Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 3, 2020:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | New eclipsing binary millisecond pulsar discovered by FASTUsing the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), astronomers have discovered a new eclipsing binary millisecond pulsar in the globular cluster NGC 6341 (or M92). The newly found object received designation PSR J1717+4308A or M92A. The finding is detailed in a paper published February 24 on arXiv.org. |
 | Milky Way's warp caused by galactic collision, Gaia suggestsAstronomers have pondered for years why our galaxy, the Milky Way, is warped. Data from ESA's star-mapping satellite Gaia suggest the distortion might be caused by an ongoing collision with another, smaller, galaxy, which sends ripples through the galactic disc like a rock thrown into water. |
 | Blast off: space minnow Indonesia eyes celestial successWorkers snap the miniature rocket's wings into place as Indonesia's little-known space agency readies its latest launch on barren scrubland in East Java. |
 | Shedding new light on black hole ejectionsAcademics from the University of Cape Town (UCT) are part of a research group led by the University of Oxford's Department of Physics that has observed a black hole ejecting material at close to the speed of light out to some of the largest angular distances (separations) ever seen. These observations have allowed a deeper understanding of how black holes feed into their environment. |
 | Globular cluster billowing in the galactic windThe galactic magnetic field plays an important role in the evolution of the galaxy, but its small-scale behaviour is still poorly known. It is also unknown whether it permeates the halo of the galaxy or not. By using observations of pulsars in the halo globular cluster 47 Tuc, an international research team led by Federico Abbate from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany who started this work at University of Milano Bicocca and INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari, could probe the galactic magnetic field at scales of a few light years for the first time. They discovered an unexpected strong magnetic field in the direction of the cluster. This magnetic field points perpendicularly to the galactic disk and could be explained by an interaction with the galactic wind. This is a magnetized outflow that extends from the galactic disk into the surrounding halo and its existence has never been proven before. |
 | Milky Way galaxy 'reverse engineered'Like taking apart a piece of technology, the Milky Way galaxy has been reverse engineered to find out how it was assembled. |
 | Protein discovered inside a meteoriteA team of researchers from Plex Corporation, Bruker Scientific LLC and Harvard University has found evidence of a protein inside of a meteorite. They have written a paper describing their findings and have uploaded it to the arXiv preprint server. |
 | Total lunar eclipse: observing the Earth as a transiting planetAstronomers have succeeded in recording sunlight shining through the Earth's atmosphere in a manner similar to the study of distant exoplanets. During the extraordinary occasion of a lunar eclipse, the Large Binocular Telescope observed the light that was filtered by the Earth's atmosphere and reflected by the moon in unique detail. In addition to oxygen and water, atomic spectral lines of sodium, calcium and potassium were detected in our atmosphere in this way first time. |
 | NJIT researchers ready follow-up investigation bound for International Space StationNJIT researchers will look to continue a successful string of space-bound studies at the International Space Station (ISS) when a new payload of experimental samples launches to the station with the SpaceX CRS-20 commercial cargo resupply mission. |
Technology news
 | A simulation framework for recreating bat behavior in quad-rotor UAVsIn recent years, researchers worldwide have been trying to develop computational techniques that reproduce behaviors of humans or animals in robots and machines. This includes, for instance, the structure and functioning of the human brain, the swarm communication ability of bees, the locomotion styles of specific species of fishes or amphibians, and much more. |
 | Google Authenticator app susceptible to malware attacksNew research indicates the Google Authenticator app on Android devices is vulnerable to a form of malware known as Cerberus. According to financial cyber security specialist ThreatFabric, this banking Trojan can steal one-time pass codes generated by the app and potentially enable hackers to access bank accounts. |
 | Data-driven machine learning is the best approach for advanced battery modellingDemand for electrification of transport has emerged in recent years due to increasing concerns about global warming. The widespread adoption of electric vehicles will result in reduced harmful emissions and cleaner air, among other social and economic benefits. The battery industry is in need of software solutions for battery manufacturers to reduce fabrication and development costs while improving key batteries metrics. |
 | Cyber toolkit a 'complete package' for detectives, companiesA growing number of law enforcement agencies from across the world want to use Purdue University technology to help them track down cybercriminals with a toolkit that also can help companies stop insider threats and technology-facilitated abuse. |
 | Ex-Google self-driving car project picks up new investorsGoogle's former autonomous vehicle project is becoming a more autonomous business by bringing it in its first investors besides its corporate parent. |
 | Australia's newswire axed amid pressure from digital giantsAustralia's only national newswire will be shuttered after 85 years of operation, with around 180 staff told Tuesday their jobs will end in June. |
 | Foxconn says China factories operating at 50% over virus outbreakTaiwanese tech giant and iPhone assembler Foxconn said Tuesday its Chinese factories are operating at 50 percent of seasonal capacity and are expecting to take a hit for the current quarter due to the coronavirus outbreak. |
 | Dark web study reveals how new offenders get involved in online pedophile communitiesThe "dark web"—a collection of heavily encrypted websites, forums and social networks—notoriously provides spaces for illegal activities. It's where child sexual offenders meet to support each other and share indecent images and advice on abuse techniques—with near-complete anonymity. This provides a resource for individuals to learn the "skills" to become more dangerous offenders. |
 | Even after blocking an ex on Facebook, the platform promotes painful remindersAnthony Pinter, a Ph.D. student in information science at the University of Colorado Boulder, recently completed a study on people's experiences with upsetting and unexpected reminders of an ex on Facebook. |
 | Game designers have new tool to evaluate player experienceA free tool that will enable game developers to accurately evaluate the experience of video game players has been launched by researchers at the University of Waterloo. |
 | Simplified modelling of application and infrastructureIn recent years, the global market has seen a tremendous rise in utility computing, which serves as the back-end for practically any new technology, methodology or advancement in ICT, from healthcare to aerospace. The industry is entering a new era of heterogeneous, software-defined, high-performance computing environments and brings with it new challenges. |
 | Children's use of social media is creating a new type of digital nativeThe first generation of people who have grown up using social media such as Facebook and Instagram are entering the workforce. For as long as this breed of so-called "digital natives" has been alive, some academics have been arguing that using the internet from a young age would shape the way people learn, work and even think. |
 | It's not just phishing emails, now we have to worry about fake calls, tooWhen your boss calls and tells you to wire $100,000 to a supplier, be on your toes. It could be a fake call. |
 | Reddit CEO claims TikTok app is 'fundamentally parasitic' and spywareReddit CEO Steve Huffman presumably won't be singing on TikTok anytime soon. |
 | Dear passwords: Forget you. Here's what is going to protect us insteadDo you hate remembering passwords? Soon, you may be able to forget them for good. |
 | PayPal, passwords and Wi-Fi: 11 tips for better digital securityThe data breach news this week was terrible, as usual. |
 | Researchers develop flooding prediction toolBy incorporating the architecture of city drainage systems and readings from flood gauges into a comprehensive statistical framework, researchers at Texas A&M University can now accurately predict the evolution of floods in extreme situations like hurricanes. With their new approach, the researchers said their algorithm could forecast the flow of flood water in almost real-time, which can then lead to timelier emergency response and planning. |
 | Twitter staff told to work from home over virus fearsTwitter staff across the world were asked to work from home starting Monday in an effort to stop the spread of the deadly new coronavirus epidemic. |
Coronavirus could push airlines to merge: AF-KLM chiefThe spread of the coronavirus could force weak airlines to merge with competitors, the head of Air France-KLM and the A4E association of European airlines said Tuesday. | |
 | It's a bird. It's a plane. It's an e-scooter?Since e-scooters arrived in Atlanta in spring 2018, roads and sidewalks from midtown to downtown have been abuzz with the devices, which provide a fast, fun and affordable transportation alternative. |
 | The virtual paper-making machine of the futureA virtual paper-making machine makes it possible to test run and optimize operations without costly downtime in the industry. New research at Karlstad University saves money and spares the environment. |
 | New lithium batteries from used cell phonesLithium-ion batteries are used around the world, and though over the last few years they have had some competition, such as sodium and magnesium, they continue to be indispensable due to their high density and capacity. The issue is this: this metal has major availability and concentration problems. Almost 85% of its reserves are located in what is known as the Lithium Triangle, a geographical area found on the borders of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. In addition, it seems that demand will rocket over the next few decades because of the implementation of electric vehicles. Each car equals about 7,000 cell phone batteries, so reusing their different components has become an issue of utmost importance. |
 | Super Tuesday marks first major security test of 2020Tuesday's presidential primaries across 14 states mark the first major security test since the 2018 midterm elections, with state and local election officials saying they are prepared to deal with everything from equipment problems to false information about the coronavirus. |
Medicine & Health news
 | The microbes in your mouth, and a reminder to floss and go to the dentistMost people know that good oral hygiene—brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits—is linked to good health. Colorado State University microbiome researchers offer fresh evidence to support that conventional wisdom, by taking a close look at invisible communities of microbes that live in every mouth. |
 | Air pollution 'pandemic' shortens lives by 3 years: studyA 'pandemic' of air pollution shortens lives worldwide by nearly three years on average, and causes 8.8 million premature deaths annually, scientists said Tuesday. |
 | Optimizing use of the 'hug hormone' to help those with social difficultiesOxytocin is known for its role in childbirth and breastfeeding and it has also been shown to have a wider application in the development and regulation of social behaviour in many species. There has been increasing interest in its potential use to help people overcome social difficulties as this can be one of the most difficult symptoms to treat in many psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, anxiety and depression. |
 | Visceral fat delivers signal to the brain that hurts cognitionExcessive weight around our middle gives our brain's resident immune cells heavy exposure to a signal that turns them against us, setting in motion a crescendo of inflammation that damages cognition, scientists say. |
 | Obesity promotes virulence of influenzaObesity promotes the virulence of the influenza virus, according to a study conducted in mice published in mBio, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The finding could explain, in part, why the influenza virus varies greatly from year to year. This is concerning given that the obesity epidemic is an ever-expanding threat to public health, with currently 50% of the adult population worldwide considered overweight or obese. |
 | Artificial sweeteners combined with carbs may be more harmful than those sweeteners aloneThe influence of artificial sweeteners on the brain and ultimately metabolism has been hotly debated in recent years. Some studies have found adverse effects on blood sugar and insulin levels, while others have not. In a study publishing March 3 in the journal Cell Metabolism, researchers say the discrepancies in these studies may be due to how the sweeteners are consumed—or, more specifically, what they are consumed with. |
 | Boosting energy levels within damaged nerves may help them healWhen the spinal cord is injured, the damaged nerve fibers—called axons—are normally incapable of regrowth, leading to permanent loss of function. Considerable research has been done to find ways to promote the regeneration of axons following injury. Results of a study performed in mice and published in Cell Metabolism suggests that increasing energy supply within these injured spinal cord nerves could help promote axon regrowth and restore some motor functions. The study was a collaboration between the National Institutes of Health and the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. |
 | Drug prices rose three times faster than inflation over last decade, even after discountsThe net cost of prescription drugs—meaning sticker price minus manufacturer discounts—rose over three times faster than the rate of inflation over the course of a decade, according to a study published today in JAMA. It's the first analysis to report trends in net drug costs for all brand-name drugs in the U.S. |
 | Drugs previously in development for SARS could be effective for COVID-19A potential drug target has been identified in a newly mapped protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the coronavirus disease first discovered in 2019 (known as COVID-19). The structure was solved by a team including the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. |
 | Cleaning products could expose children to dangerous contaminants at childcare facilitiesToddlers and young children spend much of their day crawling, playing and climbing. For parents and child care providers, that means constant mopping and dusting to keep floors and furniture clean and safe. But a new peer-reviewed study, co-authored by two Indiana University researchers, suggests high levels of dangerous contaminants—known as PFAS—are finding their way into child care centers through the very products intended to keep children healthy. |
 | Association between avian influenza spread and live poultry tradeA large international team of researchers has conducted a study that involved comparing the structure of the live poultry trade across Chinese provinces with genome sequencing of flu viruses from samples taken from birds in the same provinces. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study and what they found. |
 | Men can smell when a woman is sexually aroused: studyKent research suggests that men can distinguish between the scents of sexually aroused and non-aroused women. |
 | The origin of satiety: Brain cells that change shape after a mealResearchers from the CNRS, Inrae, University of Burgundy, Université de Paris, Inserm, and University of Luxembourg have just revealed the mechanisms in the brain that lead to feelings of satiety after eating. They involve a series of reactions triggered by a rise in blood glucose levels. This study, which was conducted on mice, is published in Cell Reports on 3 March 2020. |
 | Low back and neck pain tops U.S. health spendingSeeing a physician or other health specialist for low back and neck pain? You're not alone, according to a new scientific study. |
 | Scientists shed new light on neural processes behind our desire for revengeNew insight on the neural processes that drive a desire for revenge during conflict between groups has been published today in the open-access journal eLife. |
 | Influenza: Combating bacterial superinfection with the help of the microbiotaResearchers from the Lille Centre for Infection and Immunity (CNRS/INSERM/Institut Pasteur de Lille/University of Lille/CHU Lille), INRAE and from Brazilian (Belo Horizonte), Scottish (Glasgow) and Danish (Copenhagen) laboratories have shown for the first time in mice that perturbation of the gut microbiota caused by the influenza virus favours secondary bacterial superinfection. Published in Cell Reports on March 3, 2020, these results open up new prospects for the prevention and treatment of bacterial pneumonia, a major cause of death in elderly or vulnerable people infected with the influenza virus. |
 | Presence of staph bacteria in skin microbiome promotes Netherton syndrome inflammationNetherton syndrome, a rare skin disease caused by a single genetic mutation, is exacerbated by the presence of two common Staphylococcal bacteria living on human skin, one of which was previously thought to only offer protective properties, report University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers. |
 | How our brains create breathing rhythm is unique to every breathBreathing propels everything we do—so its rhythm must be carefully organized by our brain cells, right? |
 | Targeted treatments for pancreatic cancer may help eligible patients live an extra yearResults from 46 patients given treatments that target specific molecular changes in tumour cells suggest that these therapies could help patients with pancreatic cancer whose tumours harbour those changes survive an extra year. |
 | Cancer survival rates improve for young adultsA new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published by Oxford University Press, finds improvements in five-year survival rates for all cancers in young adults. For some cancers, however, there has been little improvement since the 1970s. |
 | Drinking weakens bones of people living with HIV: studyFor people living with HIV, any level of alcohol consumption is associated with lower levels of a protein involved in bone formation, raising the risk of osteoporosis, according to a new study by researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and School of Medicine (BUSM) and published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. |
 | Research reveals best hospital-based methods for reducing readmission ratesResearch led by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York has revealed the most effective hospital-based methods for reducing readmission rates. |
 | Evidence review shows new therapy for Hepatitis C is highly effectiveNew direct-acting antiviral therapies are highly effective at eliminating the Hepatitis C virus infection, according to a systematic evidence review by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University. |
 | WHO says world in uncharted territory as US virus toll risesThe world has entered uncharted territory in its battle against the deadly coronavirus, the UN health agency warned, as new infections dropped dramatically in China on Tuesday but surged abroad with the US death toll rising to six. |
Scientists study pesticide link to diplomats' 'Havana syndrome'Cuban scientists are helping investigate whether pesticides caused mysterious health complaints from US and Canadian diplomats in Havana that were originally blamed on sonic attacks, a conference heard. | |
 | China reports rise in imported virus casesChina reported an increase Tuesday in cases of the new coronavirus coming from abroad, as the country where the disease first emerged now worries about importing infections. |
 | China reports 125 new virus cases, lowest number in six weeksChina reported 125 new virus cases on Tuesday, marking the lowest number of new daily infections in six weeks. |
 | Virus alarms sound worldwide, but China sees crisis ebbingThe virus epidemic spread through Iran's parliament, travel warnings broadened to include Italy and other parts of Europe, and South Korea prepared to pump billions into relief efforts Tuesday as the epidemic firmed its hold around the globe. |
 | The dairy dilemma: Low-fat is not necessarily better for kidsChildren who consume full-fat dairy products do not show an increased risk of obesity or heart disease, according to an Edith Cowan University (ECU) research finding that raises questions about the current dietary advice for children. |
 | Social skills begin to decline in late 30s and early 40s, study findsTraining programmes to improve people's social and cognitive skills should target people in their late 30s and early 40s as these abilities start to decline earlier than previously thought, according to researchers who are looking at how social abilities change over time. |
 | Study looks at EVALI findings in teensThe first study to examine both chest X-ray and CT imaging findings in teenagers with electronic (e-)cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) was published today in the journal Radiology. |
 | New research reveals pharma companies are more profitable than most S&P 500 companiesLarge pharmaceutical companies are more profitable than most companies in the S&P 500 according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) titled "Profitability of Large Pharmaceutical Companies Compared with Other Large Public Companies." Pharmaceutical profits were closer to those of other research-based companies within the S&P 500 and were not higher than companies in the technology sector. |
 | Researchers find gene variants that may increase susceptibility to Alzheimer's proteinsResearchers know that the protein tau develops into tangles in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. But until now they have struggled to understand what factors make you more or less likely to develop these tangles. In a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 72nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, April 25 to May 1, 2020, researchers say that they have identified gene variants that are associated with a susceptibility to developing tau deposits in older age. |
 | Researchers design new technology for targeted cancer drug deliveryA team of researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi has developed a biocompatible, biodegradable and economical nanocarrier for safer and more effective delivery of anticancer drugs. Thr researchers have demonstrated that the novel pH-responsive hybrid (i.e., multi-component) nanoparticles can be loaded with a wide range of chemotherapeutics to target cancer cells, as reported in their paper published on March 3, 2020, in the journal Communications Biology. |
 | World failed to learn SARS lessons for coronavirus fightThe novel coronavirus outbreak has exposed a lack of global research on ways to combat the spread of infectious diseases, with health authorities failing to learn lessons from previous flare-ups, experts said Tuesday. |
 | We should not refer to COVID-19 as simply 'coronavirus'Since mid-February, the disease caused by the coronavirus has been known as COVID-19, short for coronavirus disease 2019. The new name was chosen by the World Health Organization because it's a more accurate name for the disease caused by a specific strain of the fairly common coronavirus. |
 | Study: Orange juice component may help combat obesityThe equivalent of just two and a half glasses of orange juice a day could reverse obesity and reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes—a benefit Western researchers attribute to nobiletin, a molecule found in sweet oranges and tangerines. |
 | Self-help post-natal PTSD strategies insufficient, study findsA new University of Liverpool-led study, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, has revealed that many women who experience a traumatic birth risk developing PTSD, but self-help strategies without professional support are insufficient and should not be routinely introduced. |
 | Aboriginal Australians at greater risk of strokeAboriginal Australians under 60 years of age who suffer from atrial fibrillation are three times more likely to experience a stroke than non-Aboriginal patients, according to a new study by The University of Western Australia. |
 | Understanding off-target effects of cancer drugs could lead to new treatmentsThese days, in the era of personalized medicine, whenever researchers discover a new cancer drug they are expected to show exactly how it works and to prove that it is exerting its therapeutic effect by hitting a particular molecular target. |
 | How scent, emotion, and memory are intertwined—and exploited"… I carried to my lips a spoonful of the tea in which I had let soften a bit of madeleine. But at the very instant when the mouthful of tea mixed with cake crumbs touched my palate, I quivered, attentive to the extraordinary thing that was happening inside me." |
 | Antipsychotics can be life-changing, but they can also put patients at riskPeople who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia can suffer extremely disabling and distressing symptoms, such as tormenting voices and paranoid thoughts. But with the right treatment, most people can live complete and fulfilling lives—thanks mainly to their antipsychotic medication. |
 | Understanding emotions is nearly as important as IQ for students' academic successThe ability to understand emotions contributes almost as much to students' grades as their IQ. |
 | Worried about your child getting COVID-19? Here's what you need to knowThe new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19, has infected nearly 90,000 people and caused more than 3,000 deaths so far. |
 | China censored virus news for weeks, say researchersChina began censoring online discussions on the new coronavirus weeks before officially acknowledging the scope of the disease, according to a report published Tuesday. |
 | COVID-19 could put fifth of UK staff off work: governmentUp to one fifth of employees could be off work in Britain when the coronavirus outbreak peaks, the government said Tuesday outlining a new action plan. |
 | Early start key to easing the trajectory of childhood obesityEarly education and support programs for pregnant women and parents with young babies may be the key to combating rising rates of obesity in Australian kids, suggests a study led by the University of Sydney's Clinical Trials Centre. |
 | Five amazing facts about your brainOur brain is the most complex organ in the body. Not only does it control basic life functions like breathing, organ function, and movement, it's also behind more complex processes—everything from thought, controlling our behaviour and emotions, and creating memories. But despite how important our brains are, many people still know very little about it. |
 | What can the Black Death tell us about the global economic consequences of a pandemic?Concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus have translated into an economic slowdown. Stock markets have taken a hit: the UK's FTSE 100 has seen its worst days of trading for many years and so have the Dow Jones and S&P in the US. Money has to go somewhere and the price of gold—seen as a stable commodity during extreme events – reached a seven-year high. |
 | Study links depressive symptoms during pregnancy with lowered immunity in infantsA woman's mental health during pregnancy has a direct influence on the development of her child's immune system, according to a new study from pediatric researchers at the University of Alberta. |
 | The urban history that makes China's coronavirus lockdown possibleHundreds of millions of people in cities in China have been affected by measures to contain the novel coronavirus. It has been reported that people have been asked to provide information such as their temperature via mobile phone, and that in some neighbourhoods only one member of a family is allowed out every few days to buy food. Visitors from outside residential complexes have been forbidden from entering, and public gatherings have been cancelled. |
 | Caesarean birth has little impact on children developing allergiesA caesarean birth had little impact on whether a child would go onto develop allergies, a new study led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) has shown. |
 | Taking the panic out of pandemicIn the wake of Australia's first coronavirus-related death on Sunday, the nation now has just a small window of opportunity to avoid hitting the panic button. |
 | Stealth transmission fuels fast spread of COVID-19 outbreakUndetected cases, many of which were likely not severely symptomatic, were largely responsible for the rapid spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, according to new research by scientists at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. The findings, based on a computer model of the outbreak, are published online in medRxiv, a preprint server for health sciences. (Read a Q&A with study co-author Jeffrey Shaman below.) |
 | Fear of COVID-19 is more pervasive than infectionAll over the world, thousands of people have now been infected with the coronavirus. China has seen the highest number of cases thus far, but the virus has also struck in Italy, France, the US, Canada, and Japan. Headlines such as "Coronavirus: how worried should we be?", and "Corona death toll rises" reflect people's growing fear of the virus. But is that fear justified? It's still difficult to answer that question in the short term, given that the disease is a new one. But there's nothing new about the rampant fear. The cause of this fear lies in various psychological heuristics (underlying principles that influence the choices people make). |
 | Predicting the COVID-19 outbreak: How AI connects the dots to warn about disease threatsCanadian artificial intelligence firm BlueDot has been in the news in recent weeks for warning about the new coronavirus days ahead of the official alerts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. The company was able to do this by tapping different sources of information beyond official statistics about the number of cases reported. |
 | Study reveals properties of cells fated to relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemiaScientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada, have reported that subpopulations of leukemic cells present at diagnosis can cause relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The findings have implications for current and future therapy. The work recently appeared as an advance online publication in Cancer Discovery. |
 | Why hand-washing really is as important as doctors sayAs the threat from the coronavirus grows, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health officials are stressing the importance of hand-washing. |
 | Why public health officials sound more worried about the COVID-19 than the seasonal fluThe spread of the new coronavirus, which has infected over 80,000 people worldwide and resulted in the death of more than 3,000, has raised alarms around the world. |
 | Study homes in on possible cause of sudden cardiac deathsBy studying the sick hearts removed from four patients undergoing heart transplants, researchers have identified a protein and a signaling pathway that may contribute to sudden death in an inherited form of heart disease. |
 | Discovery of GABAergic synaptic regulations inside the brain for a new epilepsy treatmentDGIST announced on February 12 that the joint research team of Professor Jaewon Ko and Professor Ji Won Um in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences found a new candidate target to treat epilepsy by regulating GABAergic synaptic functions. This research achievement is expected to set a milestone to develop new treatments such as epilepsy, an intractable brain disease. |
 | Immune cells may improve accuracy of predicting survival in colorectal cancerThe density of immune cells, called tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, when combined with analysis of tumor budding may serve as a method to more accurately predict survival in patients with stage III colon cancer. The findings, by a team of researchers led by Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist and oncologist, Frank Sinicrope, M.D., were published today in Annals of Oncology. |
 | It's what's inside that matters: Locking up proteins enables cancer metastasisResearchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) discover a novel mechanism by which claudin-1 contributes to the progression of tongue squamous cell carcinoma |
 | Big drop in global drowningsJames Cook University researcher Associate Professor Richard Franklin says drownings globally have dropped by half over the last 30 years, with rates reducing in all regions except Oceania. |
 | Not only what you eat, but how you eat, may affect your microbiomeThe importance of the microorganisms that live on and in our bodies has long been recognized, and their complex synergistic impact on our systemic health has been elucidated. Now, researchers from Japan have shown the importance of normal eating for the composition and balance of our individual oral and gut microbiota. |
 | France seizes control of masks; Europeans close more schoolsFrance requisitioned protective masks and sent tens of thousands of students home from school, Norway blocked 1,200 passengers on a cruise ship and Spain isolated dozens of health workers as the new coronavirus spread further Tuesday into Europe. |
 | Medication fog can mimic or worsen dementia in the elderlyClaire Dinneen's daughters thought that worsening dementia was causing her growing confusion, but her doctor suspected something else. |
US shuts Homeland Security office in Washington amid employee infection fearsThe US Department of Homeland Security closed an office in Washington State early Tuesday amid fears that one of its employees may have contracted the coronavirus. | |
 | Africa looks to Ebola lessons in fight against coronavirusTheir continent has so far only registered two coronavirus cases, but sub-Saharan African governments are looking to their experience with Ebola as they prepare their fragile public systems for outbreaks of the new virus. |
 | On the path toward non-addictive painkillersOpioid-containing painkillers are virtually indispensable in clinical practice and are typically used in postoperative patients and patients undergoing cancer treatment. In addition to having severe side effects, however, these drugs have also been associated with extensive misuse, particularly in the United States. Recent findings by a team of researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin represent a significant step towards the development of a new generation of painkillers. Published in Scientific Reports, their findings show that tissue acidity—or tissue pH—at the source of the pain (i.e. injury) is a crucial determinant in the development of new drugs. This is because the fine-tuning of an opioid molecule's acid dissociation constant (pKa) will determine its risk profile, including its addiction potential. |
 | We can make predictions about relationships - but is this necessary?It has probably never been easier to find a partner who is compatible with you—at least in theory. Internet dating platforms feed algorithms with information about those seeking a relationship in order to find the best match for them. But can this predictability be applied to a relationship? Is it possible to foresee from the start whether it will last? |
 | Alzheimer's: Can an amino acid help to restore memories?Scientists at the Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives (CNRS/CEA/Université Paris-Saclay) and the Neurocentre Magendie (INSERM/Université de Bordeaux) have just shown that a metabolic pathway plays a determining role in Alzheimer's disease's memory problems. This work, published on 3 March 2020 in Cell Metabolism, also shows that supplying a specific amino acid as a nutritional supplement in a mouse model of Alzheimer's restores spatial memory affected early. This is a promising path for reducing memory loss related to that disease. |
 | NICU babies at risk for later mental health issues(HealthDay)—Survivors of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at an increased risk for psychiatric disorders during childhood and adolescence, according to a study recently published in Archives of Disease in Childhood. |
 | Use of PPIs tied to cognitive issues in breast cancer survivors(HealthDay)—Use of acid reflux drugs (proton pump inhibitors [PPIs]) during and after cancer treatment may be tied to impaired memory and concentration in breast cancer survivors, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship. |
 | Emergency measure will get more respirators to U.S. health care workers(HealthDay)—An emergency authorization will make more respirators available for U.S. health care workers during the coronavirus outbreak, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
 | As coronavirus spreads, should travel history be in your medical records?(HealthDay)—Including travel history in patients' medical records could help slow the spread of coronavirus and future infectious outbreaks, two experts say. |
 | Blocking energy production in immune cells helps tumours escape treatmentA small molecule that inhibits energy production in immune T-cells allows some tumours to escape treatment with an immunotherapy called PD-1 blockade therapy, says a study in mice published today in eLife. |
 | Study suggests blocking immune T-cell regulator may help eliminate tumoursImmune system T-cells are more able to destroy skin cancer cells when a T-cell regulator called SLAMF6 is missing, a new study in eLife shows. |
 | Only one percent of China coronavirus cases without symptoms: WHOThe World Health Organization said Tuesday that only one percent of new coronavirus cases registered in China were without symptoms, which appears to bely fears the virus spreads via people who appear healthy. |
| Protective gear to fight virus 'rapidly depleting': WHOThe World Health Organization said Tuesday that understanding how the new coronavirus spreads was rapidly increasing, but warned the protective gear needed to fight the disease was "rapidly depleting". |
 | Quarantine, not vaccine will stop virus: Italy corona expertThe world should not expect a vaccine to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus and must instead swallow "the bitter pill" of quarantine measures, a top Italian researcher warned Tuesday. |
 | Study identifies regional malnutrition clusters across IndiaChildhood malnutrition in India remains a major problem. A new study shows that the problem is concentrated in specific geographic areas, which could help policymakers working to address the issue. |
 | Infectious diseases A to Z: What to know about COVID-19 if you are travelingSpring break is underway for millions of people in the U.S. and around the world. What does that mean for travelers given the COVID-19 outbreak? |
 | Reduce salt to improve heart healthThose with high blood pressure or who are at risk may want to consider simply saying no to sodium. Dr. Amy Pollak, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says 75% of the amount of salt you get in your day-to-day diet is from processed foods or going out to eat. |
 | Consumer health: Niacin to boost your HDL, 'good,' cholesterolNiacin is an important B vitamin that may raise your HDL, ("good"), cholesterol. Find out if you should talk to your health care provider about taking niacin alone or with cholesterol medications. |
 | Cold medicines for kids: What's the risk?Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are the best way to help a child who has a cold feel better—right? Think again. Here's practical advice from Dr. Jay L. Hoecker, an emeritus pediatrics specialist at Mayo Clinic. |
 | Q&A on COVID-19 from Mayo ClinicLearn more about COVID-19 in this Q&A: |
 | Drug development for rare diseases affecting children is increasingThe number of treatments for rare diseases affecting children has increased, a new study suggests. But federal incentives intended to encourage drug development for rare conditions are being used more often to expand the use of existing drugs rather than for creating new ones. |
Pregnant women with depression are more than three times more likely to use cannabisCannabis use is much more common among pregnant women with depression and pregnant women with depression are more than 3 times more likely to use cannabis than those without depression, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Despite data linking cannabis and depression in many populations, this is the first study to examine this relationship among pregnant women in a nationally representative sample. The findings are online in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. | |
 | Radiation therapy for colon cancer works better when specific protein blockedResearchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis appear to have discovered a way to make radiation therapy for colorectal cancer more effective by inhibiting a protein found in cancer cells in the gut. The approach also helps protect healthy tissue from the negative effects of radiation. |
 | For anxious spouses, a baby may be a rivalA new child can spark feelings of jealousy in a person who already fears being abandoned by his or her partner, research suggests. |
 | Less than 20% of Americans have rapid access to endovascular thrombectomy for strokeTimely treatment is critical for stroke victims, yet only 19.8% of the U.S. population can access a stroke center capable of endovascular thrombectomy to remove a large clot in 15 minutes or less by ambulance, according to researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Only 30% of Americans can access a thrombectomy-equipped center in 30 minutes. |
 | Changing the debate around obesityThe UK's National Health Service (NHS) needs to do more to address the ingrained stigma and discrimination faced by people with obesity, says a leading health psychologist. |
 | Starting estradiol therapy soon after menopause may benefit arteriesTaking estradiol within 6 years after the onset of menopause may help prevent atherosclerosis, plaque buildup in artery walls, from progressing; however, starting estradiol therapy ten years after menopause did not have similar benefits, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2020. |
 | Starve a tumor, feed a cell: How cancers can resist drugsWith drug resistance a major challenge in the fight against cancer, a discovery by University of California, Irvine biologists could offer new approaches to overcoming the obstacle. Their research reveals that a mechanism enabling the diseased cells to scavenge dead cell debris for nourishment holds a pivotal role. The study by Aimee Edinger, associate professor of developmental & cell biology, and researcher Vaishali Jayashankar appears in Nature Communications. |
 | New way to identify patients likely to return to hospital could reduce future readmissionsRecurrent, unplanned readmissions to the hospital—which happen when patients return shortly after discharge and are readmitted for the same or a related condition—are a challenge worldwide. Many researchers have examined how to predict them and how to understand the factors that contribute to them. A new study looked at how the risk of readmission progressed over multiple visits to emergency departments (EDs) in Israel by patients with chronic diseases. The study explored a way to identify distinct groups of patients who are more likely to be readmitted so medical professionals can intervene to prevent or reduce the possibility of future readmissions. |
 | Study suggests guidelines to improve Youtube videos on chronic health care conditionsMany people with chronic health conditions search social media, including YouTube videos, to learn more about how to manage their diagnoses. But these videos differ in how well they communicate information and hold viewers' attention. A better understanding of how patients engage with medical information is important for improving the use of health care resources and the quality of care. A new study sought to understand how people engage with health information in YouTube videos on diabetes. In the study, researchers developed an approach to identify videos with differing levels of medical information and examined viewers' engagement with those videos. |
 | Dietary compounds found to influence gut metabolites, buffering stressThink dietary fiber is just for digestive health? Think again. |
| US death toll from coronavirus rises to nineThe US death toll from the novel coronavirus rose to nine on Tuesday, all in the state of Washington and many of them residents of the same nursing home, officials said. |
Canada asks travelers from Iran to self-isolate due to virusCanada on Monday asked travelers arriving from Iran—one of the countries hardest hit by the new coronavirus epidemic—to self-isolate at home for 14 days, even if they are not exhibiting any symptoms. | |
 | South Korea declares 'war' on coronavirus as cases exceed 5,000South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared "war" against the coronavirus on Tuesday, as the country reported its biggest daily case increase to date, sending its total past 5,000—the largest in the world outside China. |
 | Drug maker Sandoz to pay $195 mn to settle US case: govtSandoz, a subsidiary of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, has agreed to pay $195 million to avoid trial on charges it conspired to fix prices of generic drugs, US prosecutors announced Monday. |
 | Iran orders troops to fight coronavirus outbreak as 77 deadIran's supreme leader put the Islamic Republic's armed forces on alert Tuesday to assist health officials in combating the outbreak of the new coronavirus—the deadliest outside of China—that authorities say has killed 77 people. |
 | As virus spread, EU activates fast-track decision modeThe EU has adopted a faster decision-making process to help coordinate the response to the novel coronavirus outbreak and allow non-members like Britain to take part. |
 | France shuts dozens of schools in bid to contain coronavirusFrench officials have closed about 120 schools in areas that have reported the largest numbers of coronavirus infections, and more could be shuttered in the coming days, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said Tuesday. |
 | Biocomplexity researchers working with health officials to predict COVID-19 spreadThe novel coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic is growing rapidly and already affecting 65 countries. South Korea has seen an explosive growth in confirmed cases, partially attributable to large-scale testing and identification of cases. Italy and Iran are seeing increasing cases, and infections are spilling into neighboring countries and nations connected by international travel. |
 | Young women and girls are taking sex-ed into their own hands on YouTubeSex education in Canadian schools continues to be highly politicized and young people are paying the price. |
Hand sanitiser sales rocket 255% in Britain: dataSales of hand sanitiser in Britain have more than tripled as nervous customers sought to protect themselves from coronavirus, data showed Tuesday. | |
 | Norway clears cruise passengers after 2 tested for virus (Update)Passengers on a German cruise ship moored in southern Norway received clearance to come out of a 24-hour quarantine after two of them tested negative for the coronavirus, Norwegian officials said Tuesday,. |
 | Adding travel history to patient evaluation could help to prevent spread of COVID-19A commentary published in Annals of Internal Medicine recommends adding travel history to the patient evaluation to identify risk for potential exposure to CoVID-19, or coronavirus. Typically, clinicians assess temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure during a physical examination. Adding a fifth "vital sign" could help to prevent spread of geographically-linked emerging infectious diseases, such as CoVID-19. |
 | Flu vaccine may not decrease hospitalization or mortality among elderly personsInfluenza vaccination rates increase sharply at age 65 with no matching decrease in hospitalizations and mortality rates in this population. These findings suggest that current vaccination strategies prioritizing elderly persons may not be as effective as previously thought. Findings from an observational study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Drugs may not work to help problematic pot usersAvailable evidence suggests that several drug classes, including cannabinoids and SSRIs, are ineffective for treating cannabis use disorder. Findings from a systematic review are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | APA reaffirms psychologists' role in combating climate changePsychologists have a key role to play in addressing climate change and treating the mental health effects that arise from changes to the planet's weather patterns, according to a resolution adopted by the American Psychological Association. |
| First coronavirus case confirmed in UkraineUkraine's health ministry on Tuesday confirmed the country's first case of the coronavirus in the western city of Chernivtsi. |
Swiss soldiers confined to base after virus caseThe Swiss army said Tuesday that all soldiers would be confined to base after a case of the new coronavirus was discovered in their ranks. | |
 | Researchers link immune system to salt-sensitive hypertension in CKDResearchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) find that immune system signaling molecule TNF-α may trigger high blood pressure in patients with chronic kidney disease. |
 | A novel cause of fatty liver in lean peopleNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is mostly diagnosed in overweight and obese people. However, severe forms of NAFLD can also be detected in rare genetic diseases such as lipodystrophy or in patients with HIV, putting them at a high risk for developing liver failure, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Norbert Stefan and colleagues have now detected a yet unknown cause of NAFLD in lean people. They report a case of a woman who received immune checkpoint blockade therapy for skin cancer, which may have triggered inflammation of her subcutaneous fat, resulting in a dramatic loss of fat mass and severe NAFLD. |
 | Italy coronavirus deaths jumps to 79Italy on Tuesday reported a jump in the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus to 79, with more than 2,500 people infected—the most of any country in Europe. |
 | Is intermittent fasting a quick fix?One of the latest diet trends is intermittent fasting. There are two common approaches to fasting. One is to eat few calories on certain days and then eat normally the rest of the time. The other involves eating only during certain hours and skipping meals for the rest of each day. In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Donald Hensrud, director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, explains the potential benefits and risks to intermittent fasting. |
Interplay between states and federal government in implementing the ACAThe fierce national debate over health care reform includes deep divisions over the appropriate roles of the federal and state governments. For example, while Sen Bernie Sanders (I-VT) calls for expanding the federal Medicare program to cover all Americans, the Trump administration pushes for the states to have far greater authority. However, according to Michael Sparer, JD, Ph.D., chair of health policy and management at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) points towards a more effective inter-governmental partnership, one in which the states have significant policy and administrative discretion, bounded by strong national standards designed to limit unacceptable inequities. | |
 | Argentina confirms first coronavirus case: health ministryArgentina and Chile both said on Tuesday they had confirmed their first cases of new coronavirus in patients who recently returned from travels. |
 | Italy needs 10 million masks to fight virus: officialItaly, which does not make face masks, is getting 800,000 of them from South Africa but needs at least 10 million more, a top Italian civil protection official told AFP on Tuesday. |
Biology news
 | Study: Rapamycin has harmful effects when telomeres are shortIn the past few decades, researchers discovered that the rate at which we age is strongly influenced by biochemical processes that, at least in animal models, can be controlled in the laboratory. Telomere shortening is one of these processes; another is the ability of cells to detect nutrients mediated by the mTOR protein. Researchers have been able to prolong life in many species by modifying either one of them. But what if they manipulate both? |
 | Advances in computer modeling, protein development propel cellular engineeringRecent advances in bioengineering and computational modeling have given researchers the ability to examine complex biological processes with molecular-level detail. |
 | Research: Evolution of life cycle of parasitic worm that takes over 'zombie ants'It could be the plot of a B-horror movie: microscopic parasitic worms invade the brains of ants, and use mind control to make the "zombies ants" do their bidding. |
 | A glitch in the Matrix: Using virtual reality to understand how fish predict the futureScientists from the Friedrich group have developed a new virtual reality system that allows them to manipulate the sensory environment of adult zebrafish at will, while simultaneously analyzing neural activity. This approach can be used to explore how the brain processes complex sensory inputs and how it uses internal models of the world to control behaviors. |
 | New Cas9 variant makes genome editing even more preciseCRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized the field of genetics by its ability to cut DNA at defined target sites. Researchers are using the Cas9 enzyme to specifically switch off genes, or insert new DNA fragments into the genome. But no matter how specific the Cas9 enzyme is—sometimes it cuts where it shouldn't. Scientists at the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin and the Faculty of Medicine of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg now report a Cas9 variant that increases the specificity of genome editing. |
 | From crocodiles to krill, a warming world raises the 'costs' paid by developing embryosApart from mammals and birds, most animals develop as eggs exposed to the vagaries of the outside world. This development is energetically "costly." Going from a tiny egg to a fully functioning organism can deplete up to 60% of the energy reserves provided by a parent. |
 | Study underscores importance of molecular highways for organ healthTurns out, even your cells hate traffic jams. |
 | Anti-evolution drug could stop antibiotic resistanceThe spread of antibiotic resistance is partly due to the ability of bacteria to pick up DNA from their surroundings. A new study, which started at the University of Groningen, showed that drugs blocking this ability (which is called 'competence') in the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae can indeed stop the spread of resistance in mice. As competence is blocked without affecting cell growth, it will be difficult for the bacteria to evolve resistance to the blockade. The study was published online by the journal Cell Host & Microbe on 3 March. |
 | Reef-building coral exhibiting 'disaster traits' akin to the last major extinction eventA study published Tuesday in Scientific Reports shows that stony corals, which provide food and shelter for almost a quarter of all ocean species, are preparing for a major extinction event. |
 | Simulations show fundamental interactions inside the cellActin filaments have several important functions inside cells. For one, they support the cell membrane by binding to it. However, scientists did not know exactly how the actin interacts with the membrane lipids. Simulations performed at the University of Groningen, supported by experiments, provide a molecular view on this very fundamental process. The results were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on 2 March. |
 | Imaging technique reveals 3-D forces exerted by tiny cell clustersA team of researchers has developed a new technique to map the three-dimensional forces that clusters of human cells exert on their surrounding environment. The method could potentially help scientists better understand how tissue forms, how wounds heal or how tumors spread. |
 | Apes' inner ears could hide clues to evolutionary history of hominoidsStudying the inner ear of apes and humans could uncover new information on our species' evolutionary relationships, suggests a new study published today in eLife. |
 | Parrots get probability, use stats to make choices: studyDoes Polly want a cracker? That all depends on statistics. |
 | 'Optical tweezers' help in quest for better cancer treatmentsStem cells involved in replenishing human tissues and blood depend on an enzyme known as telomerase to continue working throughout our lives. When telomerase malfunctions, it can lead to both cancer and premature aging conditions. Roughly 90% of cancer cells require inappropriate telomerase activity to survive. |
 | Jellyfish help understand the timing of egg productionIn animals, releasing eggs in a timely manner is vital to maximize the chances of successful fertilization. |
 | Researchers clarify how cells defend themselves from virusesA protein known to help cells defend against infection also regulates the form and function of mitochondria, according to a new paper in Nature Communications. |
 | Research looks to beneficial insects for pest controlA Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologist is studying how a combination of beneficial insects can help control the pests in greenhouses. |
 | Evolution: That famous 'march of progress' image is just wrongEvolution explains how all living beings, including us, came to be. It would be easy to assume evolution works by continuously adding features to organisms, constantly increasing their complexity. Some fish evolved legs and walked onto the land. Some dinosaurs evolved wings and began to fly. Others evolved wombs and began to give birth to live young. |
 | 'Sustainable gardening' includes many eco-friendly practices"Sustainable" is one of gardening's trendiest buzzwords, yet it carries a range of definitions. Just what does it mean in practical terms, and how important is it to the average gardener? |
 | African grey parrots help each other in times of needPeople readily help each other. We donate blood and food or help old people across the street. Among non-human animals this propensity to help is very rare. |
 | Common bee virus causes bees to forage prematurelyHoney bee pollination contributes roughly $15 billion to the U.S. agricultural industry each year, but diseases like deformed wing virus (DWV) can devastate bee health. |
 | Zombie caterpillar fungus may contain anti-cancer drug – but there are still questions to be answeredSpores released by parasitic fungi of the group cordyceps infect insect hosts, causing the fungus to grow inside them. Eventually this kills the host, but a bizarre twist is that before they die their behaviour is changed to assist the release of new fungal spores. |
 | Dragonflies consume hundreds of thousands of insects in a small areaA study led by the University of Turku has found that small, fiercely predatory damselflies catch and eat hundreds of thousands of insects during a single summer—in an area surrounding just a single pond. In terms of weight, this equates to a total prey mass of just under a kilo. Dragonflies mostly catch different kinds of midges, but also large numbers of other insects. |
 | Survival of the fittest: How primate immunodeficiency viruses are evolvingResearchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) discovered a novel mechanism by which immunodeficiency viruses evolved over time to evade the protective measures of the host. |
 | How this garden, with native plants and canoe planters, can help save salmon, orcasGardens aren't just for flowers. They can boost the recovery of salmon and orcas, too. |
 | A tangled web: Teasing out the effects of CBD on canine seizuresCannabidiol, popularly known as CBD, gained mainstream fame for treating seizures with a strain of hemp called "Charlotte's Web." It was named for Charlotte Figi, a child with Dravet syndrome whose family was so desperate for an effective therapy, they moved to Colorado in search of an answer. Her seizures were successfully treated with cannabis that contained high concentrations of CBD (a non-psychoactive component of cannabis) and very low concentrations of THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis). |
 | I.Coast burns 3 tonnes of pangolin scalesIvory Coast officials on Tuesday burnt three tonnes of scales of the pangolin, the most trafficked mammal on Earth. |
 | Does your cat have degenerative joint disease?With an estimated 10-15% of adults over the age of 60 having some degree of osteoarthritis, otherwise known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), many people will be familiar with, or will know someone who suffers from, this painful and debilitating condition. What is not well recognised is that DJD, where the protective cartilage that cushions the end of the bones wears down over time, affects a high proportion of pet cats of all age groups, but particularly those 10 years of age and over. A study published today in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS) provides a screening checklist to help veterinarians and owners to identify cats experiencing DJD-associated pain. |
This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile
No comments:
Post a Comment