Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for November 8, 2010:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Structure of new form of super-hard carbon identified- Data from savvy cabbies to help improve online mapping
- Differences in human and Neanderthal brains set in just after birth
- Nanogenerators grow strong enough to power small conventional electronics (w/ Video)
- Ellison: Oracle has $4 billion case against SAP
- New ocean acidification study shows added danger to already struggling coral reefs
- Scientists identify cellular communicators for cancer virus
- Children find their own way to solve arithmetic problems
- Graphene: Singles and the few
- The trap snaps shut: Researchers isolate the substance that causes venus flytraps to close
- Making use of jellyfish on dry land
- Interest is growing in e-readers
- Scientists ID new cancer drug target
- Iron stimulates blooms of toxin-producing algae in open ocean, study finds
- Laser sets records for neutron yield, laser energy
Space & Earth news
Fast treatment for glacier modelling
(PhysOrg.com) -- Research that will improve understanding of how climate change will impact on New Zealand's glaciers and enable more accurate planning for water resource and tourism management in the South Island is being turbocharged.
Italy: More building collapses at Pompeii possible
(AP) -- More buildings inside the ancient Roman city of Pompeii could collapse, Italy's culture minister said Sunday, a day after a 2,000-year-old house once used by gladiators disintegrated into rubble.
Haiti 'got very lucky' as Tomas skirted island
(AP) -- Hurricane Tomas pushed northward from Haiti on Saturday, leaving villagers to mop up, evacuees to return to their tents and most everyone relieved that the country did not suffer what could have been its first big disaster since the January earthquake.
China unveils photos of moon
China on Monday unveiled photos taken by its lunar probe of the moon's Sinus Iridium, the area marked out for the nation's first landing, highlighting the success of the mission so far.
US, Australia sign space surveillance deal
Australia and the United States on Monday signed an agreement to cooperate in surveillance of space, possibly expanding the reach of a US military network tracking satellites and space junk.
The 6-percent solution: How corporations can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions through better planning
Nearly 6 percent of greenhouse gases generated by humans are due to the flow of products to consumers. The good news is that corporations could significantly lower these emissions by systematically analyzing their supply chain logistics, suggests David Simchi-Levi, a professor in MIT's Engineering Systems Division and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The bad news, he adds, is that not enough companies analyze their emissions data in a thorough way.
Website calculates effects of various asteroid impacts
If you're curious about how big an asteroid needs to be to cause major destruction, the new "Impact: Earth!" asteroid impact calculator can tell you.
Where's the Gulf oil? In the food web, study says
(AP) -- Scientists say they have for the first time tracked how certain nontoxic elements of oil from the BP spill quickly became dinner for plankton, entering the food web in the Gulf of Mexico.
GOES-13 satellite sees cold front stalking remnant low of Tomas
The GOES-13 satellite is watching a flurry of activity in the Atlantic Ocean today as a cold front approaches the remnants of Hurricane Tomas and threatens to swallow it in the next couple of days.
NASA sees Tropical Depression Jal's remnants entering and leaving India
Jal was a tropical storm when it made landfall this weekend on the east coast of India and tracked across the country while weakening into a remnant low pressure area. NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Jal's center as it was entering eastern India and NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image as it was departing the country.
Scientists use light signatures to track merging supermassive black holes
Scientists pursuing supermassive black holes suspect that these giants merge somewhere in the universe roughly once a year, but they don't know how to find them. They think the evidence is hidden in the powerful gravitational waves and strong bursts of electromagnetic radiation created when the black holes collide.
Climate change: Water reservoir glacier
Glaciers of large mountain regions contribute, to some extent considerably, to the water supply of certain populated areas. However, in a recent study conducted by Innsbruck glaciologists and climatologists it has been shown that there are important regional differences. The results of the study are published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
US scientists to speak out on climate change
Hundreds of US scientists are joining a mass effort to speak out on climate change, experts said Monday after skeptics gained political ground with last week's Republican gains in Congress.
Cleaning up polluting contaminants takes longer than thought: researcher
(PhysOrg.com) -- An Iowa State University researcher has discovered why theories and timetables established to predict how long it takes for a contaminated site to be free of pollution are overly optimistic.
Video: Flight of the comet
(PhysOrg.com) -- This video clip was compiled from images taken by NASA's EPOXI mission spacecraft during its flyby of comet Hartley 2 on Nov. 4.
Threshold sea surface temperature for hurricanes and tropical thunderstorms is rising
Scientists have long known that atmospheric convection in the form of hurricanes and tropical ocean thunderstorms tends to occur when sea surface temperature rises above a threshold. The critical question is, how do rising ocean temperatures with global warming affect this threshold? If the threshold does not rise, it could mean more frequent hurricanes.
Dangerous chemicals in food wrappers likely migrating to humans: study
University of Toronto scientists have found that chemicals used to line junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags are migrating into food and being ingested by people where they are contributing to chemical contamination observed in blood.
New ocean acidification study shows added danger to already struggling coral reefs
A new study led by scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science suggests that over the next century recruitment of new corals could drop by 73 percent, as rising CO2 levels turn the oceans more acidic. The research findings reveal a new danger to the already threatened Caribbean and Florida reef Elkhorn corals.
Iron stimulates blooms of toxin-producing algae in open ocean, study finds
(PhysOrg.com) -- A team of marine scientists has found that toxin-producing algae once thought to be limited to coastal waters are also common in the open ocean, where the addition of iron from natural or artificial sources can stimulate rapid growth of the harmful algae. The new findings, reported this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, add to concerns about proposals to use iron fertilization of the oceans as a way to combat global warming.
Discovery could reveal secrets of ancient Martian and terrestrial atmospheres
Chemists at UC San Diego have uncovered a new chemical reaction on tiny particulates in the atmosphere that could allow scientists to gain a glimpse from ancient rocks of what the atmospheres of the Earth and Mars were like hundreds of millions years ago.
Cosmic radio beacons
(PhysOrg.com) -- Because all cosmic objects evolve with time, astronomers sometimes have a difficult time deciding if two sources that seem different are actually related but just in different stages of life.
Technology news
Nuclear expansion in China
As the world's most populous country and fastest growing major economy, it's no surprise that China needs energy - lots of energy. Its thirst for oil has been a major driver for the dramatic increase in crude prices since 2004, and its heavy reliance on coal has created severe pollution problems and made China the world's largest emitter of CO2.
Future wind turbines go offshore -- deep and floating
DeepWind was launched October 1st 2010, and Riso DTU is coordinating the consortium of 12 international members.
Georgia Tech engaged in $100 million next-generation high-performance computing initiative
Imagine that one of the world's most powerful high performance computers could be packed into a single rack just 24 inches wide and powered by a fraction of the electricity consumed by comparable current machines. That would allow an unprecedented amount of computing power to be installed on aircraft, carried onto the battlefield for commanders – and made available to researchers everywhere.
Broadband usage growing even as gaps persist
(AP) -- The U.S. still faces a significant gap in residential broadband use that breaks down along incomes, education levels and other socio-economic factors, even as subscriptions among American households overall grew sevenfold between 2001 and 2009.
Toshiba introduces high performance blade-type SSDs
Toshiba Corporation today announced an innovative new form factor in high capacity solid-state storage, thin, blade-shaped SSD modules, the "Blade X-gale" series.
UC Berkeley students help improve Wikipedia's credibility
(PhysOrg.com) -- Ten public universities, including UC Berkeley, are collaborating in a 17-month pilot program, the WikiProject Public Policy Initiative, aimed at improving the quality of Wikipedia pages about public policy issues by having students and professors in the School of Information create and update content as part of their course work.
Amazon to buy Diapers.com owner Quidsi for $500M
(AP) -- Expanding its online retail empire, Amazon.com Inc. said Monday it is buying Quidsi, the owner of Diapers.com and Soap.com, for $500 million in cash.
Ericsson announces 4G telecom contract in Denmark
Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson said on Monday it had won a contract to supply Danish operator TDC with a fourth-generation (4G) communications network.
French companies attack Google ads rules
Associations representing major French companies accused US Internet giant Google on Monday of overstepping the mark by putting brand names up for auction as search keywords.
Web tool aims to prevent day-after Facebook regrets
A Web security company is offering a free tool designed to prevent users of social networks from posting embarrassing drunken messages online.
Republican victory in US election dooms 'net neutrality'
The stunning Republican gains in the US elections appear to have doomed efforts to pass a "net neutrality" bill that would require Internet service providers to treat all Web traffic equally.
MIT researchers test automatic parallel parking (w/ Video)
Any driver knows it can be hard to remain calm behind the wheel. But perhaps high-tech tools can help. A new study by MIT researchers, announced Thursday, suggests that driver-assistance technologies lower the amount of stress people feel when behind the wheel.
Making use of jellyfish on dry land
John Dabiri, assistant professor of aeronautics and bioengineering at Caltech who won a MacArthur Award this year, is fascinated by jellyfish. He believes jellyfish propulsion can inform engineering, which in turn can inform efficiency in wave and wind technology. He recently spoke with the Los Angeles Times.
Ellison: Oracle has $4 billion case against SAP
(AP) -- Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison turned up the pressure in an industrial espionage trial Monday by testifying that archenemy SAP AG should have paid $4 billion for licenses to Oracle software.
Data from savvy cabbies to help improve online mapping
(PhysOrg.com) -- Microsoft is planning to tap into the intimate knowledge taxi drivers have of their cities to improve their online mapping systems and help drivers navigate to their destinations faster.
Medicine & Health news
Breast cancer patients prefer silicone over saline implants after mastectomy
A new study has found that women who receive silicone implants after a double mastectomy are more satisfied with their breasts than women who receive saline implants. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings may help physicians and breast cancer survivors as they together make decisions related to postmastectomy reconstructive surgery.
Study finds funding for substance abuse in Indiana lacking
An Indiana University study found that Indiana spends more on the health care consequences of substance abuse than on its prevention.
Greater food insecurity from recession poses increased risk to low income individuals with diabetes
The economic recession impacts many aspects of our lives including an increase incidence of food insecurity. This can have serious consequences for those suffering from chronic illnesses like diabetes. For diseases like diabetes, in which nutrition and menu planning play a key role in treatment, food insecurity can be devastating. A study in the November/December issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior explores how technology advancement in the form of telemedicine can provide cost-effective ways to treat those with diabetes experiencing food insecurity.
Scleroderma dramatically under-diagnosed with commercial screening method
New research from Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) suggests that up to 40 percent of scleroderma patients will not be correctly diagnosed with the disorder using a new automated commercial screening test. The findings of the study will be presented Wednesday, November 10th at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Atlanta, Georgia.
Joint pain linked to breast cancer drug not inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune disease
A new study suggests joint complaints attributed to aromatase inhibitors (AI), popular breast cancer drugs, are not associated with inflammatory arthritis or autoimmune disease. Because of that, researchers say women who were primarily concerned about the threat of arthritis should be encouraged to continue taking the medication. The findings of the study will be presented Tuesday, Nov. 9 at the 74th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Atlanta, Georgia
Childhood obesity best tackled via social strategies, claims new book
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new book by the University of Sydney's Associate Professor Jennifer O'Dea puts forward the case to tackle and treat childhood obesity by targeting socially disadvantaged children, long before they become obese adults.
Cholera-carrying Haiti river likely to overflow
(AP) -- Officials in Haiti say a river that has been a source of a cholera epidemic is expected to overflow following heavy rains from Hurricane Tomas.
Privacy safeguards in Canadian military insufficient: Updated rules needed
Privacy legislation and protocols to safeguard the health information of members of the military are lacking, and the head of Canada's military must take action to ensure health privacy for all staff, states an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CAMJ).
Study sheds light on aromatase inhibitor joint pain syndrome
Breast cancer patients are more likely to have joint pain from taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs) if they have advanced stage cancer, according to a study presented at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, held Nov. 7-11, in Atlanta. The study is one of the first to identify factors that increase the likelihood that a patient will suffer joint pain from AI therapy.
Canola-type rapeseed oil reduces the level of fibrinogen, a cause of thrombosis and inflammation
According to research on fatty acids conducted at the universities of Helsinki and Tampere, the consumption of canola-type rapeseed oil decreases the level of fibrinogen detrimental to health in the body. The increased fibrinogen level, caused by an imbalance in essential fats in one's diet, decreases when saturated fatty acids are replaced with rapeseed oil. The research results were published in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids.
Study identifies factors that increase risk of falls among orthopedic inpatients
Patients who undergo total hip replacements are more at risk for having a serious fall while recovering in the hospital than patients undergoing other orthopedic procedures, according to a recent study. The study, which will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, Nov. 7-11, in Atlanta, also identified other factors involved in patient falls that could help hospitals devise strategies to reduce these accidents.
Fearless children show less empathy, more aggression
"The results of this study show that fearless behavior in children can be identified and is related to neurological and genetic predisposition. This type of behavior has less correlation – at least in infancy – with standards of educational processes or parenting practice," says Dr. Inbal Kivenson-Baron, who carried out the study.
Substandard and counterfeit antimalarial drugs discovered in Ghana
Substandard and counterfeit versions of thirteen key antimalarial medicines were uncovered in multiple locations across Ghana by the Medicines Quality Monitoring surveillance program. Set up by the Ghana Food and Drugs Board (FDB) in collaboration with the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the program samples antimalarials across the public and private sectors. It was established in 2008 and is implemented by USP's Promoting the Quality of Medicines (PQM) initiative. USP is a scientific nonprofit organization that develops globally recognized standards for the quality of medicines. Through the PQM program, USP works in developing countries to help verify and improve the quality of medications intended to treat life-threatening neglected diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
A comparison of severe outcomes during the waves of pandemic (H1N1) 2009
The second wave of the pandemic (H1N1) was substantially greater than the first with 4.8 times more hospital admissions, 4.6 times more deaths and 4 times more ICU cases, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). However, because of the larger number of people hospitalized during the second wave compared to the first, the percentage of people with severe outcomes was smaller.
Do not abandon new cigarette warning labels
Health Canada's cancellation of plans to renew tobacco warning labels on cigarette packages may lead to increased smoking rates and smoking-related illnesses and deaths, states an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Chemoprevention biomarker for breast cancer identified
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified a possible biomarker for measuring progress in breast cancer chemoprevention trials, according to data presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held here Nov. 7-10, 2010.
Gefitinib may have chemopreventive benefits in pancreatic cancer
Gefitinib may be a promising chemoprevention agent for pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Frequency of foot disorders differs between African-Americans and whites
Common foot disorders such as flat feet, corns and bunions are more prevalent among African Americans than in whites, a new study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers has found.
Potential drug therapy for diabetic retinopathy under study
One drug's startling ability to restore retinal health in the eyes of diabetic mice has researchers wanting to learn more about how it works and whether it might do the same for people.
PPIs and antiplatelet drugs can be used together after careful consideration of risks and benefits
Using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and antiplatelet drugs (thienopyridines) together is an appropriate way of treating patients with cardiovascular (CV) disease who are at high risk of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeds, despite recent concerns about an adverse interaction between these two types of drugs, according to an Expert Consensus Document released jointly today by the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), and the American Heart Association (AHA).
Many patients having heart attacks still wait more than 2 hours to go to the hospital
Long delays between developing symptoms and going to the hospital are common among patients with a certain type of heart attack, according to a report in the November 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Common corneal condition associated with increased eye pressure
Corneal arcus, a condition in which a ring of lipids builds up around the cornea, appears common among middle-age and older adults and may be associated with elevated eye pressure, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
Alternative treatment for preventing relapse of certain type of vasculitis appears less effective
In a comparison of treatments for maintaining remission of a certain type of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels), the immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil, regarded as an alternative to the drug often used to prevent relapse, azathioprine, was less effective, according to a study that will appear in the December 1 print edition of JAMA. The study is being released early online to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Rheumatology annual scientific meeting.
Soy isoflavones may modify risk of breast cancer
Increased phytoestrogens commonly found in dietary soy may modify the risk of some types of breast cancer, according to findings presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held Nov. 7-10, 2010.
Smoking increased risk of death in women with breast cancer
Being a current smoker or having a history of smoking significantly increased the risk of breast cancer progression and overall death among a group of multiethnic women with breast cancer, according to the results of a large prospective cohort study.
Obesity not linked to breast cancer in Mexican-American women
Obesity was not associated with breast cancer risk in Mexican-American women, even when measured at numerous ages throughout a woman's lifetime, according to data presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held here Nov. 7-10, 2010.
Clinical research doesn't do enough to study sex and gender differences
Potential gender differences in clinical management are under-researched. A systematic analysis of the incorporation of sex and gender into research design, published in the open access journal BMC Medicine, has found that, although there has been a progressive improvement since the 90s, there exists a striking under-representation of research about gender differences in patient management.
Study: Tai Chi relieves arthritis pain, improves reach, balance, well-being
In the largest study to date of the Arthritis Foundation's Tai Chi program, participants showed improvement in pain, fatigue, stiffness and sense of well-being.
Vapor rub relieves cold symptoms for children, helps them sleep better
Applying a vapor rub is effective for treating children with night-time cough and congestion and improves sleep for children with cold symptoms, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.
Statins don't prove useful for general pediatric lupus population
Lupus puts children at higher risk for coronary artery disease when they become adults, but routinely using statins doesn't provide enough benefit to warrant their regular use in children and adolescents, according to the largest study of pediatric lupus patients to date.
Prolonged maternal separation increased breast cancer risk in neonatal mice
Young mice that experienced the psychosocial stress of prolonged separation from their mothers had a higher incidence and faster onset of breast tumors compared with young mice who did not experience this stressful life event. Specifically, neonatal mice separated from their mothers for a prolonged period of time developed mammary tumors twice as fast as mice that experienced short or no maternal separation.
New link between growth factors and early prostate cancer found
A new study by researchers from the University of Bristol, presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) conference today, has found potential new biomarkers for very early prostate cancer in men with no symptoms of the disease.
Fruit fly researcher discovers genetic mutation that causes muscular problems, mobility issues
(PhysOrg.com) -- A researcher and his team in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta have discovered the root cause of how a genetic mutation prevents muscles from attaching to each other, leading to mobility issues.
Different roads to diabetes
(PhysOrg.com) -- A specific genetic variant puts individuals of Asian ancestry at risk of developing diabetes -- but not their European counterparts.
Heart link discovered in sudden epilepsy deaths
(PhysOrg.com) -- Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most common cause of epilepsy-related death and responsible for about 150 Australian deaths each year yet the underlying cause has remained a mystery.
Researchers discover expanded role for cancer-causing gene
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that Vav1 – an oncogene (cancer-causing gene) found in recent years to be one of the factors in tumorous tissue growth -- plays a wider role in several types of cancer than had previously been thought. The discovery has implications for further concentration on targeting this gene in cancer research.
Research shows fish oil component given up to 5 hours after stroke limits brain damage
Research led by Dr. Nicolas Bazan, Boyd Professor, Villere Chair, and Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health Sciences Center, has shown that Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a component of fish oil, is a powerful therapeutic agent that can protect brain tissue and promote recovery in an experimental model of acute ischemic stroke, even when treatment is delayed by up to five hours. These findings not only target a new stroke treatment approach, but also provide vital information about the length of the therapeutic window. The NIH-funded research is published in the journal Translational Stroke Research.
What research brings spinal cord-injured patients closer to a cure?
Millions of people worldwide experience spinal cord injuries. Breakthroughs bring researchers progress, but a complete cure is a long way off.
New method for control of malaria applied in Africa
Research carried out in Mali, West Africa, has demonstrated that a new, safe and uncomplicated insect control method, developed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, can bring about a serious decline in malaria-bearing mosquitoes in afflicted regions in the world.
German researchers find an 'altruism gene'
Do you like to do good things for other people? If so, your genes might be responsible for this. At least, the results of a study conducted by researchers of the University of Bonn suggest this. According to the study, a minute change in a particular gene is associated with a significantly higher willingness to donate. People with this change gave twice as much money on average to a charitable cause as did other study subjects. The results have now been published in the journal Social Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience.
Scientists pinpoint key defense against parasite infection
Scientists have made a significant discovery about how the body defends itself against snail fever, a parasitic worm infection common in developing countries.
Mild painkillers in pregnancy associated with increased risk of male reproductive problems
New evidence has emerged that the use of mild painkillers such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen, may be part of the reason for the increase in male reproductive disorders in recent decades. Research published in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction today (Monday 8 November) shows that women who took a combination of more than one mild analgesic during pregnancy, or who took the painkillers during the second trimester of pregnancy, had an increased risk of giving birth to sons with undescended testicles (cryptorchidism) – a condition that is known to be a risk factor for poor semen quality and testicular germ cell cancer in later life.
Discovery of an anti-inflammatory substance
The messenger interleukin-27 plays an important role when the human body blocks inflammations. This was discovered by an international research team, of which the Kiel Professors Joachim Grotzinger and Stefan Rose-John, as well as the doctoral candidate, Bjorn Spudy, are a part of. The research findings of the scientists from Kiel, the US and Great Britain were published yesterday, Sunday (7 November 2010), in the online advance edition of Nature Immunology.
Study examines risk of heterosexual HIV transmission in China
A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health examines the burden of HIV and sexually transmitted disease among male clients of the commercial sex industry in China's Sichuan province. Since 2007, heterosexual transmission has replaced injecting drug use as the primary transmission mode of all HIV infections in China. The study is available online in advance of publication in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Can you really be scared to death?
We like a good fright, but can you actually be scared to death?
Soy may stop prostate cancer spread
Northwestern Medicine researchers at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University have found that a new, nontoxic drug made from a chemical in soy could prevent the movement of cancer cells from the prostate to the rest of the body.
Fat sand rats are SAD like us
(PhysOrg.com) -- Saying goodbye to summer can be difficult for everybody. In some people the onset of winter triggers Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, a mood disorder in which sufferers experience symptoms of depression. Happily, a special kind of gerbil exhibits remarkably similar reactions to SAD treatments as humans, opening a promising new channel for study and treatment of the common complaint.
Statins did not reduce colorectal cancer in WHI analysis
The use of statins among a group of postmenopausal women did not reduce the risk for colorectal cancer, according to the results of a prospective analysis of data from the large population-based Women's Health Initiative (WHI).
Anti-gout drug may decrease risk for colorectal adenoma progression
Allopurinol, a relatively inexpensive anti-gout medication that has been on the market for more than 20 years, may have some activity against colorectal adenomas, according to data presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held here Nov. 7-10, 2010.
UCLA uses new hybrid, precision heart procedures to help stop deadly arrhythmias
New techniques now being used at UCLA allow doctors to more precisely target certain areas of the heart to stop ventricular arrhythmias — serious abnormal rhythms in the heart's lower chambers — in high-risk patients.
Brain bleeding is common with aging, study finds
A small amount of bleeding in the brain seems to be common among older individuals, according to a UC Irvine study.
TB-drugome provides new targets for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the University of Leeds have linked hundreds of federally approved drugs to more than 1,000 proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), opening new avenues to repurpose these drugs to treat TB.
DHA improves memory and cognitive function in older adults
A study published in the November edition of Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association suggests that taking docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may improve memory and learning in older adults with mild cognitive impairments. This is promising news for many aging Americans who are searching for options to maintain memory and support overall cognitive health.
Mass. doctor invents product to curb hospital-acquired infections
Saints Medical Center is pleased to announce that Richard H. Ma, M.D, chair of its hospitalist department, has received a patent for a lightweight plastic cover for stethoscopes that will dramatically reduce hospital-acquired infections.
MDs slash some drug co. ties amid rising scrutiny
(AP) -- A survey shows doctors have sharply cut some financial ties to drug companies, thanks to increased scrutiny about those relationships.
Govt suspects cholera has entered Haitian capital
(AP) -- Health officials said Monday that they are examining at least 120 suspected cases of cholera in Haiti's capital, the most significant warning sign yet that the epidemic has spread from outlying areas to threaten as many as 3 million people.
Family health history a powerful, underused tool
(AP) -- Make Grandma spill the beans: Uncovering all the diseases that lurk in your family tree can trump costly genetic testing in predicting what illnesses you and your children are likely to face.
Low vitamin D while pregnant or breastfeeding may not be associated with multiple sclerosis relapse
A small study suggests women with multiple sclerosis have lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy and breastfeeding, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the March 2011 print issue of Archives of Neurology. However, these vitamin D levels were not associated with a greater risk of multiple sclerosis relapse after childbirth.
Door-to-balloon time drops for heart attack patients, but mortality rates unchanged
Door-to-balloon time has dropped dramatically as hospitals rush heart attack patients into treatment, but a five-year study released Monday shows quicker hospital care has not saved more lives.
Silent vascular disease accompanies cognitive decline in healthy aging
Older people who are leading active, healthy lifestyles often have silent vascular disease that can be seen on brain scans that affect their ability to think, according to a new study led by UC Davis researchers and published online today in the Archives of Neurology.
Psychologists identify influence of social interaction on sensitivity to physical pain
Psychologists at the University of Toronto have shown that the nature of a social interaction has the ability to influence an individual's sensitivity to physical pain. The discovery could have significant clinical implications for doctor-patient relationships and the general well-being of an individual on a daily basis.
Vitamins E and C appear to have little effect on age-related cataract
Long-term, regular use of vitamins E and C has no apparent effect on the risk of age-related cataract in men, according to a report in the November issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.
Starting dialysis earlier may be harmful for some patients
Beginning dialysis therapy earlier in the development of advanced kidney disease appears to be associated with a greater risk of death for some patients in the following year, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the March 14 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Scientists make advance in dementia research
The preservation of a protein found in particular synapses in the brain plays a key role in protecting against vascular dementia after a stroke, say researchers at King's College London.
Low blood levels of vitamin D linked to chubbier kids, faster weight gain
Kids who are deficient in vitamin D accumulated fat around the waist and gained weight more rapidly than kids who got enough vitamin D, a new University of Michigan study suggests.
Solar-powered device affordable, reliable tool to measure blood pressure
A new solar-powered device to measure blood pressure may help slow the worldwide increase in cardiovascular disease by providing affordable and reliable blood pressure testing in low income countries, according to research published in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.
'Sweet 16' tool may be useful for detecting cognitive impairment
A new cognitive assessment tool with 16 items appears potentially useful for identifying problems in thinking, learning and memory among older adults, according to a report posted online today that will be published in the March 14 print issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Growth factor regenerates tooth supporting structures: Results of a large randomized clinical trial
It is well known that oral infection progressively destroys periodontal tissues and is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. A major goal of periodontal treatment is regeneration of the tissues lost to periodontitis. Unfortunately, most current therapies cannot predictably promote repair of tooth-supporting defects. A variety of regenerative approaches have been used clinically using bone grafts and guiding tissue membranes with limited success.
Breast cancer: Reducing the risk of unnecessary chemo
Published in Nature Communications, NRC researchers have developed a tool to determine which breast cancer patients have little risk of their disease recurring. The tool -- an algorithm that identifies "gene expression signatures" or biomarkers that can predict low risk tumors with 87-100 percent accuracy in different groups of patients -- has the potential to virtually eliminate unnecessary chemotherapy.
Could lung cancer in smokers vs. 'never-smokers' be different diseases?
Lung tumors in those who smoke and those who never smoked have different DNA alterations in the tumor genomes, according to results of a pilot study presented at the Ninth Annual AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, held Nov. 7-10, 2010, in Philadelphia.
Research into adolescent sexual habits reveals surprising findings
Females are more likely to have an unprotected first sexual encounter than their male counterparts.
Aggressive use of statins further cuts cardio risk: study
Higher doses of statins cut the risk of heart attacks and stroke by one-seventh compared with regular statin treatment, according to a review published online on Tuesday by The Lancet.
Caveman behavioral traits might kick in at Thanksgiving table before eating
Frank Kachanoff was surprised. He thought the sight of meat on the table would make people more aggressive, not less. After all, don't football coaches feed their players big hunks of red meat before a game in hopes of pumping them up? And what about our images of a grunting or growling animal snarling at anyone who dares take their meat away from them? Wouldn’t that go for humans, too?
Fat cells reach their limit and trigger changes linked to type 2 diabetes
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists have found that the fat cells and tissues of morbidly obese people and animals can reach a limit in their ability to store fat appropriately. Beyond this limit several biological processes conspire to prevent further expansion of fat tissue and in the process may trigger other health problems.
Researchers discover a potential target for therapy for patients with a deadly prostate cancer
A monoclonal antibody targeting a well known cell surface protein inhibited prostate cancer growth and metastasis in an aggressive form of the disease that did not respond to hormone therapy, according to a study by researchers with the UCLA Department of Urology and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Play with your kid, for their mental health's sake
Learning a hobby or other complex task in childhood with assistance from a trusted adult may help guard against the emergence of a personality disorder (PD) later on in life, reports a study in the current issue of the journal, Development and Psychopathology.
Scientists ID new cancer drug target
Suppressing cancer cells' ability to replicate damaged DNA could dramatically enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin, according to a new pair of papers from MIT biologists.
Bilingualism delays onset of Alzheimer's symptoms
A Canadian science team has found more dramatic evidence that speaking two languages can help delay the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms by as much as five years.
Stanford scientists see the logic in the illogical behavior of neurons
(PhysOrg.com) -- Neurons in your brain trigger the physical movements of your body, but some of them seem to fire in a crazy quilt pattern just before and during the movement. But Stanford researchers say there is method in the apparent madness.
Biology news
Interpol pledges war on environmental crime
Interpol on Monday adopted a resolution unanimously pledging support to back the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and to fight environmental crime.
Rare bat found in oil palm plantation's oasis
(PhysOrg.com) -- The discovery of a rare bat species in a tiny fragment of rainforest surrounded by an oil palm plantation has demonstrated that even small areas of forest are worth saving.
Leaf-cutter ants
Leaf-cutter ants put on quite a show. In established colonies, millions of "workers" cut and carry sections of leaves larger than their own bodies as part of a well choreographed, highly functioning society.
Were our tetrapod ancestors deaf?
A research group led by Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard, University of Southern Denmark, have shown that the closest living relatives of the tetrapods, the lungfish, are insensitive to sound pressure, but sensitive to vibrations. The discovery was published online in Biology Letters on Sept. 8.
Sniffer 'hero rats' saving lives in war zones
A baby rat in a tiny red and black harness twitches its pointed nose incessantly, probing a grassy field where it is being trained by a pioneering Dutch NGO to smell out deadly landmines.
Harvard researchers identify new aspect of cell reprogramming
(PhysOrg.com) -- An interdisciplinary group of leading Harvard geneticists and stem cell researchers has found a new genetic aspect of cell reprogramming that may ultimately help in the fine-tuning of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) into specific cell types.
Engineered plants make potential precursor to raw material for plastics (w/ Video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- In theory, plants could be the ultimate green factories, engineered to pump out the kinds of raw materials we now obtain from petroleum-based chemicals. But in reality, getting plants to accumulate high levels of desired products has been an elusive goal. Now, in a first step toward achieving industrial-scale green production, scientists from the U.S. Department of Energys (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and collaborators at Dow AgroSciences report engineering a plant that produces industrially relevant levels of compounds that could potentially be used to make plastics. The research is reported online in Plant Physiology, and will appear in print in the December issue.
Scientists identify cellular communicators for cancer virus
A new discovery by UNC scientists describes how cells infected by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) produce small vesicles or sacs called exosomes, changing their cellular "cargo" of proteins and RNA. This altered exosome enters cells and can change the growth of recipient cells from benign to cancer-producing.
Scientists discover how the songbird's brain controls timing during singing
A team of scientists has observed the activity of nerve cells in a songbird's brain as it is singing a particular song. Dezhe Jin, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at Penn State University and one of the study's authors, explained that understanding how birds string together sets of syllables -- or notes in a song -- may provide some insight into how the human brain learns language and produces speech. The research will be published in the print edition of the journal Nature and is available online.
Single parenthood doesn't pay off for plants
Many plants can pollinate themselves and reproduce without the aid of a mate, thanks to having both male and female parts. But the short-term perks of being able to go it alone come with long-term costs, says a new study in the journal Science. The reason is because plants that can pollinate themselves are more prone to extinction, scientists say.
Differences in human and Neanderthal brains set in just after birth
(PhysOrg.com) -- The brains of newborn humans and Neanderthals are about the same size and appear rather similar overall. It's mainly after birth, and specifically in the first year of life, that the differences between our brains and those of our extinct relatives really take shape, according to a report published in the Nov. 9 issue of Current Biology.
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