Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized PHYSorg.com Newsletter for October 24, 2011:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Decoding early Martian weather: Analyzing carbonate minerals in meteorite Allan Hills 84001- A second look at supernovae light: Universe's expansion may be understood without dark energy
- Researchers build transparent, super-stretchy skin-like sensor (w/ video)
- Telescopes help solve ancient supernova mystery
- Genetic difference in staph offers clues as to why some patients get infections from cardiac implants
- Physicists unveil a theory for a new kind of superconductivity
- Toshiba bites Apple with 498 ppi display
- Will Steve Jobs' final vendetta haunt Google?
- Biologists learn how plants synthesize their growth hormone auxin
- Perinatal antidepressant stunts brain development
- Nanoparticles and their size may not be big issues
- Ancient cooking pots reveal gradual transition to agriculture
- NASA to launch new Earth-observing satellite
- Morning UV exposure may be less damaging to the skin: study
- Netflix loses 800,000 US subscribers in tough 3Q
Space & Earth news
Closing the phosphorous-efficiency gap
Ways to reduce the costs of phosphorus fertiliser use on farms – critical for sustaining high agricultural production in many Australian farming systems – have been identified in a new suite of journal papers.
Sydney river an 'open sewer'
One of Sydney’s major urban waterways – the Cooks River – is at times an "open sewer" carrying effluent containing pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, researchers have found, sparking calls for urgent action to clean it up.
Poisonous oceans delayed animal evolution
Animals require oxygen, but oxygenated environments were rare on early Earth. New research from University of Southern Denmark shows that poisonous sulfide existed in the oceans 750 million years ago making large areas of the seafloor inhospitable to animal life. Such ocean conditions may have prohibited the emergence of animals on early Earth. The results are published in the scientific journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
Forest fires are becoming larger and more frequent
The study, recently published in the journal Climatic Change, is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between two researchers: one is UC3M Professor Santiago Fernández Muñoz, who has worked in the area of geographic history under the direction of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Professor Josefina Gómez Mendoza; the other is Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC – Spanish National Research Council) ecologist Juli Pausas. Specifically, the authors constructed a complete database of historical fires in the province of Valencia in order to relate them to the evolution of the climate and societal and territorial transformations in the region. The research that was carried out provides the most complete series of data on the evolution of fires in the Mediterranean basin to date.
Experts recommend the inclusion of rainwater-collection systems in cities
Plain, sloping roofs can collect up to 50% more rainwater than flat roofs with gravel. This water is also of higher quality. These are the conclusions of a study conducted by researchers from Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB, Spain) which suggests the incorporation of systems to collect rainwater in urban planning. The water collected can be used to water streets and gardens, wash floors or vehicles and fill cisterns.
Scientist: Satellite must have crashed into Asia
A defunct German research satellite crashed into the Earth somewhere in Southeast Asia on Sunday, a U.S. scientist said - but no one is still quite sure where.
NASA sting terrifies woman, 74
(AP) -- The elaborate mission to recover a moon rock led NASA agents to one of the most down-to-earth places: a Denny's restaurant in Riverside County.
Plate tectonics may control reversals in the Earth's magnetic field
The Earth's magnetic field has reversed many times at an irregular rate throughout its history. Long periods without reversal have been interspersed with eras of frequent reversals. What is the reason for these reversals and their irregularity? Researchers from CNRS and the Institut de Physique du Globe, France, have shed new light on the issue by demonstrating that, over the last 300 million years, reversal frequency has depended on the distribution of tectonic plates on the surface of the globe. This result does not imply that terrestrial plates themselves trigger the switch over of the magnetic field. Instead, it establishes that although the reversal phenomenon takes place, in fine, within the Earth's liquid core, it is nevertheless sensitive to what happens outside the core and more specifically in the Earth's mantle. This work is published on 16 October 2011 in Geophysical Research Letters.
A birthplace for primitive life on Earth?
The mud volcanoes at Isua, in south-west Greenland, have been identified as a possible birthplace for life on Earth by an international team headed by researchers from the Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon: Terre, Planètes et Environnement. Almost four billion years ago, these volcanoes released chemical elements indispensable to the formation of the first biomolecules, under conditions favorable to life. It is the first time that such an environment, meeting all the requirements for the emergence of life, has been identified by scientists in 3.8 billion year- old formations. This work is published this week in the PNAS.
Cave crew returns to Earth
Take five astronauts and instead of sending them into space take them underground. ESA’s CAVES venture prepares astronauts to work in an international team under real exploration conditions. The latest ‘crew’ has returned after six days in the dark.
Earth from space: Aegean islands
(PhysOrg.com) -- This Envisat image is dominated by the island of Crete separating the Aegean and Libyan Seas in the eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey, a country at seismic crossroads
The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Van province in eastern Turkey on Sunday, causing hundreds of fatalities, underscores the country's fate to be straddling one of the world's most active seismic zones.
Fewer marten detections in California forest linked to decline in habitat
The reclusive American marten is getting even harder to find in the Sierra Nevada, according to a study by a team of researchers from the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon State University. A new study at the Sagehen Experimental Forest found that marten detections have dropped 60 percent since the 1980s—a decrease that may be caused by a degradation of the wooded areas in which they live, researchers say. Their findings appeared in the current issue of the Journal of Wildlife Management.
NASA caught Tropical Storm Rina forming, strengthening
NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite called "TRMM" and NASA's Aqua satellite captured radar and temperature data that showed Tropical Storm Rina forming in the western Caribbean Sea yesterday. Today, Rina continues strengthening.
Researchers identify mysterious life forms in the extreme deep sea (w/ video)
(PhysOrg.com) -- A summer research expedition organized by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has led to the identification of gigantic amoebas at one of the deepest locations on Earth.
Survey finds public support for geoengineering research
Research on geoengineering appears to have broad public support, as a new, internationally-representative survey revealed that 72 per cent of respondents approved research into the climate-manipulating technique.
Run-off, emissions deliver double whammy to coastal marine creatures, study finds
Increasing acidification in coastal waters could compromise the ability of oysters and other marine creatures to form and keep their shells, according to a new study led by University of Georgia researchers.
Report: Holding global warming to 2C increase still possible if nations act
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new report published in Nature Climate Change, by an international group of scientists, suggests that the goal of holding the average global temperature increase (due mainly to carbon emissions) to 2° C, that the United Nations agreed on at separate meetings in 2009/10, can still be reached, but it’s going to take an unprecedented effort by virtually all of the major countries of the world.
NASA to launch new Earth-observing satellite
After a five-year delay, an Earth-observing satellite will be launched to test new technologies aimed at improving weather forecasts and monitoring climate change.
Telescopes help solve ancient supernova mystery
(PhysOrg.com) -- A mystery that began nearly 2,000 years ago, when Chinese astronomers witnessed what would turn out to be an exploding star in the sky, has been solved. New infrared observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, reveal how the first supernova ever recorded occurred and how its shattered remains ultimately spread out to great distances.
A second look at supernovae light: Universe's expansion may be understood without dark energy
(PhysOrg.com) -- The 2011 Nobel Prize in physics, awarded just a few weeks ago, went to research on the light from Type 1a supernovae, which shows that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. The well-known problem resulting from these observations is that this expansion seems to be occurring even faster than all known forms of energy could allow. While there is no shortage of proposed explanations – from dark energy to modified theories of gravity – it’s less common that someone questions the interpretation of the supernovae data itself.
Decoding early Martian weather: Analyzing carbonate minerals in meteorite Allan Hills 84001
(PhysOrg.com) -- While geological evidence points to the presence of liquid water on Mars during the Noachian epoch (the period from 4.5 to 3.5 billion years ago), determining the temperature of that water – a factor critical to the probability of its ability to support early life – has hitherto been impossible. Recently, however, researchers at California Institute of Technology Geological and Planetary Sciences have derived a precipitation temperature of 18 °C from carbonate minerals found in the 4.1 billion-year-old Allan Hills 84001 (ALH84001) meteorite. Although this ancient aquifer’s temperature was relatively mild, the researchers note that their findings do not necessarily demonstrate habitability.
Technology news
Steve Jobs was not 'warm and fuzzy': biographer
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs could be mean, abrasive and cuttingly dismissive of co-workers in his quest for perfectionism, according to his biographer.
Cooperative communications when collaborators are not synchronized
A promising way to improve future wireless communication speed is to have users and/or base stations help each other. This is called cooperative communications. One of the practical difficulties in cooperative communications is the synchronization problem between the helpers. A paper in the recent issue of Science in China summarizes some of the recent techniques and advances in signal design to deal with this problem.
China's local election candidates campaign online
When Yao Bo announced online that he was running in China's local elections, he joined dozens of candidates using the Internet to campaign for votes -- a phenomenon that has spooked authorities.
Obama campaign takes to Tumblr
US President Barack Obama added popular microblogging platform Tumblr on Monday to the Internet arsenal for his 2012 re-election campaign.
Apple posts video of Jobs memorial on Apple.com
(AP) -- Apple is allowing the general public to get a look at a heartfelt and star-studded memorial service it held for employees to celebrate the life of Steve Jobs at its Cupertino headquarters last week.
Japan cyberattackers may have military info: report
Information on military aircraft and nuclear power plants may have been stolen in a series of cyberattacks on Japanese defence contractor Mitsubishi Heavy, a report said Monday.
Cloud computing: Gaps in the 'cloud'
Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum have found a massive security gap at Amazon Cloud Services. Using different methods of attack (signature wrapping and cross site scripting) they tested the system which was deemed "safe". "Based on our research results, Amazon confirmed the security gaps and closed them immediately", said Prof. Dr. Jorg Schwenk, chair for network and data security at the RUB. Amazon Webservices (AWS) offers its customers cloud computing services and hosts, among others, services like Twitter, Second Life and 4Square.
The talking kitchen that teaches you French
An innovative kitchen that gives step-by-step cooking instructions in French could spark a revolution in language learning in the UK.
Netflix to provide service to the UK, Ireland
Netflix Inc. plans to offer its online subscription service to the United Kingdom and Ireland starting early next year, providing access to movies and television shows.
'Steve Jobs' delves deep into complex man's life
"Steve Jobs" (Simon & Schuster), by Walter Isaacson: "Steve Jobs" takes off the rose-colored glasses that often follow an icon's untimely death and instead offers something far more valuable: The chronicle of a complex, brash genius who was crazy enough to think he could change the world - and did.
What can make a dent?
With the world’s energy needs growing rapidly, can zero-carbon energy options be scaled up enough to make a significant difference? How much of a dent can these alternatives make in the world’s total energy usage over the next half-century? As the MIT Energy Initiative approaches its fifth anniversary next month, this five-part series takes a broad view of the likely scalable energy candidates.
Apple in-house tribute to Jobs goes online
Apple's website on Monday featured video of a moving, music-laced tribute to Steve Jobs held last week at the company's California headquarters.
Steve Jobs bio, candid portrait of complicated man
The eagerly awaited biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs hit bookstores Monday, painting a candid portrait of a technology visionary who could be as bruising as he was brilliant.
Assange: Financial blockade may close WikiLeaks (Update)
(AP) -- WikiLeaks - whose spectacular publication of classified data shook world capitals and exposed the inner workings of international diplomacy - may be weeks away from collapse, the organization's leader warned Monday.
Nissan eyes 1.5 million electric cars by 2016
Japanese auto giant Nissan is aiming to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles around the world by 2016, the company said Monday, as it looks to capitalise on growing demand for green products.
Oracle buys 'cloud' service firm RightNow
Enterprise software giant Oracle said Monday it had struck a deal to buy RightNow Technologies, which helps companies manage their cloud computing activities, for $1.5 billion.
Will Steve Jobs' final vendetta haunt Google?
(AP) -- Google can only hope that Steve Jobs' final vendetta doesn't haunt the Internet search leader from his grave.
Netflix loses 800,000 US subscribers in tough 3Q
(AP) -- Netflix's video subscription service lost 800,000 customers in the third quarter -the biggest exodus in its history- even as its earnings rose 65 percent.
Compal licenses Microsoft patents for Android
Microsoft said Monday that Taiwan-based Compal Electronics has joined a growing list of gadget makers licensing its patents for use in devices powered by Google-backed Android or Chrome software.
Medicine & Health news
Heart transplant surgery safe and effective: A Canadian retrospective spanning three decades
Heart transplantation is a very safe and effective therapy, according to a new long-term study presented today at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2011, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
Advanced post-mastectomy breast reconstruction improves women's psychosocial and sexual well-being
After a mastectomy, women who undergo breast reconstruction with tissue from their own abdomen experience significant gains in psychological, social, and sexual wellbeing as soon as three weeks after surgery. That is one of the conclusions of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The study's results provide new information to breast cancer survivors who are contemplating these types of breast reconstruction procedures.
Spinal cord injuries associated with increased risk of heart disease
New research from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation may help explain why people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
Left-handed people more likely to have sleep disorder
The presence of rhythmic limb movements when sleeping, which may vary in intensity, may be an indicator of periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD).
Heavy alcohol consumption linked to lung cancer
Heavy alcohol consumption may be linked to a greater risk of developing lung cancer, while higher BMI and increased consumption of black tea and fruit are associated with lower risk of the deadly disease. In three separate studies presented at CHEST 2011, the 77th annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), heavy alcohol consumption was related to increased risk of lung cancer, while specific ethnic groups, including African American men and Asian women, had slightly higher risks for lung cancer. Conversely, black tea consumption was shown to reduce lung cancer risk in nonsmoking women, while higher BMI and increased fruit consumption were associated with a lower risk of lung cancer in both men and women.
Heart surgeons-in-training benefit from hands-on homework
Residents in cardiac surgery who receive extra training on a take-home simulator do a better job once they get into the operating room, Dr. Buu-Khanh Lam today told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2011, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.
Detroit holds record for highest lung cancer mortality rates
Compared with other cities, Detroit has one of the highest mortality rates in the United States for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on data from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, researchers from the McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint, Michigan and the Mayo Clinic, in Minneapolis, Minnesota studied cancer-specific survival between Detroit and other city registries by ethnicity.
Silicone injections may prove deadly according to several research studies
Reports of adverse events, including death, from silicone injections for cosmetic purposes have been increasing in both medical and consumer literature. In studies presented at CHEST 2011, the 77th annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), in Honolulu, Hawaii, researchers from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, Louisiana; Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan; and Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, California all reported cases of near-lethal and lethal silicone use.
Bath salts emerging as new recreational drugs
The use of bath salts as recreational drugs has greatly escalated in recent years. Researchers from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma describe an incident of a man experiencing significant agitation, paranoia, and hallucinations who also exhibited violent behavior upon his emergency department arrival.
Sildenafil may benefit children with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Sildenafil is currently approved for adult pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); however, new research presented at CHEST 2011, the 77th annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), shows the drug may also provide significant benefits for children with PAH, helping to improve both oxygen delivery and exercise capacity.
NSAID use associated with lower colorectal cancer mortality rates among postmenopausal women
Postmenopausal women who reported having used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 10 years at the time of enrollment in the Women's Health Initiative study had a lower risk for death from colorectal cancer compared with women who reported no use of these drugs at enrollment, according to data presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 22-25, 2011.
Officials say India close to wiping out polio
(AP) -- Health officials say there has not been a case of polio in India for nine months, the longest the country has ever been polio free.
Drug firm GSK fined $2.6 million for collusion
South Korea's anti-trust agency has fined drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline three billion won ($2.6 million) for conspiring with a Seoul rival over the sale of drugs, an official said Monday.
UQ start-up research offers hope for herpes sufferers
A University of Queensland (UQ) start-up company, Coridon Pty Ltd, established to commercialise Professor Ian Frazer's work in developing next generation DNA vaccines, has successfully completed pre-clinical efficacy testing of its prototype Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) vaccine, with outstanding results.
Mayo Clinic detective work shows possible side effect in macular degeneration drug
Two major drug trials conclude there was little risk from a drug aimed at age-related macular degeneration. Yet a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist began to note something concerning in some of her patients: an increase in pressure inside the eye. It led to a retrospective study and findings that will be presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Orlando.
Spousal death key link to loss of independent living for seniors
The death of a spouse is always a tragedy, but for seniors, that tragedy can spur some significant life changes. And one University of Alberta researcher says the choices they make are something policymakers need to pay attention to.
Researchers ID genetic mutation associated with high risk of age-related macular degeneration
Age- related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe visual loss among the elderly. Researchers had previously identified several relatively common genetic variants which together predict a person's increased risk for AMD, but a significant number of persons without the disease also have these variants. Now, for the first time, investigators have been able to clearly show a specific rare mutation called CFH R1210C that predicts a very high risk of disease and is extremely uncommon among individuals who do not have the disease. Although it is a rare variant, accounting for about 1% of the total cases, it is highly related to familial disease and earlier age of onset. This research is published online and in an upcoming print edition of Nature Genetics. The paper is a collaborative effort between investigators from Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine and Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Physical fitness could have a positive effect on eye health
Physical activity may be what the doctor orders to help patients reduce their risk of developing glaucoma. According to a recently published scientific paper, higher levels of physical exercise appear to have a long-term beneficial impact on low ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), an important risk factor for glaucoma.
Potential new cause of miscarriage and habitual abortion
Fetal and neonatal immune thrombocytopenia (FNIT; aka FNAIT) is a condition in which fetuses and newborns have reduced numbers of blood cells known as platelets.
Impact of Canada's Common Drug Review on drug listing
The number of drugs covered by public drug plans decreased substantially after Canada's Common Drug Review was introduced in 2003, and new drugs were listed more quickly in several of the smaller provinces, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
A novel oral treatment for leishmaniasis has potential to save thousands of lives
A tropically stable liquid therapy for leishmaniasis, a disease known as the Baghdad boil, shows a significant decrease in infection after less than a week of treatment. This research is being presented at the 2011 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., Oct. 23 – 27.
British study may improve glaucoma assessment and treatment
Results from a recent scientific study in the U.K. may change the way that healthcare professionals measure eye pressure and allow them to assess the risk of glaucoma with greater accuracy. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of irreversible loss of vision worldwide.
Demise of Obama long-term care plan leaves gap
(AP) -- It's the one major health expense for which nearly all Americans are uninsured. The dilemma of paying for long-term care is likely to worsen now that the Obama administration pulled the plug on a program seen as a first step.
Study evaluates industry payments to orthopedic surgeons
An analysis of financial payments made by orthopedic device manufacturers to orthopedic surgeons shows that the patterns of payments from 2007 to 2010 appear to be complex with a reduction in the total number of payments and the total amount of funds distributed after payment disclosure was required, as well as an increase in the proportion of consultants with academic affiliations, according to a report in the October 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The article is part of the journal's Health Care Reform series.
Clues revealed to cause of deadly kidney disease in newborns
Babies born with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) often develop kidney failure because they have very large kidneys filled with tiny cysts. Even with excellent medical care, about 30% die shortly after birth. New research now provides clues into how gene defects may cause this condition, which occurs in 1 out of 20,000 newborns. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN), a publication of the American Society of Nephrology.
Patients who don't follow treatments hurt dialysis clinics' pay
Dialysis clinics that provide care to kidney disease patients who cannot or will not follow their prescribed treatments will be penalized under a new Medicare payment system, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results suggest that the new system could widen disparities in care.
Consumers don't pay as much attention to nutrition fact labels as they think
Nutrition Facts labels have been used for decades on many food products. Are these labels read in detail by consumers when making purchases? Do people read only certain portions of the labels? According to a new study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, consumers' self-reported viewing of Nutrition Facts label components was higher than objectively measured viewing using an eye-tracking device. Researchers also determined that centrally located Nutrition Facts labels are viewed more frequently and for longer than those located peripherally.
Sleeping sickness drug may provide long-term protection against skin cancer
An antiparasitic agent used to treat African sleeping sickness might someday be used to prevent nonmelanoma skin cancers. Researchers found that DFMO, or α-difluoromethylornithine, still appeared to protect against nonmelanoma skin cancers years after people stopped taking the drug, according to a poster presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 22-25, 2011.
Significant weight gain in adulthood increased risk for endometrial cancer
Postmenopausal women who gained weight during adulthood had an increased risk for endometrial cancer compared with women who maintained a stable weight, according to data from the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort.
Teen sleep deprivation related to weight gain
Sleeping less than 8 hours a night may be linked to weight gain in teens, shows a new study presented at CHEST 2011, the 77th annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). Furthermore, obesity was linked to short sleep duration in teen males, with the fewest hours slept linked to the highest BMI levels.
Body weight, diet may be risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Body weight in young adulthood and diet appeared to be associated with the risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to results presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 22-25, 2011.
Smoking a single cigarette may have immediate effect on young adults
It is well known that smoking leads to a reduction in levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), which is a marker for airway inflammation.
Possible link between autism and airway abnormality
Autism and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are currently diagnosed primarily through subjective observation of autistic behaviors. However, new research, presented at CHEST 2011, the 77th annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), suggests that a physical abnormality in the airway may be a prominent indicator for autism and autistic spectrum disorders, making it a possible diagnostic marker for this disease.
Deliberate practice: necessary but not sufficient
(Medical Xpress) -- Psychological scientist Guillermo Campitelli is a good chess player, but not a great one. “I’m not as good as I wanted,” he says. He had an international rating but not any of the titles that chess players get, like Grandmaster and International Master. “A lot of people that practiced much less than me achieved much higher levels.” Some of the players he coached became some of the best players in Argentina. “I always wondered: What’s going on? Why did this happen?”
Rare genetic disease opens new door to treating cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers investigating the genetic cause of a disease in just two patients have made an unexpected finding which has opened a major new possibility for treating serious diseases such as cancer.
Aging disease in children sheds light on normal aging
(Medical Xpress) -- Aging of individual cells in the body leads to aging of the whole person. New evidence for this comes from studies of very rare children born with a genetic mutation that wrinkles, ages and kills them before they reach adulthood.
Breast tenderness linked to increased breast density
(Medical Xpress) -- Post-menopausal women who experience breast tenderness after starting combination hormone therapy have a higher risk of breast cancer than women who don't, a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has shown. One reason for this, they now say, may be that these women's breasts are becoming more dense.
Vitamin B-based treatment for corneal disease may offer some patients a permanent solution
Patients in the United States who have the cornea-damaging disease keratoconus may soon be able to benefit from a new treatment that is already proving effective in Europe and other parts of the world. The treatment, called collagen crosslinking, improved vision in almost 70 percent of patients treated for keratoconus in a recent three-year clinical trial in Milan, Italy. The treatment is in clinical trials in the United States and is likely to receive FDA approval in 2012. The results of the Milan study are being presented today at the 115th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Orlando, Florida.
More time outdoors may reduce kids' risk for nearsightedness
A new analysis of recent eye health studies shows that more time spent outdoors is related to reduced rates of nearsightedness, also known as myopia, in children and adolescents. Myopia is much more common today in the United States and many other countries than it was in the 1970s. In parts of Asia, more than 80 percent of the population is nearsighted. The analysis suggests that more exposure to natural light and/or time spent looking at distant objects may be key factors. Today at the 115th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Dr. Anthony Khawaja of the University of Cambridge, will present a summary analysis of the evidence. The analysis was led by Dr. Justin Sherwin of the University of Cambridge.
Life beyond cancer: Starting a family following treatment
Five years ago, Sheri Scott was beginning a new chapter in her life. The recently engaged 31-year-old was eagerly browsing bridal magazines and busy planning for her big day. Unfortunately, just weeks following her engagement, Scott was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly, she was juggling medical appointments and planning a double mastectomy instead of a wedding. Soon after her diagnosis, Scott was approached by her doctor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about preserving her fertility. He explained that cancer treatment could compromise her fertility and stated there were options available if she wanted to preserve her chances of having children. In that moment, having a family was the farthest thing from her mind, but the conversation sparked a decision that would change her life forever.
Unraveling the mysteries of the natural killer within us
Scientists have discovered more about the intricacies of the immune system in a breakthrough that may help combat viral infections such as HIV.
Gene variant increases risk of kidney disease in African-Americans
African-Americans with two copies of the APOL1 gene have about a 4 percent lifetime risk of developing a form of kidney disease, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health. The finding brings scientists closer to understanding why African-Americans are four times more likely to develop kidney failure than whites, as they reported in the Oct. 13 online edition of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Researchers demonstrate rare animal model for studying depression
Washington State University researchers have taken a promising step toward creating an animal model for decoding the specific brain circuits involved in depression. By electrically stimulating a brain region central to an animal's primary emotions, graduate student Jason Wright and his advisor Jaak Panksepp saw rats exhibit a variety of behaviors associated with a depressed, negative mood, or affect.
Daily smoking, low mastery associated with repeat episodes of depression
Previous depression, daily smoking and a lack of control over life circumstances -- or "low mastery" -- are risk factors for repeat episodes of depression, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Harsh discipline fosters dishonesty in young children
Young children exposed to a harshly punitive school environment are more inclined to lie to conceal their misbehaviour than are children from non-punitive schools, a study of three- and four-year-old West African children suggests.
FDA: studies do not tie Chantix to mental problems
(AP) -- Federal health officials said Monday that Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix did not increase psychiatric problems like depression and suicidal thoughts in two studies, though the findings are not definitive.
Insomnia could moderately raise your heart attack risk
Having trouble sleeping? If so, you could have a moderately higher risk of having a heart attack, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Probability model estimates proportion of women who survive breast cancer detected through screening
A model used to estimate breast cancer survival rates found that the probability that a woman with screen-detected breast cancer will avoid a breast cancer death because of screening mammography may be lower than previously thought, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Research links water disinfection byproducts to adverse health effects
University of Illinois scientists report the first identification of a cellular mechanism linked to the toxicity of a major class of drinking water disinfection byproducts. This study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, suggests a possible connection to adverse health effects, including neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's.
High-dose vitamin D may not be better than low-dose vitamin D in treating MS
Low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), but the first randomized, controlled trial using high-dose vitamin D in MS did not find any added benefit over and above ongoing low-dose vitamin D supplementation, according to a study published in the October 25, 2011, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Mentoring programs -- how effective are they?
Whether it's parents, teachers, coaches, or family friends, there's no question that adults serve as powerful role models for youth as they transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. Mentoring programs across the United States have tried to harness the power of positive role models in the hopes that relationships with an adult mentor will help to support kids' socioemotional and cognitive development. But are mentoring programs effective? And do all programs have equally positive effects?
Non-targeted HIV testing in emergency departments identifies only few new cases, study finds
Non-targeted HIV rapid test screening among emergency department patients in metropolitan Paris resulted in identifying only a few new HIV diagnoses, often at late stages and mostly among patients who are in a high-risk group, according to a study published Online First by the Archives of Internal Medicine.
FDA approves first generic versions of Zyprexa
(AP) -- Federal health officials on Monday approved the first generic versions of the blockbuster drug Zyprexa, an expensive treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder.
Rural women more likely to be diagnosed with most serious form of breast cancer
Women living in rural areas face unique challenges concerning health and wellness issues. Now, an MU researcher has found that rural women are more likely than women living in cities to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, the most severe form of the disease.
Coffee consumption associated with decreased risk for basal cell carcinoma
Caffeine could be related to an inverse association between basal cell carcinoma risk and consumption of coffee, a study found.
Could additives in hot dogs affect incidence of colon cancer?
The addition of ascorbate (vitamin C) or its close relative, erythorbate, and the reduced amount of nitrite added in hot dogs, mandated in 1978, have been accompanied by a steep drop in the death rate from colon cancer, according to data presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 22-25, 2011.
Analgesics use associated with increased risk for renal cell carcinoma
Use of acetaminophen and nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was associated with a significantly increased risk for developing renal cell carcinoma, according to data presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 22-25, 2011.
High fluid intake appears to reduce bladder cancer risk
Drinking plenty of fluids may provide men with some protection against bladder cancer, according to a study presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 22-25, 2011.
Dietary patterns may be linked to increased colorectal cancer risk in women
Researchers may have found a specific dietary pattern linked to levels of C-peptide concentrations that increase a woman's risk for colorectal cancer.
Take your blood pressure meds before bed
It's better to take blood pressure-lowering medications before bed rather than first thing in the morning, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results indicate that heart conditions such as strokes and heart attacks can be drastically reduced in patients with hypertension with no extra effort or cost.
Increased tanning bed use increases risk for deadly skin cancers
Researchers confirmed an association between tanning bed use and an increased risk for three common skin cancers — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, according to results presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held Oct. 22-25, 2011.
Gene mutations predict early, severe form of kidney disease
The most common kidney disease passed down through families, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) affects one in 400 to 1,000 individuals and is characterized by cysts on the kidneys. The condition slowly gets worse and leads to kidney failure.
Divide over when to use in-depth cholesterol tests
For heart health, you're supposed to know your numbers: Total cholesterol, the bad LDL kind and the good HDL kind. But your next checkup might add a new number to the mix.
Exposure to chemical BPA before birth linked to behavioral, emotional difficulties in girls
Exposure in the womb to bisphenol A (BPA) – a chemical used to make plastic containers and other consumer goods – is associated with behavior and emotional problems in young girls, according to a study led by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center, and Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Structure of Parkinson's disease protein identified
A team of researchers from the Petsko-Ringe and Pochapsky laboratories at Brandeis have produced and determined the structure of alpha-synuclein, a key protein associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Workings of molecular motor revealed
(Medical Xpress) -- The structure and function of a ‘molecular motor’ critical to the functioning of human organs and, when malfunctioning, implicated in cancer, kidney failure, and osteoporosis, has been revealed in unprecedented detail.
Study confirms males and females have at least one thing in common: Upregulating X
In a study published today in the journal Nature Genetics, a group of scientists including UNC biologist Jason Lieb, PhD, present experiments supporting a longstanding hypothesis that explains how males can survive with only one copy of the X chromosome. The finding provides clarity to a hotly debated topic in science and provides biologists with more information to interpret experiments involving genetic measurements in males and females.
Mechanical stress can help or hinder wound healing depending on time of application
A new study demonstrates that mechanical forces affect the growth and remodeling of blood vessels during tissue regeneration and wound healing. The forces diminish or enhance the vascularization process and tissue regeneration depending on when they are applied during the healing process.
Survey shows promising future for xenotransplantation
(Medical Xpress) -- Xenotransplantation, or transplanting animal parts from one animal to another, is one area of medical research that has held more promise than payoff ever since the idea was first devised. Now however, research scientists from the Transplantation Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, believe there is reason to be more optimistic. They have published the results of a survey they’ve conducted regarding the current state of xenotransplantation in The Lancet.
Researchers find possible therapeutic strategy to combat premature birth
Scientists who developed a novel mouse model mimicking human preterm labor have described a molecular signaling pathway underlying preterm birth and targeted it to stop the problem.
Morning UV exposure may be less damaging to the skin: study
Research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests that the timing of exposure to UV rays – early in the morning or later in the afternoon – can influence the onset of skin cancer.
Scientists uncover genetic causes of bipolar disorder
Researchers at the University of Leeds investigating the genetic causes of bipolar disorder have identified two new drugs – one of which has already been found safe in clinical trials – that may be effective in treating the disorder.
Perinatal antidepressant stunts brain development
Rats exposed to an antidepressant just before and after birth showed substantial brain abnormalities and behaviors, in a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Yoga eases back pain in largest US study to date
Yoga classes were linked to better back-related function and diminished symptoms from chronic low back pain in the largest U.S. randomized controlled trial of yoga to date, published by the Archives of Internal Medicine as an "Online First" article on October 24. But so were intensive stretching classes.
HPV linked to cardiovascular disease in women
Women with cancer-causing strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke even when no conventional risk factors for CVD are present.
Blood vessel mapping reveals four new 'ZIP codes'
A research team led by scientists from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered four new "ZIP codes" in their quest to map the vast blood vessel network of the human body.
Biology news
Hawk found with nail in head recovering in Calif.
(AP) -- A red-tailed hawk that rescuers said was shot in the head with a nail gun was recovering Sunday at a Northern California wildlife center.
Biodesign researchers to develop new reagent pipeline for molecular medicine
An ongoing Arizona State University effort to develop a revolutionary class of reagents that holds great promise for the future of medicine has received a major boost with a three-year, $4 million award from the National Institutes of Health.
Customs officials seize a tonne of ivory in Vietnam
Vietnam customs officials on Monday said they had seized more than a tonne of ivory, believed to be from elephant tusks, being smuggled on the country's border with China.
Liver parasite lacks key genes for fatty acid synthesis: Genome sequencing of Clonorchis sinensis
The human liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis affects more than 35 million people in South East Asia and 15 million in China. Infection by this parasite causes clonorchiasis. Repeated or chronic infection can lead to serious disease of the liver, gall bladder or bile ducts, including the frequently fatal bile duct cancer - cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The complete genome sequence the genome of C. sinensis, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Biology, has provided insight into the biochemical pathways available to the fluke and shows that they are lacking enzymes required for fatty acid biosynthesis.
Study shows Alzheimer's disease-related peptides form toxic calcium channels in the plasma membrane
Alzheimer's disease is triggered by the inappropriate processing of amyloid precursor protein to generate excess amounts of short peptide fragments called A-beta. For many years, the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer's disease was thought to be caused by the buildup of A-beta in insoluble, fibrous plaques. However, increasing suspicion now falls on smaller, soluble A-beta complexes as the toxic form of the protein, partly through their ability to induce excess calcium influx into cells, which disrupts synaptic signaling and stimulates cell death. A new study in The Journal of Cell Biology uses high-resolution imaging to reveal that A-beta oligomers elevate calcium by forming calcium-permeable pores in the plasma membrane.
Surprises of the measles virus structure with new 3d model
Professor Sarah Butcher's research group from Helsinki University's Institute of Biotechnology report in the 24th October online issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences a three-dimensional model of measles virus. The new model helps to explain many previous, unaccounted for observations in the life cycle of the virus.
Stem rust-resistant wheat landraces identified
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have identified a number of stem rust-resistant wheat varieties and are retesting them to verify their resistance.
Protein reveals oxygen availability to plants
(PhysOrg.com) -- Plants need water to grow, but every hobby gardener knows that you shouldn’t carry this to excess either. During waterlogging or flooding, plants can’t take up enough oxygen that they urgently need for their cellular respiration and energy production. Plants respond to this state of hypoxia with the activation of certain genes that help them cope with the stress. Until now it was unclear how plants are sensing the oxygen concentration. Recent experiments show that under hypoxia a protein that can activate genes, a so-called transcription factor, is released from the cell membrane to accumulate in the nucleus and trigger the expression of stress response genes.
Sympathy for the devils
Better than sympathy, now there's hope for the devil -- the Tasmanian devil, that is.
Biologists learn how plants synthesize their growth hormone auxin
Biologists at the University of California, San Diego have succeeded in unraveling, for the first time, the complete chain of biochemical reactions that controls the synthesis of auxin, the hormone that regulates nearly all aspects of plant growth and development.
Genetic difference in staph offers clues as to why some patients get infections from cardiac implants
New research suggests that some patients develop a potentially deadly blood infection from their implanted cardiac devices because bacterial cells in their bodies have gene mutations that allow them to stick to the devices.
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