Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 30, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Planet Nine could be a primordial black hole, new research suggestsThe hypothetical Planet Nine, assumed to be lurking somewhere in the outskirts of our solar system, may not be a planet at all. A new study, published September 24 on the arXiv pre-print server, suggests that the mysterious and still undiscovered object might be a primordial black hole. |
 | Growing old together: A sharper look at black holes and their host galaxiesSome relationships are written in the stars. That's definitely the case for supermassive black holes and their host galaxies, according to a new study from Yale University. |
 | Going underground in Slovenia ... to prepare for outer spaceIn Slovenia's dramatically beautiful Karst region, six astronauts have been put through their paces for future missions—not in a flashy futuristic space centre but deep underground in the area's network of cold, dark and muddy caves. |
 | Musk unveils SpaceX rocket designed to get to Mars and backElon Musk has unveiled a SpaceX spacecraft designed to carry a crew and cargo to the moon, Mars or anywhere else in the solar system and land back on Earth perpendicularly. |
 | Heating the solar coronaThe hot outer layer of the sun, the corona, has a temperature of over a million degrees Kelvin, much more than the surface temperature of the Sun which is only about 5500 degrees Kelvin. Moreover, the corona is very active and ejects a wind of charged particles at a rate equivalent to about one-millionth of the moon's mass each year. Some of these particles bombard the Earth, producing auroral glows and occasionally disrupting global communications. There are two important, longstanding, and related questions about the corona that astronomers are working to answer: how is it heated to temperatures that are so much hotter than the surface? And how does the corona produce the wind? |
 | Data from Chinese satellite shedding light on cosmic raysAn international team of researchers studying data from China's Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) has measured cosmic ray protons up to the energy of 100 TeV with high precision for the first time. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes the research they have been conducting on data received from the satellite and what they have learned thus far. |
 | Spitzer spots a starry region bursting with bubblesThis infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows a cloud of gas and dust full of bubbles, which are inflated by wind and radiation from young, massive stars. Each bubble is filled with hundreds to thousands of stars, which form from dense clouds of gas and dust. |
 | Giant telescope project in Hawaii delayed by protestsAnger is brewing on the Big Island of Hawaii over plans to build a giant telescope on a dormant volcano that is highly sacred to the region's native population. |
 | What Earth's changing climate can teach us about altering the surface of MarsIn a rare instance of environmental success, the United Nations has just announced it believes the damage to the Earth's protective ozone layer will be fully restored by the year 2050. This stands in stark contrast to the increasing alarm over the climate emergency, caused by an increasing greenhouse effect. |
 | Landsat 9 instrument ready for spacecraft assemblyThe Landsat 9 instrument that will help scientists detect deforestation, monitor crops and track potentially toxic algal blooms, among many other uses, is now built, tested, and in place to be assembled onto the spacecraft. |
Technology news
 | SwarmTouch: A tactile interaction strategy for human-swarm communicationResearchers at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) in Russia have recently introduced a new strategy to enhance interactions between humans and robotic swarms, called SwarmTouch. This strategy, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, allows a human operator to communicate with a swarm of nano-quadrotor drones and guide their formation, while receiving tactile feedback in the form of vibrations. |
 | This flat structure morphs into shape of a human face when temperature changesResearchers at MIT and elsewhere have designed 3-D printed mesh-like structures that morph from flat layers into predetermined shapes, in response to changes in ambient temperature. The new structures can transform into configurations that are more complex than what other shape-shifting materials and structures can achieve. |
 | Android 10 Go edition will bring speed, security gainsGoogle is bringing out its updated Android 10 version of Android Go. Google said, "we launched Android (Go edition) in 2018—a platform tailored for smartphones with 1.5GB of memory or less." Now Google has announced Android 10 (Go Edition), the version of Android built specifically for entry-level devices with 1.5GB RAM or less. |
 | Checkm8 iPhone exploit becomes talk of jailbreak townAn unpatchable exploit in iOS devices could lead to a permanent jailbreak in generations of phones. Dan Goodin in Ars Technica put the number at 11 generations of iPhones, from the 4S to the X. |
 | A new concept could make more environmentally friendly batteries possibleA new concept for an aluminum battery has twice the energy density as previous versions, is made of abundant materials, and could lead to reduced production costs and environmental impact. The idea has potential for large-scale applications, including storage of solar and wind energy. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and the National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia, are behind the idea. |
 | Artificial intelligence improves biomedical imagingETH researchers use artificial intelligence to improve quality of images recorded by a relatively new biomedical imaging method. This paves the way towards more accurate diagnosis and cost-effective devices. |
 | Researchers invent low-cost alternative to BitcoinThe cryptocurrency Bitcoin is limited by its astronomical electricity consumption and outsized carbon footprint. A nearly zero-energy alternative sounds too good to be true, but as School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC) Professor Rachid Guerraoui explains, it all comes down to our understanding of what makes transactions secure. |
 | Russia rolls out the red carpet for Huawei over 5GWhile the US banned Huawei for alleged espionage and asked its allies to do the same, Moscow has rolled out the red carpet for the Chinese tech company, letting it develop 5G networks in Russia. |
'Unicorns' that wowed investors face hard road on Wall StreetThe so-called "unicorns" that lured big investments and took Silicon Valley by storm are facing a chillier environment as they turn to Wall Street for fresh capital. | |
 | Boeing did not include 'key safeguards' on 737 MAX: reportBoeing left off "key safeguards" from the 737 MAX's anti-stall system that were included on an earlier version of the system used on a military tanker aircraft, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. |
 | Japan lists Fukushima radiation levels on S. Korea embassy siteJapan's embassy in South Korea has begun posting the daily radiation levels of Fukushima and Seoul after new questions about the lingering effects of the 2011 nuclear disaster. |
 | What do the next 20 years hold for artificial intelligence?Yolanda Gil, president of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), discusses what it will take to move AI forward without moving safety backward. |
 | We street-proof our kids. Why aren't we data-proofing them?Google recently agreed to pay a US$170 million fine for illegally gathering children's personal data on YouTube without parental consent, which is a violation under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). |
 | The future of chips: SMART announces successful way to manufacture novel integrated silicon III-V chipsThe Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT's Research Enterprise in Singapore, has announced the successful development of a commercially viable way to manufacture integrated Silicon III-V Chips with high-performance III-V devices inserted into their design. |
 | German power giant RWE aims for zero carbon by 2040German energy giant RWE said Monday it aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, winding up fossil-fuel activities while building up renewable generation, after taking over parts of competitor EON. |
 | No, Alexa won't stop recording youAlexa, will you stop recording and storing my queries? |
 | WeWork to withdraw IPO as it enters austerity modeWeWork, which replaced its controversial chief executive last week, announced Monday that it will withdraw a plan to go public for now as it shifts into austerity mode. |
 | Facebook to pay 'subset' of news tab publishersFacebook said Monday it plans to pay only a portion of the publishers whose stories appear in a news "tab" set to launch in the weeks ahead. |
 | Ailing French airline XL halts flights as bankruptcy loomsAiling French airline XL Airways said Monday that it had halted all flights after failing to attract any takeover offers over the weekend, heightening the likelihood of bankruptcy just days after another French airline collapsed. |
 | Cambridge Analytica whistleblower has book out next weekThe whistleblower at Cambridge Analytica, the data-mining firm linked to using social media for targeted political ads, has a book deal. |
 | Slovenia flag carrier Adria Airways files for bankruptcySlovenia's flag carrier Adria Airways announced Monday that it had filed for bankruptcy. |
 | Canada, US seek to reduce dependency on China for rare earth mineralsCanada is in talks with the United States to seek ways for both to reduce their dependance on China for rare earth elements, key minerals for high-tech products, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Mechanisms of real-time speech interpretation in the human brain revealedScientists have come a step closer to understanding how we're able to understand spoken language so rapidly, and it involves a huge and complex set of computations in the brain. |
 | Additional heart artery stenting reduces risk of future heart attacksResearch has shown that patients who have had emergency heart attack treatment with heart artery stenting—and have significant narrowings in their other untreated arteries—can benefit from additional stenting to help prevent future heart attacks. |
 | Type 2 diabetes remission possible with 'achievable' weight loss, say researchersPeople who achieve weight loss of 10% or more in the first five years following diagnosis with type 2 diabetes have the greatest chance of seeing their disease go into remission, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge. |
 | Lipid produced by organism helps control blood sugarResearchers based in Brazil, the United States and Germany have discovered that 12-HEPE, a lipid produced in response to cold by brown adipose tissue in the human body, helps reduce blood sugar. The results of their experiments with mice pave the way for new treatments for diabetes. |
 | Whole genome sequencing could enable personalised cancer treatment, study suggestsWhole genome sequencing of tumour cells could help predict the prognosis of a patient's cancer and offer clues to identify the most effective treatment, suggests an international study published today in Nature Medicine. |
 | Potent antibody curbs Nipah and Hendra virus attackA new monoclonal antibody has been shown to impede the fusion machinery henipaviruses use to merge with the membrane of cells they are attempting to breach. The antibody halts the attack by blocking membrane fusion and the injection of the viral genome into the host cell. |
 | In major meta-analysis, omega-3 fish oil supplements linked with lower cardiovascPeople who received omega-3 fish oil supplements in randomized clinical trials had lower risks of heart attack and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) events compared with those who were given placebo, according to a new meta-analysis from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Researchers found an association between daily omega-3 supplementation and reduced risk of most CVD outcomes, including heart attack, death from coronary heart disease, and death from CVD, but did not see benefit for stroke. In addition, higher doses of omega-3 fish oil supplements appeared to provide even greater risk reduction. |
 | New biofabrication method creates one scaffold to guide regeneration of multiple tissuesOrgans, muscles and bones are composed of multiple types of cells and tissues that are carefully organized to carry out a specific function. For example, kidneys are able to filter waste from the blood because of how their specialized cells and tissues are arranged. Disrupting this organization dramatically affects how cells and tissues do their job effectively. |
 | Discovered: Possible therapeutic target for slow healing of aged musclesAn age-related decline in recovery from muscle injury can be traced to a protein that suppresses the special ability of muscle stem cells to build new muscles, according to work from a team of current and former Carnegie biologists led by Chen-Ming Fan and published in Nature Metabolism. |
 | Skin-cells-turned-to-heart-cells help unravel genetic underpinnings of cardiac functionGenome-wide association studies have uncovered more than 500 genetic variants linked to heart function, everything from heart rate to irregular rhythms that can lead to stroke, heart failure or other complications. But since most of these variations fall into areas of the genome that don't encode proteins, exactly how they influence heart function has remained unclear. |
 | Researchers advance search for safer, easier way to deliver vision-saving gene therapyIn experiments with rats, pigs and monkeys, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have developed a way to deliver sight-saving gene therapy to the retina. If proved safe and effective in humans, the technique could provide a new, more permanent therapeutic option for patients with common diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and it could potentially replace defective genes in patients with inherited retinal disease. |
 | New study explains molecular mechanism of botanical folk medicines used to treat hypertensionCommon herbs, including lavender, fennel and chamomile, have a long history of use as folk medicines used to lower blood pressure. In a new study, University of California, Irvine researchers explain the molecular mechanisms that make them work. |
 | One in two patients with metastatic melanoma alive after five years with combination immunotherapyOne in two patients with metastatic melanoma is alive with combination immunotherapy, according to late breaking results of the CheckMate 067 trial presented at the ESMO Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. |
 | Combination immunotherapy drugs herald new hope for melanoma patients with long term survival ratesA combination of two immunotherapy drugs, ipilimumab and nivolumab, has stopped or reversed the progression of advanced melanoma for five years or more in one in two patients, according to a study led by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. |
 | New blood test capable of detecting multiple types of cancerA new blood test in development has shown ability to screen for numerous types of cancer with a high degree of accuracy, a trial of the test shows. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators will present the results of the multi-center trial during a session today at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2019 Congress. |
 | Keep calm and vape on: UK embraces e-cigarettes, US cautiousWhile the U.S. scrambles to crack down on vaping, Britain has embraced electronic cigarettes as a powerful tool to help smokers kick the habit. |
 | Cases of legionnaires' disease tied to NC state fair rise to 25(HealthDay)—The number of cases of Legionnaires' disease tied to the North Carolina Mountain State fair has risen to 25, with one death, according to the state division of public health. |
 | Liquid biopsy has prognostic role in colorectal cancer and potential for guiding therapyLiquid biopsy is likely to play an increasing role in identifying patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who are likely to relapse after surgery, and has potential for optimising treatment for individual patients, according to new research presented at the ESMO Congress 2019. |
PARP inhibitor plus chemotherapy improves progression-free survival for advanced ovarian cancer patientsResearchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported study results showing that initial treatment with the PARP inhibitor veliparib in combination with chemotherapy significantly increased progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with newly diagnosed, metastatic high-grade serous ovarian cancer, according to the results of the VELIA trial. | |
 | New treatment improves survival in women newly diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancerAn international study demonstrates that administering niraparib after conventional chemotherapy treatment in patients newly diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, improves their progression-free survival, and reduces their risk of relapse or death from this disease. The Primary Investigator of this study is Dr. Antonio González Martín from Clinica Universidad de Navarra (Spain) and president of the Spanish Ovarian Cancer Research Group (GEICO). The New England Journal of Medicine, the world-leading medical journal, published the research in its online last issue. |
 | Front-line osimertinib improves overall survival in EGFR-mutation positive NSCLCFirst-line osimertinib significantly lengthens overall survival compared to older generation EGFR-TKIs in patients with Ex19del/L858R EGFR mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to late breaking results of the FLAURA trial presented at the ESMO Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. |
 | Two immunotherapy drug combination offers chemotherapy-free option for advanced NSCLCNew data have shown that first-line treatment with a combination of two immunotherapy drugs improves overall survival in a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to chemotherapy. |
 | Ovarian cancer: more women benefit from maintenance combined targeted therapyNew data presented at the ESMO Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain, show the benefit of a more intensive maintenance regimen for ovarian cancer with the PARP inhibitor olaparib added to bevacizumab, in an all-comers population, with and without a BRCA mutation. According to late breaking results of the PAOLA-1/ENGOT-ov25 trial, this approach extends progression free survival in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. |
 | Taxi drivers face highest levels of black carbon compared to other professional driversProfessional drivers working in congested cities are exposed to black carbon levels that are on average a third higher than would be experienced at a busy roadside, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. |
 | Risk of heart valve infections rising in hospitalsPeople with heart disease or defective or artificial heart valves are at increased risk of developing a potentially deadly valve infection. Rutgers researchers reported that new risk factors for this condition have emerged and that an increasing number of patients admitted to hospitals for other diseases are at risk of contracting this potentially lethal cardiac infection. |
 | Two studies show CDK4/6 inhibitors improve overall survival in advanced breast cancerNew data from two studies reported at the ESMO Congress 2019 have shown that treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor plus fulvestrant improves overall survival in women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer. |
 | Wrist-worn step trackers accurate in predicting patient health outcomesDetermining how far patients with pulmonary disease can walk in six minutes has long been an effective clinical tool to help physicians determine their exercise capacity, as well as to aid in predicting health outcomes and mortality. |
 | Targeted therapy drug helps women with aggressive breast cancer live longerA study led by UCLA researchers found that adding ribociclib, a targeted therapy drug, to standard hormone therapy has been shown to significantly improve overall survival in postmenopausal women with advanced hormone-receptor positive/HER2- breast cancer, one of the most common forms of the disease. |
 | Immune therapy eliminates tumour cells in early triple negative breast cancerImmune therapy added to chemotherapy improves pathological complete response in patients with early triple negative breast cancer, according to late breaking results from the KEYNOTE-522 trial presented at the ESMO Congress 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. Interim results from the study, which is the first phase III trial of immunotherapy in early breast cancer, also indicated an improvement in event-free survival. |
 | Nintedanib slows progression for broad range of scarring lung diseasesNintedanib, a medication approved for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, slows the decline in lung function among patients with a broad range of scarring lung diseases. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that many more people may benefit from nintedanib than are currently approved for treatment. They also suggest that the dozens of different forms of fibrosing interstitial lung disease may share similar scarring mechanisms in spite of different causes and patterns. |
 | Survey of truck drivers finds many suffer from sleep-related breathing disordersA survey of 905 Italian truck drivers has shown that approximately half suffer from at least one sleep-related breathing problem that potentially can cause drivers to fall asleep at the wheel. |
 | 'Smart shirt' can accurately measure breathing and could be used to monitor lung diseaseA smart shirt that measures lung function by sensing movements in the chest and abdomen has proved to be accurate when compared to traditional testing equipment, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress. |
Poorly reported placebos could lead to mistaken estimates of benefits and harmsResearchers at the University of Oxford have found that placebo controls are almost never described according to standard reporting guidelines. | |
 | Sleeping pills reduce suicidal thoughts in patients with severe insomniaInsomnia is a driver of suicide, and particularly people with severe insomnia may safely benefit from taking a sedative to help address their sleep problems as it reduces their suicidal thoughts, investigators report. |
 | Novel strategy using microRNA biomarkers can distinguish melanomas from neviMelanoma is the least common but one of the most deadly skin cancers. It accounts for only about one percent of all cases globally, but the majority of skin cancer deaths. Accurate, timely and reliable diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma remains a significant challenge in dermatopathology. Investigators report in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, published by Elsevier, on a novel strategy for using microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers to detect melanoma cells in skin tumors even when the tumor contains predominantly benign cells. |
Heart, kidney disease risk factors for adverse effects from gout medicationHeart disease is an independent risk factor for severe adverse skin reactions in patients taking allopurinol, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
 | 'Good' cholesterol counters atherosclerosis in mice with diabetesIncreasing levels of a simplified version of "good" cholesterol reversed disease in the blood vessels of mice with diabetes, a new study finds. |
 | Mesothelioma trial suggests immunotherapy as an alternative to chemotherapyPatients with mesothelioma may gain similar benefit from immunotherapy as chemotherapy, and good responders may provide important clues to novel treatment for the thousands of new cases each year. Data from the PROMISE-meso trial presented at the ESMO Congress 2019 highlight the need to understand the biological mechanisms whereby mesothelioma, which is incurable, adapts to immunotherapy in some patients but not in others, resulting in variations in treatment response. |
 | Handgun purchasers with a prior DUI have a greater risk for serious violence, study findsLegal purchasers of handguns with a prior DUI conviction have a greater risk of a future arrest for a violent offense—including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault and for firearm-related violent crimes—a UC Davis Violence Prevention Program (VPRP) study has found. |
 | New AI method may boost Crohn's disease insight and improve treatmentScientists have developed a computer method that may help improve understanding and treatment of Crohn's disease, which causes inflammation of the digestive tract. |
 | Statins could increase or decrease osteoporosis risk—the dosage makes the differenceA study by the Medical University of Vienna and the Complexity Science Hub Vienna shows for the first time a connection between the dosage of cholesterol-lowering drugs—statins—and the diagnosis of osteoporosis. |
 | Cannabis study reveals how CBD offsets the psychiatric side-effects of THCResearchers at Western University have shown for the first time the molecular mechanisms at work that cause cannabidiol, or CBD, to block the psychiatric side-effects caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis. |
 | New combination therapy offers bowel cancer patients extra treatment optionBased on scientific findings of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, a new combination treatment has been developed for patients with metastatic bowel cancer and a mutation in the BRAF gene. After a clinical trial in over 600 participants, those treated with this smart combination therapy survived longer than those who received standard treatment. The study is published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Women with asthma appear more likely to have lower levels of testosteroneWomen with asthma appear more likely to have lower levels of "free" (not attached to proteins) testosterone than women who do not have asthma, according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
 | Parent and sibling attitudes among top influences on teenage e-cigarette useFlavor, safety and family attitude toward vaping are among the greatest factors influencing teenage perception of e-cigarettes, new University at Buffalo research finds. |
 | Researchers explore the role of psychology in responding to opioid addictionThe literature on addictive substances such as alcohol and tobacco has developed consistently over decades of study within the field of psychology. |
 | Patients' avatars being used to test cystic fibrosis drugsUNSW researchers are leading a revolutionary approach to managing treatment of cystic fibrosis using patients' derived lung and gut mini-organs or avatars to test how they will respond to the latest drugs. |
 | Challenging the Alzheimer's stigmaThe influential "World Alzheimer Report 2019: Attitudes to Dementia," issued by Alzheimer's Disease International, features input from Flinders Ph.D. candidate Jessica Young and Flinders researcher Associate Professor Christopher Lind. |
 | Social media influencing young boys' body attitudesThe endless endorsement of particular body images and physical attributes on social media is influencing how young boys view themselves in the modern age, according to a new book. |
 | Teen vaping study reveals how schools influence e-cigarette use, outlines prevention strategiesWhen e-cigarettes hit the U.S. market in 2007, they were promoted as a safer, healthier alternative to traditional, combustible cigarettes. The unintended consequence of vaping devices and e-cigarettes, however, is a new generation of vapers—teenagers—becoming addicted to nicotine. |
 | Alcohol intake linked to dementia riskResearchers in the US have revealed that alcohol intake in later life is linked with dementia risk. The findings are published today (Friday 27 September) in the journal JAMA. |
 | How to check if a nursing home is up to scratchIf you've read the headlines about poor standards in Australia's nursing homes, it's only natural to be concerned about your own family or friends in residential aged care. |
 | How nasty Toxoplasma parasite damages the human eyeOne-third of the world population is infected with Toxoplasma, which causes a common eye infection called ocular toxoplasmosis. Researchers have shed new light on how an infection with the parasite causes a distinctive lesion in the retina. |
 | Violent victimization among youths is linked to risky sexual behaviorBeing young is tough. |
 | Lung bacteria 'feign pregnancy' to avoid detectionDisease-causing bacteria in the lung evade the body's immune system by pretending the lungs are pregnant, according to University of Dundee research presented today at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Madrid. |
 | Handling traumatic grief reactions in children and adolescents post-9/11Grief reactions in traumatically bereaved youth, particularly in relation to a shared trauma, constitute a unique aspect of psychological distress. A new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) reports that this disorder warrants separate clinical attention. |
 | How to get ready mentally for your first competitionYou've signed up for your first fitness event and you've mapped out your training schedule for success. Now add mental preparation to the plan. |
 | Pediatric group issues updated ADHD guidelinesAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is in the news a lot, and now newer research has prompted a leading pediatricians' group to update its guidelines for diagnosing and treating the disorder for the first time since 2011. |
 | In tiny doses, an addiction medication moonlights as treatment for chronic painLori Pinkley, a 50-year-old from Kansas City, Mo., has struggled with puzzling chronic pain since she was 15. |
 | Immunotherapy in combination points to paradigm shift in the treatment of cervical cancerWith an estimated 570,000 cases and 311,000 deaths in 2018 worldwide, cervical cancer currently ranks as the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women. Furthermore, patients suffering from recurrent and metastatic disease face a dismal prognosis with few therapeutic options available. The need to identify and develop more effective treatment opportunities against this tumor type is therefore critical. |
 | Nanoparticles wiggling through mucus may predict severe COPDIn a proof-of-concept experiment, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have successfully used microscopic man-made particles to predict the severity of patients' chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by measuring how quickly the particles move through mucus samples. The technique, say the researchers, could eventually help doctors deliver more effective treatments sooner. |
 | AI system accurately detects key findings in chest X-rays of pneumonia patients within 10 secondsFrom 20 minutes or more to 10 seconds. |
 | First prostate cancer therapy to target genes delays cancer progressionFor the first time, prostate cancer has been treated based on the genetic makeup of the cancer, resulting in delayed disease progression, delayed time to pain progression, and potentially extending lives in patients with advanced, metastatic prostate cancer, reports a large, international phase 3 trial. One of the principal investigators is from Northwestern Medicine. |
 | Simple cardiac risk score can predict problems with blood flow in the brainA simple cardiac risk score can indicate who may have carotid artery plaque and silent strokes which often come before a serious clinical stroke. |
Researchers find shorter sleep periods associated with obesity in African AmericansResearch in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found an association between sleep duration and obesity among African Americans. Although some populations are more susceptible to becoming overweight or obese, prior studies have not focused on minorities, the authors wrote. | |
 | You don't have to go cold turkey on red meat to see health benefitsA new study has found that halving the amount red and processed (RPM) meat in the diet can have a significant impact on health, reducing the amount of LDL 'bad' cholesterol in the blood which cuts the risk of developing heart disease. |
 | First targeted therapy for cholangiocarcinoma shows clinical benefit in phase III trialNew data have shown for the first time that targeted therapy can improve the outcome of patients diagnosed with advanced cholangiocarcinoma. |
 | Targeted therapy slows progression of advanced prostate cancerTargeting faulty DNA repair mechanisms in advanced castration resistant prostate cancer can slow progression and potentially improve survival, paving the way for a new approach to treatment of the most common form of cancer in men. Data from the PROfound trial, presented at the ESMO Congress 2019, show that olaparib delayed cancer progression by about four months compared to new hormonal agents (enzalutamide or abiraterone acetate) in patients with metastatic, pre-treated prostate cancer whose cancer cells had faulty DNA repair genes. Preliminary data showed that treatment also prolonged overall survival by over three months. |
 | TAILORx: New data on cohort with recurrence score 26-100 shows 93% cancer-free rate at 5 yearsA new analysis from TAILORx, the largest ever breast cancer treatment trial, is published today in JAMA Oncology. It reveals the clinical outcomes with chemotherapy in a subset of 1,389 women with a high Recurrence Score (RS) of 26-100. The outcomes are similar to the B20 trial (Paik et al, JCO, 2006). The new data shows that the estimated rate of freedom from recurrence of breast cancer at a distant site was 93% at five years, an outcome much better than expected with endocrine therapy alone. The results are also being featured as late-breaking information at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2019 Congress in Barcelona. |
 | Is this brain cell your 'mind's eye'?No-one knows what connects awareness—the state of consciousness—with its contents, i.e. thoughts and experiences. Now researchers propose an elegant solution: a literal, structural connection. |
 | People with anxiety may strategically choose worrying over relaxingRelaxing is supposed to be good for the body and soul, but people with anxiety may actively resist relaxation and continue worrying to avoid a large jump in anxiety if something bad does happen, according to Penn State research. |
 | New clinical trial analyses predict response to benralizumab by patients with COPDChronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association. More than 15.3 million people in this country suffer from it and they often experience potentially life-threatening exacerbations, which can include days-long flare-ups of symptoms including shortness of breath that occur when the airways narrow from muscle tightness, swelling and mucus. |
 | First-time pregnancy complications linked to increased risk of hypertension later in lifeWomen who experience complications such as preterm births and preeclampsia during their first pregnancy are nearly twice more likely than women without complications to develop high blood pressure later in life—some as quickly as three years later, according to a new study of more than 4,000 women. The study was published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association. It was funded largely by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health. |
Preliminary study suggests that risk of gluten transfer in common-cooking activities may be lower than previously thoughParents using multiple kitchen appliances and utensils to prevent their child with celiac disease from being exposed to gluten may be able to eliminate some cumbersome steps. A new, preliminary study from Children's National Hospital published in the journal Gastroenterology found no significant gluten transfer when tools like the same toaster or knives are used for both gluten-free and gluten-containing foods. | |
 | Modern chemo better than second targeted hormone therapy against resistant prostate cancerA modern chemotherapy drug is more effective for men with advanced prostate cancer than a second targeted hormone therapy in patients who have stopped responding to treatment, a major clinical trial shows. |
 | Rivaroxaban cuts recurrent blood clots in obese patients(HealthDay)—Real-world evidence shows that rivaroxaban reduces the risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in morbidly obese patients, with similar safety and efficacy as warfarin, according to a study published in the October issue of Thrombosis Research. |
 | Low cancer suspicion tied to delay in CRC referral in primary care(HealthDay)—Delay in referral for colorectal cancer (CRC) in primary care is associated with low cancer suspicion, according to a study published in the September/October issue of Annals of Family Medicine. |
 | Many U.S. seniors are going hungry, study finds(HealthDay)—Almost 1 in 10 U.S. seniors doesn't have enough food to eat, a new study shows. |
 | Crude incidence of candidemia 8.7 per 100,000 in 2012 to 2016(HealthDay)—The crude incidence of candidemia was 8.7 per 100,000 population across four states in 2012 to 2016, according to a surveillance summary published in the Sept. 27 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Rolls wit'out: New rolls help cut salt from Philly stapleDiets high in sodium can lead to a number of health issues, most commonly high blood pressure. According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), in 2018 one in three adults in Philadelphia had high blood pressure. To prevent and control chronic diseases, including high blood pressure, the City instituted comprehensive nutrition standards aiming, among other things, to reduce sodium in meals provided by City departments, such as summer meal programs. |
 | Major study finds cutting down red and processed meat consumption has little impact on healthMost people can continue to eat red and processed meat as they do now. |
 | Research going keto to fight cancerInvestigators at the University of Cincinnati are studying whether or not a modified Atkins-type ketogenic diet could help make treatments for a common, but dangerous, type of brain cancer called glioblastoma more effective. |
 | Optoceutics: A new technique using light for regenerative medicineUsing light to facilitate the formation of new blood vessels—it is the breakthrough outcome of a research study carried out by researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Milan (Italy). The study was published in Science Advances. For the first time, the research group has shown that it is possible to specifically influence the fate of tissue cells by using visible light together with photo-sensitive and biocompatible materials. This discovery opens up new horizons for regenerative medicine. |
 | Californians strongly back vaccine law in new statewide pollCalifornians strongly support a state law creating new oversight of vaccine medical exemptions for schoolchildren in a statewide poll released Monday, with backing across a spectrum of political affiliations, income and education levels, and geography. |
 | Curbing diesel emission could reduce big city mortalityU.S. cities could see a decline in mortality rates and an improved economy through midcentury if federal and local governments maintain stringent air pollution policies and diminish concentrations of diesel freight truck exhaust, according to Cornell University research. |
 | These health officials alerted the world to the alarming vaping illnessDr. Lynn D'Andrea knew something was amiss when three teenagers with similar mysterious, dangerous lung injuries came into the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin one after another, gasping for air. |
 | Treating adolescent obesity: The evidence behind behavioral, pharmacological, and weight loss surgery optionsAs rates of adolescent obesity continue to rise, choice of treatment needs to be guided by the severity of obesity, psychosocial factors, comorbidities and patient's age and pubertal status, according to a new paper published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). |
 | Team finds physical therapy access may reduce opioid prescriptionsPatients who first saw a physical therapist or chiropractor for low back pain, rather than a primary care physician, were much less likely to be prescribed opioids. |
 | Researchers develop program aimed at reducing dating violence among studentsA program developed to encourage healthy relationships and reduce dating violence was effective among early middle school students, according to results of a study published in the American Journal of Public Health by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). |
 | Which comes first: Smartphone dependency or depression?Young people who are hooked on their smartphones may be at an increased risk for depression and loneliness, according to a new study from the University of Arizona. |
 | Study finds early life racial discrimination linked to depression, accelerated aging for African AmericansEarly life stress from racial discrimination puts African Americans at greater risk for accelerated aging, a marker for premature development of serious health problems and perhaps a shorter life expectancy, according to a study led by a Georgia State University psychology researcher. |
 | Study highlights need to improve health care access in Vancouver, Portland and SeattleUBC researchers have developed a data science method that analyzes how easily citizens can access hospitals and walk-in health clinics—and it's a tool that could eventually help city planners and policymakers build smarter, more equitable cities. |
 | Microneedle biosensor accurately detects patient's antibiotic levels in real timeSmall, non-invasive patches worn on the skin can accurately detect the levels of medication in a patient's system, matching the accuracy of current clinical methods. |
 | Swiss chocolatier Callebaut all-in on cacaoSwiss chocolatier Barry Callebaut on Friday unveiled a new formulation that packs in the parts of the cacao fruit it used to toss away, taking aim at younger generations. |
 | His heart stopped. But his golf cart kept goingOn a sunny April day in 2018, Bill Doss pushed through his exhaustion and met his buddies for their regular round of golf. As he headed to the final tee, he was rounding a turn in his cart and his world went black. |
 | Blood test can replace invasive biopsy for more patients with lung cancerA growing number of patients with advanced lung cancer could soon be offered a blood test to help to decide the best treatment for them instead of having to get a tumour sample for analysis. New data from the BFAST trial presented at the ESMO Congress 2019 have shown that the test can be used successfully to identify complex DNA mutations in the cells of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) suitable for the latest targeted medicines. The technique detects tiny pieces of tumour DNA that are shed from cancer cells into the blood. |
 | Better understanding sensory perception could help people with autism and dyslexiaDeciphering how the brain processes sight and hearing could have implications for how we understand and treat conditions such as dyslexia, autism and schizophrenia. |
 | Researchers fail to replicate influential neuroimaging genetics studyNeuroscientists have failed to replicate the findings of an influential study linking genetics to cognition. Published in JNeurosci, the researchers highlight issues in the design, analysis, and interpretation of the original study. |
 | How meaning is represented in the human brainRepresentations reflecting non-linguistic experience have been detected in brain activity during reading in study of healthy, native English speakers published in JNeurosci. The research brings us one step closer to a more complete characterization of human language. |
 | Maryland law raising smoking age goes into effect TuesdayA new law barring teenagers in Maryland from buying tobacco products including electronic smoking devices goes into effect Tuesday. |
 | Global phase 3 trial of zoliflodacinThe Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), a not for profit organisation developing new treatments for drug resistant infections, and Entasis Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ETTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibacterial products, today jointly announced the initiation of a global phase 3 pivotal trial of zoliflodacin. Zoliflodacin is a novel, first-in-class oral antibiotic being developed for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea. Following positive phase 2 results previously published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), Entasis and GARDP have partnered to complete late stage development, with GARDP fully-funding and sponsoring the global phase 3 trial. |
 | Building a brighter way for capturing cancer during surgeryUniversity of Texas at Dallas researchers have demonstrated that imaging technology used to map the universe shows promise for more accurately and quickly identifying cancer cells in the operating room. |
Breast and ovarian cancer drug outperforms targeted hormone therapy in some menA drug used for breast and ovarian cancer is more effective than modern targeted hormone treatments at slowing progression and improving survival in some men with advanced prostate cancer, phase III clinical trial findings reveal. | |
 | CVS stops sale of heartburn drugs with suspect contaminantCVS has halted sales of popular heartburn treatment Zantac and its generic store brand after warnings by U.S. health regulators. |
Biology news
 | Scientists shed light on microbial 'dark matter' with new approachScientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated a way to isolate and grow targeted bacteria using genomic data, making strides toward resolving the grand challenge of uncultivated microbial "dark matter" in which the vast majority of microorganisms remain unstudied in the laboratory. |
 | Delivery system can make RNA vaccines more powerfulVaccines made from RNA hold great potential as a way to treat cancer or prevent a variety of infectious diseases. Many biotech companies are now working on such vaccines, and a few have gone into clinical trials. |
 | Raw vs. cooked diets have distinct effects on both mouse and human gut microbesScientists at UC San Francisco and Harvard University have shown for the first time that cooking food fundamentally alters the microbiomes of both mice and humans, a finding with implications both for optimizing our microbial health and for understanding how cooking may have altered the evolution of the our microbiomes during human prehistory. |
 | Fruit flies live longer with combination drug treatmentA triple drug combination has been used to extend the lifespan of fruit flies by 48% in a new study led by UCL and the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing. |
 | How a tension sensor plays integral role in aligned chromosome partitioningA Waseda University-led research uncovered the molecular mechanism of how a particular cancer-causing oncogene could trigger an onset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). |
 | Collapse of desert bird populations likely due to heat stress from climate changeAs temperatures rise, desert birds need more water to cool off at the same time as deserts are becoming drier, setting some species up for a severe crash, if not extinction, according to a new study from the University of California, Berkeley. |
 | Apes are shown to rely on self-experience to anticipate others' actionsAs close evolutionary relatives, you could say that great apes and humans look somewhat similar. And the more we learn about our great ape cousins, the more we find that we're alike. |
 | Fish fathers exhibit signatures of 'baby brain' that may facilitate parental care behaviorMany new parents are familiar with terms like "baby brain" or "mommy brain" that hint at an unavoidable decline in cognitive function associated with the hormonal changes of pregnancy, childbirth, and maternal caregiving. A new study of parental care in stickleback fish is a reminder that such parenting-induced changes in the brain and associated shifts in cognition and behavior are not just for females—and they're not just for mammals either. |
 | New CRISPR-Cas9 variant may boost precision in gene editingResearchers have developed a new variant of the gene editing technique CRISPR-Cas9 that has the potential to increase precision during gene therapy in humans. The new variant reduced unintended changes in DNA compared to its wildtype, suggesting it could play a role in gene therapies that require high precision. The study by researchers from Karolinska Institutet's Ming Wai Lau Centre of Reparative Medicine in Hong Kong is published in the journal PNAS. |
 | Pineapple genome sequences hint at plant domestication in a single stepAs their Latin name indicates, pineapples are truly "excellent fruits"—and thanks to a freshly completed genome sequencing project, researchers have gained a new understanding of how human agriculture has shaped the evolution of this and other crops. |
 | Bateman's cowbirds: A closer look at monogamy and polygamy in brood parasitic birdsResearchers at the University of Illinois have shown through a multi-year study that cowbirds (Molothrus ater) conform to Bateman's Principle, which holds that reproductive success is greater in males than in females when they have more mates. Cowbirds are distinct from 99% of other bird species in that they are brood parasites and lay their eggs in nests of birds of other species for them to raise. The researchers confirm a 70-year old theory that males in this species are more likely than females to have greater variation in the number of offspring they produce. |
 | Brave new world: Simple changes in intensity of weather events 'could be lethal'Hurricane Dorian is the latest example of a frightening trend. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe and more widespread as a consequence of climate change. New research from Washington University in St. Louis provides important new insights into how different species may fare under this new normal. |
 | Microbes in warm soils released more carbon than those in cooler soilsAs one descends a mountain, the temperature steadily increases. A new study by a team including Andrew Nottingham, a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and post-doctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh, took advantage of this principle to predict what would happen as tropical soils warm. The team discovered that warmer tropical soils released more car-bon, the species of soil microbes changed and microbial activity increased. |
 | The flagellar hook: Making sense of bacterial motilityThe flagellum is often cited as an example of natural design ingenuity—it is a powerful nanomachine that allows bacteria to swim effortlessly in search of food. Yet despite being a popular object of study over the last half-century, the flagellum's exact mechanics remain enigmatic. |
 | A new mechanism linked to premature aging in mother cellsResearchers from the University of Seville and the Andalusian center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine (CABIMER), have discovered a new mechanism that makes it possible to understand premature aging in cells with asymmetrical cell division, as is the case with mother cells. Understanding this mechanism could be useful for studying and anticipating the development of aging-related diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative processes. The research was published in Nature Cell Biology. |
 | Helping tobacco plants save waterResearch in the Electronic Plants group at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Campus Norrköping, follows two main avenues. In one, scientists incorporate electronic circuits into plants, such as roses, in a method of storing energy. In the other, they are seeking ways to influence plant functions with bioelectronic devices, aiming, for example, to give plants greater resistance to environmental stress. |
 | A new method is designed to stop the growth of a fungus that affects over a hundred cropsIt may be one of the world's most important pathogenic fungi due to its ability to attack over a hundred different crops. Fusarium oxysporumesses can go unnoticed in soil for more than thirty years, but when it germinates, it grows right toward plant roots, takes over entire vascular systems and wilts the crops, making it a real headache for the sector. |
 | Purple martin migration behavior perplexes researchersPurple martins will soon migrate south for their usual wintertime retreat, but this time the birds will be wearing what look like little backpacks, as scientists plan to track their roosting sites along the way. |
 | Underwater manatee chatter may aid in their conservationListening in on manatee conversations could help restore populations of this endangered marine mammal. Each manatee has its own voice: their calls can be traced back to specific individuals, offering a way to estimate how many of them are present in a particular habitat in a given time. Researchers from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the Universidad Tecnologica de Panama, (UTP) propose a new method for detecting these calls from underwater recordings. |
 | Multifactor models reveal worse picture of climate change impact on marine lifeRising ocean temperatures have long been linked to negative impacts for marine life, but a Florida State University team has found that the long-term outlook for many marine species is much more complex—and possibly bleaker—than scientists previously believed. |
 | Three more elephants killed in Sri Lanka, bringing toll to sevenWildlife officials found three more dead wild elephants in central Sri Lanka Saturday, raising the number believed to have been poisoned by angry villagers to seven. |
 | Researchers experiment with tools to 'maneuver' medicine-carrying red blood cellsScientists from the Moscow-based National Research Nuclear University MEPhI and the University of Oulu in Finland have completed a comprehensive joint study on the interaction of red blood cells for drug delivery using recent advances in medical nanotechnology. The research is expected to have major implications for the targeted delivery of drugs, an idea in nanomedicine aimed at concentrating medication in parts of the body affected by illness, while avoiding interactions with healthy tissue, and thus reducing both dosages and potentially dangerous side effects. |
 | Cuba battles plague of giant snailsSilently and without pause, the giant African snail has been invading Cuba. |
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