious prior to exams, take note: studies suggest that you can learn how to be resilient and manage your stress and anxiety. |
 | UVA developing 'two-headed arrow' to kill ovarian cancerA University of Virginia School of Medicine researcher is developing a two-fisted, antibody-based approach to destroy deadly ovarian cancer—an approach he believes could also be modified to kill breast, prostate and other solid tumors. |
Amazonian fruit prevents obesity in overfed miceAn extract of camu camu—a fruit native to the Amazon—prevents obesity in mice fed a diet rich in sugar and fat, say researchers at Université Laval and the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute Research Centre. The discovery, which was recently published in the scientific journal Gut, suggests that camu camu phytochemicals could play a leading role in the fight against obesity and metabolic disease. | |
 | Discovery suggests which thyroid cancer patients may need more aggressive treatmentResearch from the University of Alberta is prompting doctors to re-examine how they treat patients with thyroid cancer in Alberta. |
 | First in-home test of brain-computer communication by ALS patients offers promise amidst challengesLaboratory studies have shown the potential for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), who cannot move or speak, to communicate using a brain-computer interface (BCI). In the first study of independent in-home use by a group of these patients, the brain wave-based BCI system was found to be reliable; and of the eight individuals who completed the study, seven chose to keep the device for future use. |
 | Belly fat is the most dangerous, but losing it from anywhere helpsExcess storage of fat is linked to many different chronic diseases. But some areas of fat storage on the body are worse than others. |
 | Vitamin D—a pseudo-vitamin for a pseudo-diseaseWe are still in love with vitamins a century after they were discovered, with half the US and UK population taking a supplement. Vitamin D – the sunshine vitamin – is the favourite and is believed to have the most proven benefits. Governments, including the UK government, have said that the evidence for vitamin D's health benefits is so overwhelming that every adult should take it as a supplement for at least six months of the year. |
 | What type of relationship should I have with my co-parent now we're divorced?When talking about separation and divorce, media and personal stories often focus on relationships characterised by ongoing conflict or violence. In contrast, Australian research suggests low conflict or cooperative post-separation relationships are common. |
 | Know what to say when postpartum depression hits a loved oneGwyneth Paltrow, Chrissy Teigen, Adele: The charge to destigmatize postpartum depression has never before had so many high-profile sufferers willing to share their stories. |
 | Can the blind really hear better?The human brain is extremely plastic, especially the visual processing centre. The function of the newly organised brain area in blindness is still a topic of intense debate. |
Obstructive sleep apnea linked with higher risk of goutNew research reveals that people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a higher risk of developing gout, even beyond the first years after being diagnosed with the sleep disorder. The findings are published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology. | |
 | Stigmatizing views and myths about psoriasis are pervasive in the USThe stigma associated with the autoimmune disease psoriasis may lead people to avoid patients who show signs of the condition, including not wanting to date, shake hands, or have people in their homes if they suffer from the disease. New multidisciplinary research involving both psychologists and dermatologists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is the first to examine how common this stigma may be among the general population of the United States as well as among medical students. The study also found false perceptions about psoriasis continue to persist, including the belief that psoriasis is contagious and that it is not a serious illness. Researchers published their findings in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology today. |
 | Delay eating breakfast and eat dinner early if you want to lose body fat – new studyTime-restricted eating (also called time-restricted feeding) is a new dietary concept that involves reducing the time between the first and last calorie consumed each day. There is strong evidence to support the health benefits of time-restricted eating (TRE) in animals, and recent small studies by our research group and others suggest possible benefits for humans, too. |
 | Anorexia more stubborn to treat than previously believed, analysis showsAnorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness that primarily effects young people during their adolescence. While anorexia is relatively uncommon, affecting about 1 percent of the population, it can be lethal. Indeed, despite its relatively early onset, anorexia can last for several decades for more than half of those afflicted. It can lead to many associated psychiatric and medical risk factors, which in part explains why anorexia has the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder. |
 | Wording used may affect thyroid cancer patients' anxiety, choices(HealthDay)—The terminology used to describe small papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs) may affect patients' anxiety levels and treatment choices, according to a study published online Aug. 23 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. |
 | Pediatricians make change to child car seat guidelines(HealthDay)—Kids should ride in rear-facing car safety seats until they reach the highest height and weight their seat can hold, a leading pediatricians' group now says. |
 | Low back pain? These exercises may help(HealthDay)—Low back pain is a common health complaint. And if it sidelines you for too long, it can lead to weight gain, a loss in your fitness level and keep you from doing things you love. |
 | Emicizumab prophylaxis cuts bleeding in hemophilia A(HealthDay)—For patients with hemophilia A without factor VIII inhibitors, emicizumab prophylaxis leads to a significantly reduced bleeding rate, according to a study published in the Aug. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Label mix-up spurs recall of accord blood pressure meds(HealthDay)—One lot of high blood pressure medication is being recalled after a labeling mix-up, Accord Healthcare Inc. has announced. |
 | Pfizer recalls a type of children's liquid advil(HealthDay)—One lot of 4-ounce bottles of Children's Advil Suspension Bubble Gum Flavored is being recalled because a packaging problem could lead to an overdose, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare says. |
 | CDC: Salmonella outbreak in 4 states linked to kosher chicken(HealthDay)—One person has died and 16 others sickened in a four-state Salmonella outbreak linked to kosher chicken, U.S. health officials say. |
 | Class-action suit takes aim at Big Pharma over babies exposed to opioidsA Philadelphia law firm has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against a number of opioid manufacturers, alleging that they are responsible for the medical needs of babies exposed to opioids before birth. |
 | Friending God increases purpose in life in the socially disconnectedReligious people who lack friends and purpose in life turn to God to fill those voids, according to new University of Michigan research. |
 | Researchers identify a potential new approach to treat HER2 positive breast cancerResearchers at Mayo Clinic have identified an important new pathway by which HER2 positive breast cancers grow and have discovered that a dietary supplement called cyclocreatine may block the growth of HER2 positive breast cancer. Their findings were published today in Cell Metabolism. |
 | Insulin gives an extra boost to the immune systemThe role of insulin as a boost to the immune system to improve its ability to fight infection has been detailed for the first time by Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (TGHRI) scientists. |
Selling access to human specimens: Survey reveals public attitudesThe almost 5 million people who paid to get their DNA analyzed by the company 23andMe recently found out that their genetic data and related health information might have been sold to a major drug company. | |
 | FDA warns of common diabetes meds' link to dangerous genital infection(HealthDay)—Rare but serious genital infections, as well as one death, have been reported in some patients taking a certain class of type 2 diabetes medicine, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. |
 | Why more Americans are kicking the smoking habitMore and more Americans are putting out their cigarettes—for good. |
 | Peer support may cut acute psychiatric care readmissions(HealthDay)—A self-management intervention facilitated by peer support workers may reduce the rate of readmissions to acute care for people discharged from mental health crisis resolution teams, according to a study published in the Aug. 4 issue of The Lancet. |
 | No meaningful increase in physician compensation last year(HealthDay)—There was no meaningful increase in physician compensation in 2017, and a decline in productivity was noted, according to the results of a survey conducted by AMGA Consulting. |
 | MICs of isoniazid, rifampin may predict tuberculosis relapse(HealthDay)—In pretreatment isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, higher minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of isoniazid and rifampin below the standard resistance breakpoint are associated with increased risk of relapse, according to a study published in the Aug. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Partial oral abx non-inferior in endocarditis on left side of heart(HealthDay)—Changing from intravenous to oral antibiotic treatment is non-inferior to continued intravenous antibiotic treatment among patients with endocarditis on the left side of the heart, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2018, held from Aug. 25 to 29 in Munich. |
 | Radn Tx alone may be adequate for stage I anal cancer in elderly(HealthDay)—For older patients with stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, radiation alone is associated with outcomes that do not differ significantly from those of chemoradiation, according to research published in the July issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum. |
 | Novel intervention halves rate of death among people living with HIV who inject drugsAn intervention designed to facilitate treatment for HIV and substance use was associated with a 50 percent reduction in mortality for people living with HIV who inject illicit drugs, a study has found. In addition, the people who received the intervention were nearly twice as likely to report being in treatment for HIV and substance use after one year as those who received their national standard of care. They also were about twice as likely to have suppressed their HIV to undetectable levels after one year. The intervention consisted of psychosocial counseling along with guidance and support navigating the healthcare system. These findings were reported today in the journal The Lancet. |
 | Guidance for preventing C. difficile in neonatal intensive careNewborns require special diagnosis and treatment considerations for an infectious diarrhea known as Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection, according to a new evidence-based white paper published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The publication is in conjunction with the release of a companion review by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) and recommends against routine testing for C. difficile in neonatal patients and suggests evaluating first for more common causes of diarrhea. |
 | New survey reveals 57 percent of Americans have been surprised by a medical billFifty-seven percent of American adults have been surprised by a medical bill that they thought would have been covered by insurance, according to a new AmeriSpeak survey from NORC at the University of Chicago. Respondents indicated that 20% of their surprise bills were a result of a doctor not being part of the network. |
 | Pushing big data to rapidly advance patient careThe breakneck pace of biomedical discovery is outstripping clinicians' ability to incorporate this new knowledge into practice. |
 | Presence of new or worsened bedsores tied to poorer outcomes in inpatient rehab facilitiesA new study from the University at Buffalo has shown that the presence of new or worsened bedsores is an effective indicator of the quality of care for rehab patients. |
 | Model based on liquid biopsies may predict time to progression in colorectal cancerAn evolutionary model utilizing serial blood samples from patients with advanced colorectal cancer treated with anti-EGFR therapies in a phase II trial could predict personalized waiting time for progression. |
New Illinois law allows medical marijuana pain prescriptionsDoctors in Illinois can now prescribe marijuana as a painkiller thanks to a new law intended to counter a growing opioid abuse epidemic. | |
 | Old foe, cholera, returns to haunt AlgeriaOutside a hospital in Algeria, worried relatives arrive daily in a desperate bid to talk to those quarantined inside—the victims of the country's first cholera outbreak in more than 20 years. |
 | Tracing the sudden, dangerous rise of ZikaThe Zika virus (ZIKV) poses a public health threat in Southeast Asia, and domestic awareness campaigns are needed to help reduce infection potential. |
How does helping people affect your brain? Study shows neurobiological effects of giving social supportProviding "targeted" social support to other people in need activates regions of the brain involved in parental care- which may help researchers understand the positive health effects of social ties, reports a study in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine. | |
 | Cancer biology graduate student travels 'ROCKy' road toward a cure for post-radiation dry mouthThe United States is in the midst of a head-and-neck cancer epidemic. Although survival rates are relatively high—after treatment with chemotherapy and radiation—survivors can suffer permanent loss of salivary function, potentially leading to decades of health problems and difficulties eating. |
UN says 120,000 suspected cases of cholera in YemenThe United Nations says nearly 120,000 suspected cases of cholera were reported in conflict-wracked Yemen between January and mid-August and the pace has been increasing. | |
Algeria's cholera outbreak now confined to one area: ministryThe cholera outbreak that struck Algeria this month is now confined to one of six areas originally affected and the number of hospital patients is falling, the government said Thursday. | |
 | Drug-resistance of gonorrhea in the EU: persistent but stableNeisseria gonorrhoea continues to show high levels of resistance to azithromycin across the European Union and European Economic Area, according to the 2016 results of the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (Euro-GASP). This threatens the effectiveness of the currently recommended dual therapy regimen for gonorrhoea. Overall, the rates of resistance to cefixime, ceftriaxone and azithromycin have remained stable when compared to recent years. |
Biology news
 | DNA accessibility, gene expression jointly profiled in thousands of cellsScientists have now developed an assay that concurrently profiles both the epigenome and transcriptome of each of thousands of single cells. |
 | Breeder meerkats age faster, but their subordinates still die youngerIn many cooperative species, the dominant breeders live longest despite the wear-and-tear of leadership and reproduction. |
 | Time-restricted feeding improves health in mice with defective circadian clocksIt turns out timing really is everything, at least when it comes to the diets of lab mice that have their circadian clocks disrupted. A new study published in Cell Metabolism is reporting that limiting the times when the animals eat can correct obesity and other metabolic problems that are normally seen in these mice, even when they're fed an unhealthy diet. The results suggest a previously unknown link between disruption of the clock and eating behavior. |
 | Researchers are turning to deadly venoms in their quests for life-saving therapiesVenomous reptiles, bugs and marine life have notorious reputations as dangerous, sometimes life-threatening creatures. But in a paper in the current issue of Science, first author Mandë Holford, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at The Graduate Center of The City University of New York (GC/CUNY) and Hunter College, details how technology and a growing understanding of the evolution of venoms are pointing the way toward entirely new classes of drugs capable of treating diabetes, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, and other conditions. |
 | Scientists decode opium poppy genomeScientists have determined the DNA code of the opium poppy genome, uncovering key steps in how the plant evolved to produce the pharmaceutical compounds used to make vital medicines. |
 | Genomic study of 412 anthrax strains provides new virulence cluesBy analyzing genomic sequences from more than 400 strains of the bacterium that causes anthrax, researchers have provided the first evidence that the severity – technically known as virulence – of specific strains may be related to the number of copies of certain plasmids they carry. Plasmids are genetic structures of the cell that can reproduce independently, and are responsible for producing the anthrax toxin and other virulence factors. |
 | How the common fruit fly uses the sun to navigateWhat do ancient seafaring explorers and fruit flies have in common? Caltech researchers have discovered that, similar to nautical navigators of old, fruit flies use celestial cues like the sun to navigate in straight lines. |
 | Mapping trees can help count endangered lemursThe vast majority of lemur species are on the edge of extinction, experts warn. But not every lemur species faces a grim future. There may be as many as 1.3 million white-fronted brown lemurs still in the wild, for example, and mouse lemurs may number more than 2 million, a Duke-led study has shown. |
 | Biomechanics of chewing depend more on animal size, not dietChewing: We don't think about it, we just do it. But biologists don't know a lot about how chewing behavior leaves telltale signs on the underlying bones. To find out, researchers at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo have been studying the jaw joints of carnivorans, the large mammalian order that includes dogs, cats and bears. |
 | Scientists clone virus to help stop overwhelming grape diseaseA new discovery by Washington State University scientists could help grape growers roll back a devastating virus that withers vines and shrivels harvests. |
 | Rhinos and their conservation in KenyaOnce it roamed Asia and Africa in the tens of thousands. Today, the rhinoceros has been driven to near-extinction. |
 | France's ban on bee-killing pesticides begins SaturdayA ban on five neonicotinoid pesticides enters into force in France on Saturday, placing the country at the forefront of a campaign against chemicals blamed for decimating critical populations of crop-pollinating bees. |
 | Dangerous parasites worming their way through wildlifeGlobal research reveals some of the world's most damaging parasitic worm species are being spread by wildlife, not just by dogs and cats. |
 | Solitary dolphin socializes with harbour porpoise companions in the ClydeA dolphin which has lived alone in the Firth of Clyde for at least 17 years appears to have found company in local harbour porpoises. |
 | Adapt, move or die—how biodiversity reacted to past climate changeIn the past, plants and animals reacted to environmental changes by adapting, migrating or going extinct. New findings point to radical changes in biodiversity due to climate change in the future, in a paper now published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution by an international group of scientists led by the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen. |
The hidden life of rock gnome lichenThey are a natural fertilizer for the forest, great construction material for birds' nests and an important indicator of how polluted the air is. And yet scientists know very little about the genetic diversity of lichens—symbiotic life forms made up of two distinct, but interdependent organisms: fungi and algae. | |
 | Researchers develop new CRISPR/Cas process using Japanese ricefishThe molecular tool CRISPR/Cas allows introducing DNA double strand breaks into any gene of interest consequently resulting in stochastic mutations at the site of the target gene. However, precise gene repair through the application of a rescue construct suffers from limited efficiency. Researchers at Heidelberg University have now found a solution for this problem. Applying their new approach on the model organism medaka, the researchers laid the groundwork for easily integrating the repair copy of a defective gene into the DNA. As developmental biologist Prof. Dr. Joachim Wittbrodt explains, this efficient process makes precise genome editing possible in basic research, bringing the tool much closer to its application in medical treatment. The research results were published in eLife. |
 | Rainfall after drought caused explosion of cyanobacteria populationsThe first rains after a long period of drought this summer washed so much fertiliser into the surface water, including the swimming water, that cyanobacteria made the water unusable and dangerous. Researchers from Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) and Brazilian universities have shown in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology how a pulse of fertiliser causes an explosion of cyanobacteria populations. |
 | Telltale bits of DNA help track past and elusive wildlifeOn a scorching summer day, Mark Stoeckle threw a bucket into the murky waters of New York's East River to fill up three small plastic bottles. |
 | Male cockroaches that have frequent sex eat more proteinIt is well known that males across the animal kingdom love sex, but does the amount of sex they have change their desire for specific nutrients in their diet? |
 | Urgent action needed to help regent honeyeatersResearch led by the Australian National University (ANU) sheds new light on the rapid decline of the once-common regent honeyeater, offering new opportunities to help save the bird from extinction. |
 | Lessons for sustainable fisheries are hiding in plain sightSmall-scale fishers in Vietnam's Cau Hai lagoon can't easily access loans to upgrade or repair the fishing gear they urgently need. Some also want to invest in aquaculture supplies, but lack the start-up capital. |
 | Little fish, big deal – Baby sturgeon offers hope for the futureIt's less than five inches long, slimy, covered in razor-sharp spines and looks like something straight out of one of the Alien movies. But for Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and its partners in Georgia, who are working to conserve some of the last sturgeons in Europe, this diminutive ugly duckling of the fish world is a beautiful sight. |
 | Math shows how DNA twists, turns and unzipsIf you've ever seen a picture of a DNA molecule, you probably saw it in its famous B-form: two strands coiling around each other in a right-handed fashion to form a double helix. But did you know that DNA can change its shape? |
 | Terahertz wave activates filamentation of actin: A novel possibility of manipulating cellular functionsA team of researchers has discovered that terahertz (THz) wave irradiation activates the filamentation of actin protein. Drs. Shota Yamazaki and Masahiko Harata (Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University); Dr. Yuichi Ogawa (Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University); Dr. Hiromichi Hoshina (THz imaging and the sensing team at RIKEN); and Dr. Toshitaka Idehara (FIR-UF at University of Fukui) have made this important discovery, which offers a new possibility for the manipulation of cellular functions. |
 | Aspen is making a comeback in and around Yellowstone National Park, because of predatorsThe reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park is tied to the recovery of aspen in areas around the park, according to a new study. |
Crews rescue 2 distressed pygmy killer whales in FloridaBiologists are working to help two pygmy killer whales that had been found distressed in shallow waters on Florida's Gulf Coast. | |
 | How a plan to save Kenya's rhino left 11 dead in historic blunderIt was a disaster that left wildlife lovers around the globe appalled and baffled. |
 | Better semen analysis boosts pig productionEU-funded researchers have developed an innovative automated seminal quality system (SQS) to rapidly and reliably analyse semen samples and increase production and profitability of pig farms. |
 | Transcriptomics explains how 15 species of finch evolved from a single ancestorDarwin's finches show enormous diversity in beak shape and size that varies with diet. The EU-funded Finch Evo-Devo project has used genomics plus – transcriptomics – to explain how 15 species of finch evolved from a single ancestor which landed on the Galapagos Islands. |
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