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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 11, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Proposed experiment would prove that quantum jumps are not objective events- Apramycin shows promise against drug-resistant TB and other 'superbugs,' without hearing loss
- Offspring of older fathers may live longer: study
- Theorem unifies superfluids and other weird materials
- New evidence supporting theory of extraterrestrial impact found
- Fermi telescope detects the highest-energy light from a solar flare
- Computer model successfully predicts drug side effects
- Study offers comprehensive look at chemical, genetic changes that occur as inflammation progresses to cancer
- Chinese mindfulness meditation prompts double positive punch in brain white matter
- Scientists identify new molecules important for vision and brain function
- Apple introduces MacBook with sharper screen (Update)
- A new spin on antifreeze: Researchers create ultra slippery anti-ice and anti-frost surfaces
- Researchers catalog more than 635,000 Martian craters
- Flame virus linked to Stuxnet: researchers (Update 2)
- Neighbor galaxies may have brushed closely: research
Space & Earth news
Rio Summit: The world in figures
Following is a snapshot of the world ahead of the UN's June 20-22 Rio Summit on sustainable development.
New Yorkers say gas drilling not worth the risk
More than half of New York state residents believe that the environmental risks of natural gas drilling outweigh the revenues produced by such activity, according to the latest Empire State Poll conducted by Cornell's Survey Research Institute.
China's Wuhan city covered in mysterious haze
Young and old residents of the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan were advised to stay indoors on Monday after a thick haze blanketed the city of nine million people, official media said.
Spiral seen over the Middle East likely Russian missile
Remember the Norway Spiral back in 2009 and the Australian Spiral in 2010? On June 7, 2012 there was another swirling spiral of light, this time see in the skies over the Middle East. People across the region reported seeing a “UFO” and soon videos began showing up on YouTube.
Acute lack of skilled marine researchers
Australian marine science suffers from acute skills shortages, according to one of Australia's leading marine scientists.
ESO to build world's biggest eye on the sky
ESO's governing body, the Council, met today, at the ESO Headquarters in Garching, Germany. The main topic on the agenda was the start of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) Programme — the world's biggest eye on the sky. The E-ELT will be a 39.3-metre segmented-mirror telescope sited on Cerro Armazones in northern Chile, close to ESO's Paranal Observatory.
The downstream consequences of depleting groundwater
Hard lessons from around the American West and Australia could help improve groundwater management and protect ecosystems in California, Stanford University researchers find.
Many questions as Rio Summit seeks to help sick planet
Twenty years ago, a burst of sunny optimism radiated from Rio de Janeiro as world leaders staged a meeting that would prove pivotal.
China's Jiaolong sub to attempt deepest manned-dive
A Chinese submersible is poised to attempt the country's deepest-ever manned dive, state media said Monday, as Beijing seeks to reach another technological milestone.
Southeast may be headed toward tipping point with carbon footprint: researchers
In a paper published recently in the journal Ecosystems, a team led by Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences researchers found that the southeast region of the United States could be close to a turning point in terms of its carbon footprint.
Stanford biologists call for humanity to 'scale itself back'
(Phys.org) -- "In biophysical terms, humanity has never been moving faster nor further from sustainability than it is now."
NASA surpasses test facility record with J-2X powerpack test
(Phys.org) -- NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss., broke its own record Friday when it conducted a test on the new J-2X powerpack. The test lasted for 1,150 seconds, surpassing the previous record by more than a full minute.
Hitchhiker's guide to the deep
(Phys.org) -- "Don't panic," Douglas Adams might have said. Author of the sci-fi novel Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Adams advised "don't panic" whenever facing invaders.
The Antikythera time machine
Leonardo da Vinci may have left behind sketches of helicopters, tanks and submarines but it is rare that we find actual artifacts that seem so way ahead of their time. Almost like a science fiction tale of archaeologists finding a wristwatch buried deep in an Egyptian pyramid or motorcar under the foundations of Stonehenge, we do have an example of a scientific computer that was built between 150 and 100 BC. It was so advanced, nothing as complex would be developed again until the 14th century.
Scientists correct Amazon water level gauges from space
Previously, gauges used to measure changes in water level in the Amazon were not on the same reference level. This meant water levels could not be directly compared, limiting the use of the gauges in research, especially understanding and modelling water flows and flooding.
Arctic getting greener
Recent years' warming in the Arctic has caused local changes in vegetation, reveals new research by biologists from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and elsewhere published in the prestigious journals Nature Climate Change and Ecology Letters.
NuSTAR provides new look at black holes
When NASA launches a new telescope this Wednesday that will look at black holes in ways never seen before, Georgia Tech astrophysicist David Ballantyne will be more than a curious bystander. He helped plan the mission.
Study: US must encourage development of Canadian oil sands, mitigation of CO2 emissions
To successfully reduce the United States' dependence on fuels from outside North America, the government must pursue policies that foster the diversion of Canadian oil sands crude to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries, according to a new study by Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Hawaii telescope sees what could be oldest galaxy
A team of Japanese astronomers using telescopes on Hawaii say they've seen the oldest galaxy, a discovery that's competing with other "earliest galaxy" claims.
Research shows humans are primary cause of global ocean warming
(Phys.org) -- The oceans have warmed in the past 50 years, but not by natural events alone.
Researchers suggest speedy growth of early black holes may have inhibited the growth of others
(Phys.org) -- A trio of astrophysicists is theorizing that the reason that there is not a larger variety of black hole sizes in the known universe is because those that were spawned first heated up the universe to the extent that it stunted the growth of others. The team members: Takamitsu Tanaka, Rosalba Perna and Zoltán Haiman outline their ideas in their paper they’ve uploaded to the preprint arXiv. In it they suggest that the black holes that formed soonest after the Big Band, pulled in enormous quantities of gas and emitted huge amounts of x-rays; enough they say to heat up the universe, preventing other black holes from growing larger.
Hubble spots a bright spark in a nearby spiral galaxy
(Phys.org) -- This image, taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows a detailed view of the spiral arms on one side of the galaxy Messier 99. Messier 99 is a so-called grand design spiral, with long, large and clearly defined spiral arms — giving it a structure somewhat similar to the Milky Way.
X-ray telescope to focus on hottest regions of black holes, supernovas
(Phys.org) -- NASA is scheduled to launch an orbiting X-ray satellite on Wednesday, June 13, that will open a new window on the universe, allowing scientists to probe the roiling edges of black holes, the turbulent outflow from exploding stars, and the smallest, most frequent flares on the sun.
Mapping volcanic heat on Io
(Phys.org) -- A new study finds that the pattern of heat coming from volcanoes on Io's surface disposes of the generally-accepted model of internal heating. The heat pouring out of Io's hundreds of erupting volcanoes indicates a complex, multi-layer source. These results come from data collected by NASA spacecraft and ground-based telescopes and appear in the June issue of the journal Icarus.
More people, more environmental stress
Although it's long been suspected that human activity has greatly contributed to environmental stress, it's only recently that science has begun to show just how great a role that activity is playing.
Researchers catalog more than 635,000 Martian craters
It's no secret that Mars is a beaten and battered planet -- astronomers have been peering for centuries at the violent impact craters created by cosmic buckshot pounding its surface over billions of years. But just how beat up is it?
NASA's Mars rover zeroes in on August landing (Update)
NASA's Mars rover, nicknamed Curiosity, is zeroing in on its August landing on the Red Planet and aims to touch down closer than expected to its mountain target, the US space agency said Monday.
Neighbor galaxies may have brushed closely: research
(Phys.org) -- Two of our Milky Way's neighbor galaxies may have had a close encounter billions of years ago, recent studies with the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope (GBT) indicate. The new observations confirm a disputed 2004 discovery of hydrogen gas streaming between the giant Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, and the Triangulum Galaxy, or M33.
Global warming threat seen in fertile soil of northeastern US forests
Vast stores of carbon in U.S. forest soils could be released by rising global temperatures, according to a study by UC Irvine and other researchers in today's online Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C.
New evidence supporting theory of extraterrestrial impact found
An 18-member international team of researchers that includes James Kennett, professor of earth science at UC Santa Barbara, has discovered melt-glass material in a thin layer of sedimentary rock in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Syria. According to the researchers, the material –– which dates back nearly 13,000 years –– was formed at temperatures of 1,700 to 2,200 degrees Celsius (3,100 to 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit), and is the result of a cosmic body impacting Earth.
Fermi telescope detects the highest-energy light from a solar flare
(Phys.org) -- During a powerful solar blast on March 7, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected the highest-energy light ever associated with an eruption on the sun. The discovery heralds Fermi's new role as a solar observatory, a powerful new tool for understanding solar outbursts during the sun's maximum period of activity.
Technology news
South Korean paper hit by major cyber attack
A conservative South Korean newspaper said Monday it had been the victim of a major cyber attack, less than a week after North Korea threatened the paper and other Seoul media over their reports.
Independent bookstores embrace digital publishing
(AP) — Clare Dickens only wanted to share her story to help others. But in the process, she became a successful independent author — with the help of a local bookstore and its instant publishing machine.
Taiwan investigates navy ship's missing laptop
(AP) — Taiwan's military said Monday it is investigating how a laptop went missing from a guided-missile ship, with opposition lawmakers pointing the finger at Chinese spies.
OIDA releases report on aggregation networks and data centers
The Optoelectronics Industry Development Association (OIDA) today announced the release of a new report titled “OIDA Workshops on Metrics for Aggregation Networks and Data Centers” – a roadmap for optical communications, based on quantitative, system-level metrics.
Grid stability thanks to precise forecasts
A self-learning software system from Siemens can stabilize power grids. The program, which is based on neural networks, can forecast the electrical output of renewable energy sources over a 72-hour period with more than 90 percent accuracy. The data helps grid operators calculate power demand in their networks and fairly exactly order the amount of additional electricity required in advance. As reported by the magazine "Pictures of the Future", Siemens's global Corporate Technology (CT) research department developed the forecast software for Swissgrid in Switzerland.
Power from waste heat cuts costs and emissions
A new development from Siemens makes it possible for operators of electric arc furnaces to obtain electricity from hot exhaust gases. Around 20 percent of the electricity required to melt steel scrap could be recovered with the method, according to a report in the latest issue of the research magazine "Pictures of the Future". Up until now, it has been very difficult to carry out such a process because of temperature and gas-volume fluctuations. Siemens therefore developed a salt storage unit that acts as an energy buffer between a steel furnace and a turbine. The first pilot facility for the system went into operation in the German state of Thuringia in mid-April 2012; the first system product is scheduled to be manufactured in 2013.
US Internet advertising spending hits $8.4B in 1Q
(AP) — An advertising industry group says revenue from Internet advertising in the U.S. hit $8.4 billion in the first three months of the year.
Mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo buys Tower Records Japan
Japan's top mobile carrier NTT DoCoMo said Monday it will make Tower Records Japan a subsidiary to enhance its online sales of CDs and DVDs.
Online freedom: an app for that is coming
For people living in countries where the the government monitors and censors the Internet, help is on the way.
Researchers developing new type of internet search engine
(Phys.org) -- Computer scientists at the University of Glasgow are participating in a new project to develop a search engine which will draw its results from sensors located in the physical world.
Google reaches deal with French publishers on book scans (Update)
Google has reached a deal with French publishers and authors on scanning books and putting them online, ending a six-year legal battle over copyrights, publishers' group SNE said Monday.
Mobile technology to fix hand pumps in Africa
(Phys.org) -- Thousands of families affected by the ongoing drought in East Africa are set to benefit from improved water supplies thanks to innovative mobile technology designed by Oxford University.
Wi-fi will soon reach its limits: Dutch study
Wi-Fi, the well-known standard for wireless internet, is reaching its technical limits. Its efficiency drops significantly in busy surroundings where many different networks and numerous wireless internet enabled devices are operating. In some cases, it may even drop to less than 20 percent. This has emerged from exploratory research being carried out by the University of Twente’s CTIT research institute, on behalf of Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands. The increasing demand for bandwidth means that the efficiency of Wi-Fi is likely to fall still further in future. For this reason, the researchers think that we should consider the option of a new Wi-Fi standard.
Facebook's growth rate is slowing: WSJ
(AP) — Facebook's growth appears to be slowing, particularly in the U.S., according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
Hologram developers raise real cash for virtual stars
Digital Domain Media Group, creators of a Tupac Shakur hologram that rocked this year's Coachella festival, said Monday it has raised $10.5 million to help build a roster of virtual stars.
Apple integrates Facebook into iPhone software
(AP) — Apple is kicking an important Google application off its iPhone and buddying up with Facebook rather than Google's social network, as it distances itself from a bitter rival in the phone arena.
Flame spy virus gets order to vanish: experts
US computer security researchers said Sunday that the Flame computer virus that smoldered undetected for years in Middle Eastern energy facilities has gotten orders to vanish, leaving no trace.
Developers are on standby for Apple's UDID successor
(Phys.org) -- The word is out that Apple will replace the Unique Device Identifier (UDID) that is meant for mobile application developers trying to track who uses their software. Apple, according to reports, has devised a better solution for developers that does not generate a web of privacy concerns and complaints. The iPad and iPhone maker is developing a new app tracking tool that will provide developers with the information they seek, while protecting users’ privacy more than the UDID approach.
Apple expected to show fresh software, new Macs
(AP) — Apple CEO Tim Cook is expected to show off new iPhone software and updated Mac computers and provide more details on future releases of Mac software when he kicks off the company's annual conference for software developers Monday.
Flame virus linked to Stuxnet: researchers (Update 2)
The Flame computer virus which has been raging in the Middle East has strong links to Stuxnet, a malware program widely believed to have been developed by the United States or Israel, a security firm said Monday.
Apple fends off Android challenge with maps, Siri
Apple said Monday it was making its own maps for iPhones and iPads as it revved up its mobile gadget operating system in a drive to outdistance rivals powered by Google's Android software.
Medicine & Health news
The Medical Minute: Stay safe around the house this summer
Each of five major child injury hazards -- motor vehicles, drowning, burns, falls and poison -- can be found in the back yard or around your home during the summer. Riding mowers, inflatable pools, home playground equipment and even natural vegetation and sunlight require a few simple precautions for a fun and safe summer break.
New research focuses on teen sexual health in Northern Ireland
Sex education at school is young people's preferred source of information about sex, according to a new report from Queen's University and the University of Ulster.
How blogging is revolutionizing dying
Terminally ill people writing blogs about their condition are helping others come to terms with death according to our latest research.
Mindfulness reduces anxiety and depression in cancer patients
When being diagnosed with cancer, people will naturally worry about their future, their family and about dying. Actually, no less than 35-40% of cancer patients suffer from significant anxiety and depression symptoms. An interdisciplinary research project carried out between Aarhus University, Business and Social Sciences and Aarhus University Hospital and the Danish Cancer Society now shows that mindfulness can help cancer those patients suffering from anxiety and depression.
First Nations and low-income children visit emergency departments more often for mental health care
First Nations children and those from families receiving government subsidies had more return visits to emergency departments for mental health crises than other socioeconomic groups, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Fighting cancer with the immune system
The human immune system has a natural ability to identify and attack tumor cells. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that are particularly effective at killing tumor cells due to their ability to secrete cytotoxic enzymes. However, mutations have allowed many types of tumors to develop a resistance to NK-mediated killing through ill-defined mechanisms.
Research could lead to new drugs for major diseases
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, are working to develop substances that can prevent parasites, bacteria and fungi from producing essential proteins, research that could, in the long term, lead to new drugs for several major diseases.
Researchers find alcohol plays no role in disclosing HIV status among Russians
Disclosure of HIV positive serostatus to sexual partners is considered an important public health goal to prevent new infections. Disclosure can motivate sex partners to make informed choices and change behavior through negotiation of safer sex practices. It might also prompt partner testing and counseling.
Cocaine vaccine gets a boost with molecular imaging
Addicts unable to kick a cocaine habit could one day be vaccinated against cocaine and see proof with a molecular imaging technique that shows how the vaccine prompts antibodies to whisk away the drug before it can reach the brain, say researchers at SNM's 59th Annual Meeting.
New therapy extends life for prostate cancer patients
Prostate cancer patients with advanced tumors that have spread to bone have a poor chance of surviving. Patients with the disease may now live longer with a new line of radioisotope therapy, say researchers at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting.
PET predicts outcome of therapy for colorectal cancer patients
A study presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting reveals how molecular imaging biomarkers can be used to approximate howan experimental radiochemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer will work. Using already available imaging probes, scientists can assess the effectiveness before the course of treatment has ended.
State-of-the-art scanning detects more cancer in bone
Research revealed at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting describes new approaches to imaging for the detection of tumors in complex cases of bone cancer. Hybrid imaging technology combining computed tomography (CT) with molecular imaging agents targeting two different markers of disease came out on top of the list for the detection of bone lesions.
Molecular imaging finds link between low dopamine levels and aggression
Out of control competitive aggression could be a result of a lagging neurotransmitter called dopamine, say researchers presenting a study at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting. During a computer game against a putative cheating adversary, participants who had a lower capacity to synthesize this neurotransmitter in the brain were more distracted from their basic motivation to earn moneyand were more likely to act out with aggression.
Beating hearts are finally still with 4D PET image reconstruction
A development in 4D image reconstruction compensates for blurring caused by the beating of the heart, say researchers at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 59th Annual Meeting. The new method provides sharper-than-ever images of cardiac function to help pinpoint heart defects for better diagnoses and treatment.
Bioluminescence imaging lights up stem cell therapy for hair growth
Finding a way to restore hair growth after substantial hair loss is something of an obsession worldwide. Investigators at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting presented how stem cell research for the development of new hair follicles can be monitored with an optical imaging technique that uses bioluminescence, the same process that allows fireflies to light up.
Molecular imaging 'sees' inside coronary arteries to measure disease
Patients with cardiovascular disease will now benefit from a powerful new molecular imaging tool to detect disease in the main arteries supplying oxygen to the heart, say researchers presenting studies at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting.
Breathing treatment improves cardiac function and nerve health
Many chronic heart failure patients struggle with not just strenuous activity but even the essentials such as moderate exercise and normal breathing. Research revealed at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting presents an overnight breathing treatment called adaptive servo-ventilation as a potential protocol for energizing the heart by increasing activity in the sympathetic nervous system. An aspect of the nervous system, the main function of the sympathetic nervous system is to mobilize the body, commonly known as the "fight-or-flight" impulse.
Molecular imaging detects signs of Alzheimer's in healthy patients
An arsenal of Alzheimer's research revealed at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 59th Annual Meeting indicates that beta-amyloid plaque in the brain not only is involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease but may also precede even mild cognitive decline. These and other studies advance molecular imaging for the early detection of beta-amyloid, for which one product is now approved in the United States , as a major push forward in the race for better treatments.
Molecular imaging signals new treatment protocol for kidney cancer
Research revealed at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting explores treatment with a newly developed type of radioimmunotherapy used for treating a resistant form of kidney cancer. The agent is able to hone in on the disease, called clear cell renal carcinoma, and kill the cancer by delivering radiation directly to it. However, the study shows that its effectiveness could be diminished when used after another anti-cancer therapy.
PET quickly predicts success of brain cancer treatment
A study revealed at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 59th Annual Meeting provides some hope for those with a malignant brain cancer called glioma.A method of molecular imaging that mimics an essential amino acid in the brain can now gauge whether the cancer is still active as early as two weeks after the start of treatment without requiring an invasive biopsy.
Have no fear: Most cases of thyroid cancer do not affect survival
Research presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 59th Annual Meeting reveals that patients with differentiated thyroid cancer live as long as people in perfect health, unless they are in the minority and have reached the most advanced stages of disease. Survival did not vary based on age, sex, or even if patients' cancer had reached the beginning of stage IV.
PET imaging could lead to better care for neuroendocrine cancer
A method of molecular imaging that pinpoints hormonally active tissues in the body could change the course of treatment for a remarkable number of neuroendocrine cancer patients, say researchers at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 59th Annual Meeting.
Reconfigured hybrid imaging lowers radiation exposure
Molecular imaging is effective for providing information about disease processes, and today's hybrid imaging systems have additional computed tomography (CT) technology on board for alignment and imaging structures. While this addition increases the amount of radiation dose a patient receives, research presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's2012 Annual Meeting finds that multiple molecular imaging studies need only one structural scan, which would slice off a significant amount of patient radiation exposure.
Intensive mobile phone use affects young people's sleep
Young adults who make particularly heavy use of mobile phones and computers run a greater risk of sleep disturbances, stress and symptoms of mental health. "Public health advice should therefore include information on the healthy use of this technology," says researcher Sara Thomée from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
More than 27 percent of L.A homeless adults have hepatitis C, and nearly half don't know it
Recent government studies show that hepatitis C, which can destroy the liver and necessitate a liver transplant, now kills more American adults than AIDS, and new UCLA research shows just how prevalent the disease is among homeless adults in downtown Los Angeles.
Study examines telephone intervention in glaucoma treatment adherence
A telephone intervention trial was associated with improvement in glaucoma medication adherence in both the treatment group and the control group but, when the two groups were compared, interactive telephone calls and tailored print materials did not significantly improve adherence, according to a report of a randomized controlled clinical trial published Online First by Archives of Ophthalmology.
AAN issues new guideline for treating rare seizure disorder in babies, young children
The American Academy of Neurology has issued an updated guideline outlining the best treatments for infantile spasms, a rare type of seizure that can occur in infants and young children. The guideline, which was co-developed with the Child Neurology Society, is published in the June 12, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Health-care disparities exist for children with autism spectrum disorders, researcher says
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) require an array of specialized health care services. With these services come higher costs for parents and insurance providers. University of Missouri researchers compared costs and types of services for children with ASD to costs and services for children with other conditions like asthma or diabetes. The researchers found children with ASD paid more for health care than children with other conditions. In addition, children with ASD used more services yet had less access to specialized care.
Japanese scientists show 'new' liver generation using hepatocyte cell transplantation
Researchers in Japan have found that hepatocytes, cells comprising the main tissue of the liver and involved in protein synthesis and storage, can assist in tissue engineering and create a "new liver system" in mouse models when donor mouse liver hepatocytes are isolated and propagated for transplantation. Their study is published in a recent issue of Cell Transplantation (21:2/3).
Freezer damages brain samples used to study autism
(AP) — A freezer malfunctioned at a Harvard-affiliated hospital that oversees the world's largest collection of autistic brain samples, damaging a third of the scientifically precious specimens and casting doubt on whether they can be used in research.
Some adults with sleep disturbances are actually afraid of the dark, study says
A small study of Toronto college students is shedding light on a contributing factor of insomnia that might be hard to admit – an adult fear of the dark.
'Bad' dieting increases cardiovascular disease risk
A 25 year study in Northern Sweden, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Nutrition Journal, is the first to show that a regional and national dietary intervention to reduce fat intake, decreased cholesterol levels, but a switch to the popular low carbohydrate diet was paralleled by in an increase in cholesterol levels. Over the entire 25 year period the population BMI continued to increase, regardless of either diet, and both the increase in body mass and increased cholesterol levels are indicators of increased cardiovascular risk.
Top risk of stroke for normal-weight adults: Getting under 6 hours of sleep
Habitually sleeping less than six hours a night significantly increases the risk of stroke symptoms among middle-age to older adults who are of normal weight and at low risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study of 5,666 people followed for up to three years.
Experimental diabetes drugs offer patients hope
Some experimental diabetes treatments in late testing offer patients hope of better controlling their blood sugar and weight and preventing dangerously low blood sugar, all big challenges for millions of diabetics.
Health woes persist for young cancer survivors: study
People who survive cancer when they are teenagers or young adults are more likely than their peers who never had cancer to engage in risky behaviors like smoking later on, a US study said Monday.
Important study on adrenal cortex cancer completed
(Medical Xpress) -- Adrenocortical cancer is an uncommon form of cancer that is often fatal. For the first time, a large-scale randomized treatment study has now been carried out. The study is being published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine and constitutes an important and long-awaited platform for continued research.
Study: Even 7-year-olds sometimes hurt themselves
(AP) — Even children as young as 7 sometimes cut themselves on purpose, according to a small study believed to be the first to examine self-injury at such early ages.
Young people of multiple disadvantaged groups face worse health due to more discrimination
An Indiana University study found that teens and young adults who are members of multiple minority or disadvantaged groups face more discrimination than their more privileged peers and, as a result, report worse mental and physical health.
Dealing with depression
(Medical Xpress) -- A technique which helps people control activity in a specific part of their brain could be used to help ease depression, University research has found.
UConn researchers voice concern over proposed addiction guideline changes
(Medical Xpress) -- Two prominent University of Connecticut Health Center researchers are adding their voices to a chorus of other national experts who are questioning proposed changes regarding substance abuse guidelines in a manual used internationally in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.
Study shows dental implants may cause preventable nerve damage
(Medical Xpress) -- Dental implants may cause preventable nerve damage, warn dental experts, as study highlights surgery risks
Specialized hospital care for elderly patients could significantly cut costs
(Medical Xpress) -- Creating specialized hospital units for elderly people with acute medical illness could reduce national health care costs by as much $6 billion a year, according to a new study by UCSF researchers.
The doping-drug Epo has an impact in the brain
Sportsmen and women dope with the blood hormone Epo to enhance their performance. Researchers from the University of Zurich now discovered by animal testing that Epo has a performance-enhancing effect in the brain shortly after injection and not only after days by improving oxygen transport in blood. As Epo also increases motivation, it could be useful in treating depression.
New survival factor for immune cells identified
(Medical Xpress) -- An international team of researchers has discovered that many of the body’s infection-fighting immune cells require a cell survival protein, called A1, to develop and function. Their finding could lead to a better understanding of conditions including leukaemia, allergy and autoimmunity.
Why resist insulin? Finding genes associated with insulin resistance
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers have uncovered six genetic regions that appear to affect resistance to the effects of insulin, which is important in many cases of type 2 diabetes. Previously, only two regions had been described.
US reviews safety of innovative heart valve (Update 2)
(AP) — U.S. health officials are asking safety questions about the first artificial heart valve designed to be implanted without major surgery, ahead of a meeting this week to consider broadening its use.
Estrogen and cardiovascular risk in menopausal women
Women are less prone to cardiovascular disease then men; but this difference between the sexes becomes less marked after the menopause. This observation is behind a great deal of received wisdom, where oestrogen is assumed to have a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels. Today, new data seems to question these presuppositions. A study has been conducted by a team of Inserm researchers, directed by Pierre-Yves Scarabin (Inserm Unit 1018 "Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Research"), on 6,000 women aged over 65; its results demonstrate, for the first time, that women with high levels of oestradiol in their blood are exposed to a greater risk of myocardial infarction or strokes.
Studies show that pancreatic cancer can run but not always hide from the immune system
A pair of recent studies describes how pancreatic cancer cells produce a protein that attracts the body's immune cells and tricks them into helping cancer cells grow. The research, published by Cell Press in the June 12th issue of the journal Cancer Cell, also reveals that blocking the protein may be an effective way to treat pancreatic cancer.
New stroke treatment could prevent and reduce brain damage
Researchers at the University of Missouri have demonstrated the effectiveness of a potential new therapy for stroke patients in an article published in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneration. Created to target a specific enzyme known to affect important brain functions, the new compound being studied at MU is designed to stop the spread of brain bleeds and protect brain cells from further damage in the crucial hours after a stroke.
New research examines health behavior in long-term relationships
Women bear the brunt of being the health police in heterosexual marriages, but gay and lesbian couples are more likely to mutually influence each other's health habits – for better or for worse. The findings are reported in the June issue of the journal, Social Science & Medicine.
Normal gene hinders breast cancer chemotherapy
Presence of normal p53, a tumor suppressor gene, instead of a mutated version, makes breast cancer chemotherapy with doxorubicin less effective. The preclinical study led by MD Anderson scientists was published today in the journal Cancer Cell.
Treating childhood anxiety with computers, not drugs
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, one in eight children suffers from an anxiety disorder. And because many anxious children turn into severely anxious adults, early intervention can have a major impact on a patient's life trajectory. The understandable reluctance to use psychiatric medications when it comes to children means child psychologists are always searching for viable therapeutic alternatives.
It's all in the name -- predicting popularity through psychological science
Music has moved from grunge to hip-hop to indie rock. Low-carb is in. Low-fat is out. Styles change and fashions evolve. But why do some things become more popular than others? Popularity may seem arbitrary, but recent research suggests that fads may be less random than we think.
Are feminism and attachment parenting practices compatible?
What kind of mothers do feminists make? According to a new study by Miriam Liss and Mindy Erchull, from the University of Mary Washington in the US, feminist mothers endorse the importance of the time-intensive, hands-on parenting practices associated with attachment parenting - a child-centric parenting technique in which children's needs are ideally met on the child's schedule rather than the parent's. Their work is published online in Springer's journal Sex Roles.
New skin patch treatment kills most common form of skin cancer
A customized patch treatment for basal cell carcinoma completely destroys facial tumors without surgery or major radiation therapy in 80 percent of patients studied, say researchers at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 2012 Annual Meeting.
Cycled lighting improves neonates' behavior, outcomes
(HealthDay) -- Cycled lighting (CL) during neonatal care reduces an infant's fussing and crying behavior at 5 and 11 weeks' corrected age and correlates with a trend toward higher motor activity during daytime and improved weight gain, compared with dim lighting (DL) conditions, according to a study published online June 11 in Pediatrics.
In preemies, maternal smoking tied to necrotizing enterocolitis
(HealthDay) -- Maternal smoking has been identified as a risk factor associated with the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants, according to a study published June 11 in Pediatrics.
Perjeta approved for advanced breast cancer
(HealthDay) -- Perjeta (pertuzumab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat people with HER2-positive late-stage breast cancer, the agency said in a news release.
Who's stressed in the US? Researchers study adult stress levels from 1983-2009
Until now, comparing stress levels in individuals across the United States over time was not possible due to a lack of historical data that tracks stress using accepted comparable measures.
Sweet minty relief for cough
Millions of Americans reach for their cough drops or syrup at the first sign of a cough. However, scientists are unsure if and how these popular remedies work. Now, new findings from the Monell Center suggest that sucrose and menthol, ingredients commonly regarded as flavorings in these preparations, each act independently to reduce coughing.
Study identifies genes linked to resistance to breast cancer chemotherapy
A study led by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) investigators has identified a gene expression pattern that may explain why chemotherapy prior to surgery isn't effective against some tumors and suggests new therapy options for patients with specific subtypes of breast cancer.
Study shows some may be protected from diabetic eye disease
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center, supported by JDRF, have completed a study of 158 people who have lived with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for 50 years or more with eye examinations at Joslin over many decades of follow-up, and have concluded that a high proportion of this unique group of patients developed little to no diabetic eye disease over time. The study focuses on a group of patients known as "50-year Medalists," and was funded by JDRF in support of its efforts to improve the lives of people with T1D by reducing or eliminating the impact of its complications. Their results, which researchers hope will lead to a means to prevent or slow the progression of the disease, were presented at the 72nd American Diabetes Association's (ADA) Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia this past weekend.
New ruthenium-based drugs show promise for killing cancer cells
A new study by University of Kentucky researchers shows how light and strained ruthenium-based drugs may be more effective at fighting cancer cells and less toxic to healthy cells than a similar and widely used drug.
Sick from your stomach: Bacterial changes may trigger diseases like rheumatoid arthritis
The billions of bugs in our guts have a newfound role: regulating the immune system and related autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, according to researchers at Mayo Clinic and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Natural HIV control may rely on sequence of T cell receptor protein
The rare ability of some individuals to control HIV infection with their immune system alone appears to depend – at least partially – on specific qualities of the immune system's killer T cells and not on how many of those cells are produced. In a Nature Immunology paper that has received advance online publication, researchers at the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard report that – even among individuals sharing a protective version of an important immune system molecule – the ability of HIV-specific killer T cells to control viral replication appears to depend on the particular sequence of the protein that recognizes HIV infected cells.
Breast cancer risk can be lowered by avoiding unnecessary medical imaging
A report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) last December reviewed all the available scientific data compiled to date about potential environmental risks of breast cancer—factors such as pesticides, beauty products, household chemicals, and the plastics used to make water bottles.
Keeping pace: Walking speed may signal thinking problems ahead
A new study shows that changes in walking speed in late life may signal the early stages of dementia known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The research is published in the June 12, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Statins shown to cause fatigue
In a study of more than 1,000 adults, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found that individuals taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are more likely than non-users to experience decreased energy, fatigue upon exertion, or both. The researchers suggest that these findings should be taken into account by doctors when weighing risk versus benefit in prescribing statins.
Study debunks belief insulin puts people with diabetes at risk of heart disease
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered that long-term insulin use does not harm people with diabetes or pre-diabetes or put them at risk of heart attacks, strokes or cancer.
OK to limit pre-dental procedure antibiotics to high risk heart patients
The incidence of infective endocarditis among dental patients in Olmsted County, Minn. did not increase after new guidelines called for giving preventive antibiotics before dental procedures only to those at greatest risk of complications, according to independent research published in Circulation, an American Heart Association journal.
Study links smoking to increased all-cause mortality in older patients
An analysis of available medical literature suggests smoking was linked to increased mortality in older patients and that smoking cessation was associated with reduced mortality at an older age, according to a report published in the June 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
Study examines risk factors for visual impairment among preschool children born extremely preterm
Cerebral damage and retinopathy of prematurity appear to be independently associated with visual impairment among preschool children who were born extremely premature, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Ophthalmology.
Thiazolidinedione use in patients with Type 2 diabetes may increase risk for diabetic macular edema
Treatment with glucose-lowering thiazolidinedione drugs in patients with Type 2 diabetes appears to be associated with an increased risk of diabetic macular edema (a complication that may affect vision) at 1-year and 10-year follow-up evaluations, according to a report published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine.
Slightly elevated blood glucose levels increase risk of heart disease
New research from the University of Copenhagen shows that even slightly higher levels of glucose in the blood noticeably increase the risk of ischemic heart disease. The study involves more than 80,000 people and has just been published in the well-reputed Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
In the hospital, the noisy hospital, the patient sleeps tonight?
In the hospital it is not only direct patient care, but also the environment that contributes to recovery. A critical component of a healing environment is a peaceful space for a patient to get enough sleep.
Fish oil won't save diabetics' hearts, research suggests
(HealthDay) -- People with type 2 diabetes who take omega-3 fatty acid supplements are neither helping nor harming their heart, a new study finds.
Scientists find new genetic path to deadly diarrheal disease
Scientists have found new genetic information that shows how harmful bacteria cause the acute diarrheal disease shigellosis, which kills more than a million people worldwide each year.
Receptor may hold key to multiple sclerosis treatment
(Medical Xpress) -- A receptor recently discovered to control the movement of immune cells across central nervous system barriers (including the blood-brain barrier) may hold the key to treating multiple sclerosis (MS), a neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
The complexities of cognitive comparisons
Which mountain range is bigger, the Rockies or the Alps?
A better way to grow bone: Fresh, purified fat stem cells grow bone faster and better
UCLA stem cell scientists purified a subset of stem cells found in fat tissue and made from them bone that was formed faster and was of higher quality than bone grown using traditional methods, a finding that may one day eliminate the need for painful bone grafts that use material taken from the patient during invasive procedures.
Researchers identify unusual 'altruistic' stem cell behavior with possible link to cancer
When most groups of mammalian cells are faced with a shortage of nutrients or oxygen, the phrase "every man for himself" is more apt than "all for one, one for all." Unlike colonies of bacteria, which often cooperate to thrive as a group, mammalian cells have never been observed to help one another out. But a new study led by a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine has shown that certain human embryonic stem cells, in times of stress, produce molecules that not only benefit themselves, but also help nearby cells survive.
Clues found to way embryonic kidney maintains its fleeting stem cells
Studying mice and humans, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and their collaborators in Paris have identified two proteins that are required to maintain a supply of stem cells in the developing kidney.
Gene inactivation drives spread of melanoma: study
Why do some cancers spread rapidly to other organs and others don't metastasize? A team of UNC researchers led by Norman Sharpless, MD, have identified a key genetic switch that determines whether melanoma, a lethal skin cancer, spreads by metastasis.
Immune cells in the gut may improve control of HIV growth
The findings of a new study in monkeys may help clarify why some people infected with HIV are better able to control the virus. They also may pinpoint a target for treatment during early HIV infection aimed at increasing the supply of certain immune cells in the gut, which the study shows could be an important factor in limiting HIV growth in cells throughout the body.
Long-ignored enzyme turns out to be key to killing infectious bacteria
New research shows that an enzyme that has long been considered relatively useless to the immune response instead has an important role in setting up immune cells to kill infection-causing bacteria.
Computer model successfully predicts drug side effects
A new set of computer models has successfully predicted negative side effects in hundreds of current drugs, based on the similarity between their chemical structures and those molecules known to cause side effects, according to a paper appearing online this week in the journal Nature.
Scientists identify new molecules important for vision and brain function
In a pair of related studies, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have identified several proteins that help regulate cells' response to light—and the development of night blindness, a rare disease that abolishes the ability to see in dim light.
Study offers comprehensive look at chemical, genetic changes that occur as inflammation progresses to cancer
One of the biggest risk factors for liver, colon or stomach cancer is chronic inflammation of those organs, often caused by viral or bacterial infections. A new study from MIT offers the most comprehensive look yet at how such infections provoke tissues into becoming cancerous.
Chinese mindfulness meditation prompts double positive punch in brain white matter
Scientists studying the Chinese mindfulness meditation known as integrative body-mind training (IBMT) say they've confirmed and expanded their findings on changes in structural efficiency of white matter in the brain that can be related to positive behavioral changes in subjects practicing the technique regularly for a month.
Scientists identify brain area that determines distance from which sound originates
Researchers at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital have identified a portion of the brain responsible for determining how far away a sound originates, a process that does not rely solely on how loud the sound is. The investigators' report, which will appear in the early edition of Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, is receiving early online release this week.
Researchers uncover population of cells that are targeted by cancer-causing human papillomaviruses
Virtually all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infections, with just two HPV types, 16 and 18, responsible for about 70 percent of all cases, according to the National Cancer Institute. Scientists have presumed for decades that the cervical cancers that develop from HPV infection arise in a specific location in the cervix.
Study: The epigenome of newborns and centenarians is different
What happens in our cells after one hundred years? What is the difference at the molecular level between a newborn and a centenary? Is it a gradual or a sudden change? Is it possible to reverse the aging process? What are the molecular keys to longevity? These central questions in biology, physiology and human medicine have been the focus of study by researchers for decades.
Apramycin shows promise against drug-resistant TB and other 'superbugs,' without hearing loss
The world needs new antibiotics to overcome the ever increasing resistance of disease-causing bacteria – but it doesn't need the side effect that comes with some of the most powerful ones now available: hearing loss. Today, researchers report they have developed a new approach to designing antibiotics that kill even "superbugs" but spare the delicate sensory cells of the inner ear.
Offspring of older fathers may live longer: study
If your father and grandfather waited until they were older before reproducing, you might experience life-extending benefits.
Biology news
New findings on the diagnosis of paratuberculosis in goats
Measuring immune responses with the help of a so-called interferon gamma test can help to diagnose paratuberculosis in goats.
Scientists develop new tools for conservation and wildlife management
(Phys.org) -- A University of Exeter team has developed new software tools for helping prioritise efforts in species conservation. As well as determining which species need our help, it will also be useful in pest control and sustainable harvesting.
Near-extinct turtle bred on Bangladesh beach
Zoologists have for the first time bred a critically endangered turtle species using an artificial beach, Bangladeshi specialists announced on Monday.
Recreational fishing causes Cape Cod salt marsh die-off
Recreational fishing is a major contributor to the rapid decline of important salt marshes along Cape Cod because it strips top predators such as striped bass, blue crabs, and smooth dogfish out of the ecosystem, according to new research by Brown University ecologists.
Lessons from epigenome evolution: Exploring the epigenome's regulatory function
The sequencing of the human genome has provided a wealth of genetic information, yet the goal of understanding the function of every gene remains outstanding. New research from the University of Illinois published in Cell suggests determining the purpose of genes through a new method they call "comparative epigenomics."
Rapidly cooling eggs can double shelf life, decrease risk of illness
Taking just a few seconds to cool freshly laid eggs would add weeks to their shelf life, according to a Purdue University study.
Giant reef fish found to be marine head-butters
(Phys.org) -- Because humans have a history of disrupting marine environments when they move into an area, mainly due to overfishing, few places in the oceans of the Earth remain as they were before people arrived. And because of that, it’s been difficult for biologists to observe some species of fish in their so-called natural environment. The aptly named giant bumphead parrotfish is just one such example. It’s the largest species of parrotfish in the world and one of the largest of all reef dwellers. At one time it was also very common. But like many other species of fish, its numbers have dwindled to the point where it’s now on the endangered list and over time has learned to fear the presence of human beings. And it’s likely for these two reasons that until now, no one had seen, or at least documented, an important ritual performed by the males of the species; head butting one another. Researchers discovered this behavior recently when studying the ! fish in a protected part of Wake Atoll. They’ve filmed the fish in action, and have published a paper in PLoS One describing what they found.
Molecular controller switches off genetic material
(Phys.org) -- Genetic material has many inactive sections that are of major importance for cell identity and genome stability. The HP1 protein takes on key functions in shutting down such genomic sequences. In the latest issue of Molecular Cell, in a collaborative effort from the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) and the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, researchers show how HP1 functions in repressing the genome at the molecular level.
Pollution makes carnivorous plants go vegetarian
Nitrogen pollution is giving carnivorous plants on Swedish bogs so many nutrients that they don't need to catch as many flies, new research shows.
Researchers develop tool to rapidly determine phylogenetic makeup of large microbial communities
(Phys.org) -- A team of researchers has developed a new tool that can be used to profile the metagenome of large microbial communities such as those that live in the human gut. Using the new tool, researchers can discover in mere hours what used to take months for a supercomputer to calculate, perhaps leading to new discoveries about the mysteries leading to such ailments as Crohn’s Disease and diabetes.
Actin-ratchet tightens contractile ring that severs budding daughter cells from their yeast mothers
During the final stage of cell division, a short-lived contractile ring constricts the cellular membrane and eventually separates the dividing cell in two. Although this "molecular muscle's" composition, mainly actin and myosin, is similar to its skeletal counterpart, the force-producing mechanism is fundamentally different, report researchers at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in the June 12, 2012, issue of Developmental Cell.
Wing bling: For female butterflies, flashier is better
If female butterflies are programmed to identify males of their species by the patterns of spots on their wings, how can new wing patterns evolve in males?
Researchers see activity of bacterial effector protein in molecular detail
Many plant and animal pathogens deploy effector proteins as part of their 'molecular arsenal' to facilitate infection and colonisation of their hosts. New research has revealed the structure of a bacterial effector molecule bound to its target protein in the host.
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