Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 25, 2012:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- Psychologists say Facebook, Twitter harden gender walls- Alien life searchers conference SETICon 2 held in Santa Clara
- Three to a space: the folding car
- Mercury mineral evolution
- Condor lead poisoning persists, impeding recovery
- Scientists struggle with mathematical details
- Biological switch paves way for improved biofuel production
- BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill exacerbated existing environmental problems in Louisiana marshes
- Eating garbage: Bacteria for bioremediation
- Cassini shows why jet streams cross-cut Saturn
- Mystery of the flatfish head solved
- Greenland ice may exaggerate magnitude of 13,000-year-old deep freeze
- Better looking birds have more help at home with their chicks
- Scientists twist light to send data
- Unraveling the mysteries of exotic superconductors
Space & Earth news
Cienega de Santa Clara unchanged after pilot run of Yuma Desalting Plant
Mexico's Ciénega de Santa Clara has not changed since the 2010-11 pilot run of the Yuma Desalting Plant, according to a new report from a University of Arizona-led binational team of researchers.
NASA sees Tropical Storm Debby's clouds blanket Florida
Like a white blanket, Tropical Storm Debby's clouds covered the entire state of Florida in a NASA satellite image.
The toughest life on Earth
You can freeze it, thaw it, vacuum dry it and expose it to radiation but still life survives. ESA’s research on the International Space Station is giving credibility to theories that life came from outer space – as well as helping to create better suncreams. In 2008 scientists sent the suitcase-sized Expose-E experiment package to the Space Station filled with organic compounds and living organisms to test their reaction to outer space.
Rivers of rock
The Moon may not have ever had liquid water on its surface — despite the use of the term mare, Latin for “sea” and moniker for the large regions of darker material visible from Earth — but liquid did indeed flow on the Moon in ages past… liquid rock, briefly set loose by the impacts that formed its ubiquitous craters.
Mercury mineral evolution
Mineral evolution posits that Earth's near-surface mineral diversity gradually increased through an array of chemical and biological processes. A dozen different species in interstellar dust particles that formed the solar system have evolved to more than 4500 species today.
Condor lead poisoning persists, impeding recovery
The California condor is chronically endangered by lead exposure from ammunition and requires ongoing human intervention for population stability and growth, according to a new study led by the University of California, Santa Cruz, and involving the University of Colorado Boulder.
BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill exacerbated existing environmental problems in Louisiana marshes
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill temporarily worsened existing manmade problems in Louisiana's salt marshes such as erosion, but there may be cause for optimism, according to a new study.
Cassini shows why jet streams cross-cut Saturn
Turbulent jet streams, regions where winds blow faster than in other places, churn east and west across Saturn. Scientists have been trying to understand for years the mechanism that drives these wavy structures in Saturn's atmosphere and the source from which the jets derive their energy.
Greenland ice may exaggerate magnitude of 13,000-year-old deep freeze
Ice samples pulled from nearly a mile below the surface of Greenland glaciers have long served as a historical thermometer, adding temperature data to studies of the local conditions up to the Northern Hemisphere's climate.
New evidence links ozone exposure to potential heart attacks
Young, healthy adult volunteers exposed for two hours to ozone developed physiological changes associated with cardiovascular ailments, according to a small study reported in Circulation, an American Heart Association journal.
Alien life searchers conference SETICon 2 held in Santa Clara
SETICon 2, a conference unlike any other, ran this past weekend in Santa Clara, California. In attendance were people from all walks of life whose area of interest intersects on the topic of the search for intelligent life somewhere other than here on planet Earth.
Technology news
STFC's 'Joule' in the crown is UK's most powerful supercomputer
The Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory in Cheshire is officially home to the UK’s most powerful supercomputer, capable of more than a thousand trillion calculations per second.
New efficiency standards for clothes washers, dishwashers
New energy-efficiency standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers were announced by the U.S. Energy Department.
You are where you e-mail: Global migration trends discovered in email data
(Phys.org) -- For the first time comparable migration data is available for almost every country of the world. To date, records were incompatible between nations and especially by gender and age, nonexistent. Emilio Zagheni from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock, Germany, for the first time provides a rich migration database by compiling the global flow of millions of e-mails. “Where estimates of demographic flows exist, they are often outdated and largely inconsistent,” says MPIDR researcher Emilio Zagheni. Official records are difficult to use for various reasons. Emigrants tend not to register after they move to a new country or do so very late. There is also no clear agreement between nations on how to actually define a migrant.
Changing the way we change lanes
By giving drivers the information they need to change lanes safely, a new device could reduce road crashes by up to 30 per cent.
Nuclear fuel recycling could offer plentiful energy (w/ Video)
Imagine the mess if we mined one ton of coal, burned five percent of it for energy, and then threw away the rest.
Sony, Panasonic tying up in advanced TV displays
(AP) — Long-time Japanese rivals Sony Corp. and Panasonic Corp. are working together to develop next-generation TV panels called OLEDs in a reversal of decades of rivalry as they try to catch up with South Korea's Samsung Electronics.
US judge dismisses Apple, Motorola patent suits
An American judge has dismissed lawsuits lodged by Apple and Motorola against each other for copyright infringement.
Filtering web images effectively
You’re looking for a photo of a flower. Not just any photo—it needs to be horizontal in shape. And not just any flower—it needs to be a purple flower.
Wikipedia founder backs UK student wanted by US
(AP) — The founder of Wikipedia has called on British officials to block the extradition of a 24-year-old British student wanted in the United States over alleged copyright offenses.
Removing estrogen from drinking water
A biological filter to remove estrogens from waste water and drinking water. The 15 Bielefeld students submitting this project to the 'international Genetically Engineered Machine competition' (iGEM) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, USA are setting their sights high.
Google, Boingo offer New York free summer Wi-Fi
Google and wireless Internet group Boingo said Monday they would offer free Wi-Fi access over the summer months in many parts of New York City, including some busy subway stations.
2 UK LulzSec hackers plead guilty in London court
(AP) — Two British hackers linked to the notorious Lulz Security group pleaded guilty to a slew of computer crimes Monday, the latest blow against online miscreants whose exploits have grabbed headlines and embarrassed governments around the world.
Microsoft buys Internet startup Yammer for $1.2B
(AP) — Microsoft is paying $1.2 billion to buy Yammer, an Internet startup that has built a social network similar to Facebook for the business world.
NYT Times expands digital platform
The New York Times said Monday it was expanding its digital news offerings to third-party platforms as part of a push for more online subscribers.
British LulzSec hackers admit CIA cyber attacks
Two British members of the hacking group LulzSec admitted Monday carrying out cyber attacks against the CIA and Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper group News International.
Three to a space: the folding car
If you're of a certain age - or just watch a lot of Hulu or Nick at Nite - you probably remember the folding (and flying) car from "The Jetsons."
Psychologists say Facebook, Twitter harden gender walls
Adding to a cynic’s file of Hardly-Shocking research is a new study out from the University of Bath that reports women are more attracted to social-networking sites than are men, who learn more toward Internet sites that carry games and gambling. Where the study does merit interest, however, is that it is a ten-year follow-up study that explores what if any changes have occurred since its first examination of gender differences in Internet usage in 2002.
Medicine & Health news
Higher medical home performance rating of community health centers linked with higher operating cost
Federally funded community health centers with higher patient-centered medical home ratings on measures such as quality improvement had higher operating costs, according to a study appearing in JAMA. This study is being published early online to coincide with its presentation at the Annual Research Meeting of AcademyHealth.
Exercise, even mild physical activity, may reduce breast cancer risk
A new analysis done by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers has found that physical activity – either mild or intense and before or after menopause – may reduce breast cancer risk, but substantial weight gain may negate these benefits.
Study identifies factors related to violence in veterans
A national survey identifies which U.S. military veterans may be at most risk of aggression after deployment and what strategies could potentially help reduce likelihood of violence when service members return home.
The price tag on a patient-centered medical home
The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a concept at the heart of many health care reform models that aim to both improve the quality of care and reduce wasteful spending. But a new analysis of federally qualified health centers finds that clinics with higher scores as medical homes also had higher per-patient operating costs.
Offenders need integrated, on-going, mental health care
Offenders with mental health problems need improved and on-going access to health care, according to the first study to systematically examine healthcare received by offenders across the criminal justice system.
Primary care based intervention for women experiencing domestic violence probably cost-effective
One in four women in the UK experience domestic violence during their lifetime, often resulting in injuries and an increased risk of chronic physical and mental illness. A programme of training and support for GPs, practice nurses and GP receptionists to improve the response of primary care to women experiencing domestic violence could be cost-effective, according to new research published today in BMJ Open.
More control, fewer sickies
(Medical Xpress) -- Employees take fewer sickies if they have more control over their jobs, according to a new study.
Flower power may be answer to itchy problem
Sunflowers may hold the solution to a problem which gets under the skin of millions of Australians every year.
Experimental drug improves muscle strength among male cancer patients
An experimental medication safely increases muscle strength and physical functioning among cancer patients with low testosterone levels, a new drug study finds. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
New report cites link between alcohol abuse and bariatric surgery
An addiction to food may be replaced by an addiction to alcohol in certain bariatric patients. According to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, having Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, where the size of the stomach and the intestine are decreased to reduce food consumption, can increase the risk of alcohol-use disorders.
New surgical method relieves heartburn symptoms
One in three Austrians suffer from heartburn. If the symptoms become chronic, it can lead to serious conditions such as oesophageal cancer. A new surgical method, in which a magnetic ring is positioned almost like a “valve” at the distal end of the oesophagus, now allows the reflux of gastric acid to be prevented. This surgical method has been carried out successfully for the first time in the University Department of Surgery at the MedUni Vienna at the Vienna General Hospital by Sebastian Schoppmann and Martin Riegler.
Risk of cytomegalovirus infection following lung transplant now more measurable
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers in the Department of Virology and the Clinical Department of Thoracic Surgery at the MedUni Vienna have demonstrated that the risk of cytomegalovirus infection following lung transplant can now be determined more effectively by measuring the immune response. “Using a standardised blood test, we are able to classify patients who have had lung transplants into high-risk patients and a lower-risk group,” says Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stöckl from the Department of Virology.
Welfare allowance may hit women's careers
The cash-for-care benefit paid to Norwegian mothers so that they can stay at home with small children means they may quickly fall behind in the world of work, according to recent research.
Type 2 diabetes cured by weight loss surgery returns in one-fifth of patients
A new study shows that although gastric bypass surgery reverses Type 2 diabetes in a large percentage of obese patients, the disease recurs in about 21 percent of them within three to five years. The study results will be presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Investigational hormone replacement promising treatment for rare disorder
An investigational parathyroid hormone replacement effectively treated a rare disorder characterized by low calcium and high phosphate levels in the blood, a new study finds. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Timing of menopause symptoms relates to risk markers for heart disease, stroke
The hot flashes and night sweats that most women experience early in menopause are not linked to increased levels of cardiovascular disease risk markers unless the symptoms persist or start many years after menopause begins. These new study results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Fungicide used on farm crops linked to insulin resistance
A fungicide used on farm crops can induce insulin resistance, a new tissue-culture study finds, providing another piece of evidence linking environmental pollutants to diabetes. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Common diabetes drugs associated with increased risk of death
Compared to another popular drug, three widely used diabetes medications are associated with a greater risk of death, a large new analysis finds. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Liraglutide with insulin improves poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes
Obese adults with poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes can better control their blood sugar by adding liraglutide, a Type 2 diabetes drug, to their insulin therapy, a new study finds. The results, which will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston, also found that these diabetic patients lost weight and lowered their blood pressure.
Physical fitness may improve survival among diabetes patients with heart dysfunction
Being physically fit may improve survival rates among diabetes patients with a particular type of heart abnormality, a new study determines. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Exercise with diet improves insulin sensitivity much more than diet alone
Obese older adults can reduce their chance of developing the metabolic syndrome by losing weight through dieting alone, but adding exercise to a weight loss program has even more benefit, a new study finds. The results, to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston, show that a combination of diet-induced weight loss and frequent exercise almost doubled the improvement in insulin sensitivity compared with dieting alone.
Ratio of appetite-regulating hormones marker of successful dieters
A pre-diet measurement of two hormones related to weight regulation can help predict which dieters will be more likely to maintain their weight loss and who will not, according to a new study. The results will be presented Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Electronic data methods research seeks to build a 'learning health care system'
Researchers participate in the Electronic Data Methods (EDM) Forum to maximize shared experiences and learning for using electronic clinical data to improve medical care and making informed health decisions. A July supplement to Medical Care is a special 'EDM Forum' issue, highlights key issues researchers are facing, and innovative approaches that have been developed to build the infrastructure and conduct research using electronic clinical data. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
Gene expression test identifies low-risk thyroid nodules
A new test can be used to identify low-risk thyroid nodules, reducing unnecessary surgeries for people with thyroid nodules that have indeterminate results after biopsy. The results of the multi-center trial, which includes researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, appear online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Study finds race has an impact on both enrollment and disenrollment in hospice care
Although use of hospice services is increasing dramatically, a study led by Regenstrief Institute investigator Kathleen T. Unroe, M.D., MHA, an assistant research professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, has found that nonwhite Medicare patients with heart failure are 20 percent less likely to enroll in hospice than their white counterparts.
Smallest and largest fetuses at greater risk of being stillborn, research finds
The tiniest and the heaviest fetuses are at much higher risk of being stillborn than those of average weight, new research has found.
Modified bariatric surgery provides remission of Type 2 diabetes
(Medical Xpress) -- Type 2 diabetes often reverses after modified weight loss surgery, especially when the duration of diabetes is less than 10 years, a new study finds. The results will be presented Tuesday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
3-fold increase in acute dialysis after cardiac, vascular surgeries
There has been a three-fold increase in the number of patients receiving acute dialysis because of injury after cardiac and vascular surgeries since 1995, states a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
First-ever Allen Brain Atlas Hackathon unleashes big data API to push neuroscience forward
The Allen Institute for Brain Science convened the first ever Allen Brain Atlas Hackathon last week, opening its doors to a diverse group of programmers and informatics experts for a non-stop week of collaboration, learning and coding based on its public online platform of data, tools and source code. The event brought together more than 30 participants from top universities and institutes ranging from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston to the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology in Poland, as well as from start-ups and established technology companies, to develop data analysis strategies and tools based on the newly enhanced Allen Brain Atlas application programming interface (API).
Choosing when and how to die: Are we ready to perform therapeutic homicide?
A new report from the province of Quebec that recommends medical assistance to die will reignite the debate over euthanasia in Canada, states an editorial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Targeted gene therapy enhances treatment for Pompe disease
Gene therapy to replace the protein missing in Pompe disease can be effective if the patient's immune system does not react against the therapy. Targeted delivery of the gene to the liver, instead of throughout the body,suppresses the immune response, improving the therapeutic effect, according to an article published in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The article is available free online at the Human Gene Therapy website.
BioMed investigators develop novel treatment for melanoma
With summer upon us, more and more people will be heading outdoors and may be putting themselves at risk for various skin conditions which can be caused by continued exposure in the sun. Kevin Bruhn, Ph.D., and Noah Craft, M.D., Ph.D. – lead investigators at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) - are conducting a study that may help treat the most serious condition caused by prolonged sun exposure: skin cancer. The study will evaluate a novel immune-stimulating cream for treating melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Initial funding for this project was provided by a grant from Edison International.
Obese asthma patients have reduced treatment response
(HealthDay) -- Compared with lean patients, obese patients with asthma have higher neutrophil counts and a reduced response to corticosteroid treatment, according to a study published online June 12 in Allergy.
Hormone, oxytocin, shows potential as weight-loss treatment
A reproductive hormone helps regulate food intake and energy metabolism without causing adverse effects, a new animal study finds. The results will be presented Monday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Computer program aids blood-sugar control among critically ill
A computer-software program more effectively controlled blood-sugar levels among critically ill patients than nurse-directed care did, according to the first large clinical trial of its kind. The results to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Viewing images of high-calorie foods brings on high-calorie cravings
You're minding your own business when a food craving suddenly hits, and if you just saw an image of a cupcake, or consumed a sugary soda, that may be no accident.
Metformin may lower cancer risk in people with Type 2 diabetes
A commonly prescribed diabetes drug, metformin, reduces the overall cancer risk in people with Type 2 diabetes, a large systematic review study finds. The results to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Rare birth defects worry S. Africa health officials
Health officials in South Africa's Eastern Cape region Monday voiced concern at the increased number of children born with rare deformities.
Exome sequencing gives cheaper, faster diagnosis in heterogeneous disease
Nuremberg, Germany: The first report of the diagnostic use of the technique of exome sequencing, where short sequences of DNA are analysed, shows that it can give good results at low cost, a researcher from The Netherlands will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today (Monday). The scientists were able to perform a genetic diagnosis in around 20% of 100 cases of patients with intellectual disability (ID) and 50% of the 25 cases of blindness studied. Not only is the exome test cheaper, but results are available more quickly than with Sanger sequencing[1], they say.
Gut microbes battle a common set of viruses shared by global populations
The human gut is home to a teeming ecosystem of microbes that is intimately involved in both human health and disease. But while the gut microbiota is interacting with our body, they are also under constant attack from viruses. In a study published online inGenome Research, researchers have analyzed a bacterial immune system, revealing a common set of viruses associated with gut microbiota in global populations.
Severe reactions to food more common than thought in young children (w/ Video)
Young children with allergies to milk and egg experience an unexpectedly high number of reactions to these and other foods, according to researchers at National Jewish Health. More than 70 percent of preschool children with documented or suspected food allergies suffered a significant reaction during the three-year period. Researchers also found that caregivers failed to administer the medication epinephrine in 70 percent of the severe and potentially life-threatening reactions. The study, conducted by the NIH-funded Consortium of Food Allergy Research, is published in the June 25, 2012, issue of the journal Pediatrics.
Mount Sinai researcher finds timing of ADHD medication affect academic progress
A team of researchers led by an epidemiologist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and University of Iceland has found a correlation between the age at which children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) begin taking medication, and how well they perform on standardized tests, particularly in math.
Study identifies causes for high rates of allergic reactions in children with food allergies
A team of researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and four other institutions have found that young children with documented or likely allergies to milk and/or eggs, whose families were instructed on how to avoid these and other foods, still experienced allergic reactions at a rate of almost once per year. Of severe cases, less than a third received epinephrine, a medication used to counter anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic condition.
Researchers seek predictors of exercise effectiveness for weight loss
(Medical Xpress) -- Most individuals trying to lose weight will increase physical activity as part of their strategy. For many, however, adding structured exercise does not result in weight loss, according to research. Offsetting the exercise with increases in eating and decreases in non-exercise physical activity appear to be significant factors limiting the effectiveness of exercise interventions.
Study shows most commonly mutated gene in cancer may have a role in stroke
The gene p53 is the most commonly mutated gene in cancer. p53 is dubbed the “guardian of the genome” because it blocks cells with damaged DNA from propagating and eventually becoming cancerous. However, new research led by Ute M. Moll, M.D., Professor of Pathology at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and colleagues, uncovers a novel role for p53 beyond cancer in the development of ischemic stroke.
Chipping away at cancer
(Medical Xpress) -- In the last two decades, the number of deaths from colorectal cancer has steadily declined, according to the American Cancer Society. While some of the decrease can be attributed to better treatment practices, early detection is another primary factor. Nonetheless, colorectal cancer is still the second leading cause of death among men and women in the U.S., and is expected to be responsible for more than 50,000 deaths in 2012.
The lemon you reach for is not the lemon you taste
When looking for a lemon in the fridge, its colour is a useful characteristic to think about—the bright yellow will stand out from the green of the salad or the red of the tomatoes. However, when putting the lemon in your drink, its colour is a less relevant characteristic than, for example, its taste. Does the brain’s representation of the concept “lemon” actually change depending on what you’re doing? Might it even change depending on what you were doing?
Cancer threat fails to stop overweight brits losing the flab
Nearly two-thirds of overweight Britons say they are struggling to find the drive to lose weight despite the vast majority knowing it increases their risk of cancer – according to a new Cancer Research UK report published today.
A new dimension for cell culture (w/ Video)
Cancer cells and stem cells can now be cultivated in 3 dimensions to serve in various experiments to great advantage for researchers. This matrix, commercialized by the start-up QGel, which is based in the scientific park at Ecublens, offers the cells a similar environment to a living organism and is adaptable to the needs of the researcher. The new company received the Vigier Prize on Thursday, which comes with a cash sum of 100,000 francs.
Eat slowly and reduce diabetes risk
Your parents must have told you a thousand times - don't eat so fast, slow down! Now it appears that scientific research is backing them up. At the recent joint International Congress of Endocrinology and European Congress of Endocrinology in Florence, Italy, a research team from Lithuania presented their research showing that people who eat their food quickly are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes than those who take their time during meals.
Speeding up bone growth by manipulating stem cells
If you break a bone, you know you'll end up in a cast for weeks. But what if the time it took to heal a break could be cut in half? Or cut to just a tenth of the time it takes now? Qian Wang, a chemistry professor at the University of South Carolina, has made tantalizing progress toward that goal.
Full-term children conceived with fertility drugs are shorter than their peers
Among children born full term, those conceived with the help of fertility drugs are slightly shorter than naturally conceived children but overall are physically healthy, a new study finds. Results of the study will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Do you always have room for dessert? Blame ghrelin, study authors say
A new study suggests that the appetite-inducing hormone ghrelin increases the incentive for humans to eat high-calorie foods, even on a full stomach. The results will be reported Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Risk score could lead to better diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome in children
Researchers have developed a new scoring system that may better identify adolescents with the metabolic syndrome, a group at increased risk of later developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The study, to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston, describes what the authors call "the first racial/ethnic-specific and sex-specific scoring system for the metabolic syndrome."
Experimental insulin drug prevents low blood sugar
An experimental insulin drug prevented low blood sugar among diabetic patients more often than a popular drug on the market, a new study finds. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Reactive hypoglycemia symptoms improve with sitagliptin
The diabetes drug sitagliptin appears to reduce the severity of reactive hypoglycemia, a form of low blood sugar that occurs after a meal, a preliminary study finds. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Secondhand smoke is linked to Type 2 diabetes and obesity
Adults who are exposed to secondhand smoke have higher rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes than do nonsmokers without environmental exposure to tobacco smoke, a new study shows. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Prions and cancer: A story unfolding
Prions, the causal agents of Mad Cow and other diseases, are very unique infectious particles. They are proteins in which the complex molecular three-dimensional folding process just went astray. For reasons not yet understood, the misfolding nature of prions is associated to their ability to sequester their normal counterparts and induce them to also adopt a misfolding conformation. The ever-growing crowd of misfolded proteins form the aggregates seen in diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Once misfolded, a protein can no longer exert its normal functions in the cell.
Drug addiction study offers new insight on compulsive behavior
The same neurological mechanism involved in the transition from habitual to compulsive drug use could underlie less severe, but still harmful, compulsive behaviours.
Experimental drug helps diabetes patients lose weight
An experimental drug helped significantly more overweight patients with diabetes shed pounds, compared with placebo, a new study finds. The results will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
'Dessert with breakfast diet' helps avoid weight regain by reducing cravings
Dieters have less hunger and cravings throughout the day and are better able to keep off lost weight if they eat a carbohydrate-rich, protein-packed breakfast that includes dessert. These findings come from a new study that will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
New hormonal gel combination shows promise as reversible birth control for men
Male hormonal contraceptives applied daily to the skin reduce sperm production, finds a new study to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Sun exposure and cutaneous HPV infection found synergistic in skin cancers
Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and colleagues at the University of South Florida and the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg have found that having antibodies for cutaneous types of human papillomavirus (HPV), coupled with sun exposure (ultraviolet radiation) or poor tanning ability, can act "synergistically" in the development of non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Arsenic for better drugs and cleaner crops
Research carried out at the University of Gothenburg may lead to more effective arsenic-containing drugs. The results may also lead to more resistant plants, and crops with a limited absorption and storage of arsenic.
Why do fat cells get fat? New suspect ID'd
- As the world fights obesity at the human level, scientists at the University of Michigan and their colleagues have made a surprising finding at the microscopic level that could help fuel that fight.
Overweight men can boost low testosterone levels by losing weight
Weight loss can reduce the prevalence of low testosterone levels in overweight, middle-aged men with prediabetes by almost 50 percent, a new study finds. Results will be presented Monday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Gut hormone receptor in brain is key to gastric emptying rate; may help prevent obesity
Researchers have discovered how a hormone in the gut slows the rate at which the stomach empties and thus suppresses hunger and food intake. Results of the animal study will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Low vitamin D levels linked to weight gain in some older women
Older women with insufficient levels of Vitamin D gained more weight than those with sufficient levels of the vitamin, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published online in the Journal of Women's Health. The study of more than 4,600 women ages 65 and older found that over nearly five years, those with insufficient levels of Vitamin D in their blood gained about two pounds more than those with adequate levels of the vitamin.
Intensive cholesterol therapy with multiple drugs effective over long term
For the first time, a study has found that intensive cholesterol therapy involving a combination of drugs for 20 years may be more effective over the long run than taking a single statin medication.
Aspirin may not prevent blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes among diabetics
Many patients with type 2 diabetes may be aspirin resistant. That means the standard aspirin dose may not protect them against blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes among diabetics, a new clinical study finds. The results to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Binge eating improves with deep brain stimulation surgery
Deep brain stimulation reduces binge eating in mice, suggesting that this surgery, which is approved for treatment of certain neurologic and psychiatric disorders, may also be an effective therapy for obesity. Presentation of the results will take place Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Absolute incretin effect reduced in type 2 diabetes
(HealthDay) -- For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) the absolute incretin effect is reduced compared with healthy individuals, but its relative importance is increased, particularly in first-phase insulin secretion, according to a study published online June 20 in Diabetes.
Early vaccinations not linked to celiac disease in sweden
(HealthDay) -- Early vaccinations do not seem to influence the risk of celiac disease (CD) among infants, nor do changes in the vaccination program explain the CD epidemic, according to a Swedish study published online June 25 in Pediatrics.
ENDO: serum phthalate levels higher in obese children
(HealthDay) -- Serum levels of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are increased in obese versus nonobese children, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, held from June 23 to 26 in Houston.
New melanoma drug may extend survival
(HealthDay) -- New research suggests that a new drug does a better job of combating advanced skin cancer in melanoma patients than chemotherapy.
Plastics chemical linked to obesity in kids
(HealthDay) -- It's hard to imagine a pacifier or a rubber ducky making your child fat.
Low vitamin D level is linked to greater chance of risk factors for Type 2 diabetes
A new study presents more evidence of a possible link between low vitamin D levels and a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The results to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Researcher surveys infection control practices for home patients
A healthy boy was infected with antibiotic-resistant bacterium that was traced to his mother's nurse's bag left in the family's car after his mother's home healthcare visit to a patient with the same infection. Although the boy's infection and the patient's infection were never DNA tested, the coincidence was remarkable.
Treating vitamin D deficiency may improve depression
Women with moderate to severe depression had substantial improvement in their symptoms of depression after they received treatment for their vitamin D deficiency, a new study finds. The case report series to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Testosterone-replacement therapy improves symptoms of metabolic syndrome
Hormone-replacement therapy significantly improved symptoms of metabolic syndrome associated with testosterone deficiency in men, a new study from Germany finds. The results to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
2 new vitamin D blood tests are often highly inaccurate, researchers say
Two new blood tests for vitamin D are inaccurate in at least 40 percent of laboratory specimens analyzed, a new study finds. The results to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Hormonal treatment associated with better test performance after stroke
Stroke patients treated who received hormonal treatment, combined with rehabilitation, performed better on functioning and reasoning tests than patients who received rehabilitative therapy alone, a new clinical study from Italy shows. The results to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Vitamin D deficiency common among adolescents evaluated for weight-loss surgery
Most adolescents preparing for weight-loss, or bariatric, surgery are deficient in vitamin D, a new study demonstrates. The results to be presented at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.
Popeye is right: spinach makes you stronger, study shows
Famous cartoon character Popeye is right to down a can of spinach when he wants his biceps to bulge, according to a Swedish study presented Monday showing why the leafy vegetable makes us stronger.
Statins appear associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men, women
Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs appear to be associated with reduced risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in men and women, but do not appear to be associated with reduced all-cause mortality or stroke in women, according to a report of a meta-analysis published June 25 in the Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.
Italy hospital conducts first fully robotic liver procedure
A medical transplant centre on the Italian island of Sicily said Monday it had carried out the world's first partial liver transplant using only a robot to remove the organ of the donor.
Lung cancer death rates among young and middle-aged white women climb in some states
A new study comparing lung cancer death rates among women by year of birth shows dramatic differences in trends between states, likely reflecting the success or failure of tobacco control efforts. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, finds that while lung cancer death rates declined continuously by birth year for women born after the 1950s in California, rates in other states declined less quickly or even increased. In some southern states, lung cancer death rates among women born in the 1960s were approximately double those of women born in the 1930s.
Cause of rare growth disease discovered
A rare genetic disease which causes some parts of the body to grow excessively has been linked to a cancer-associated mutation that drives cell growth, potentially paving the way for new treatments. The research findings were published in Nature Genetics.
Researchers make progress on early detection of resistance to colorectal cancer drugs
Mutations in a gene called KRAS are causally associated with acquired resistance to targeted therapies for colorectal cancers (CRC), according to new findings from EU-funded researchers from Italy and their research colleagues in the United States.
Mathematician develops vocal method of testing for Parkinson's disease
Parkinson’s disease is one of a number of cruel degenerative ailments that slowly rob those afflicted of their faculties. What starts out as a minor tremor in the hands, eventually grows to a life altering condition. Some notable people, such as Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali have the disease and because of that, it has become much more well known over the past few decades.
Biology news
Research confirms Varroa mite bad news for Aussie bees
The worst fears of Australia's honeybee industry have been realised, with new research confirming that Australian honeybees are highly susceptible to a pest that hasn't yet reached our shores but will potentially devastate the honeybees when it does.
How proteins find their way on chromosomes
A research team at Uppsala University has managed to clarify how proteins that regulate the activity of genes quickly find their way on chromosomes among millions of possible binding sites. The study also confirms a more than 30-year-old theory about the process. The findings are being published today in the scientific journal Science.
Giant tortoise Lonesome George dies
Famed giant tortoise Lonesome George has died on the Galapagos Islands, leaving the world one subspecies poorer.
How bacteria change movement direction in response to oxygen: Molecular interactions unravelled
How single cell organisms like bacteria manage to react to their environment is not yet completely understood. Together with colleagues from Japan, Dr. Samir El-Mashtoly from the RUB Department of Biophysics, led by Prof. Dr. Klaus Gerwert, has gained new insights into the molecular interactions during aerotaxis of Bacillus subtilis, i.e., the dependence of the movement direction on the oxygen concentration in the environment. The research team investigated the conformational changes within the protein HemAT. Via a signal transduction chain, this protein sends a command to the flagellar motor which controls the movement direction. They report in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
New tools for evaluating quality of life for cats, dogs with heart disease
(Phys.org) -- Quality of life has become accepted as an important predictor of survival among human patients with heart failure. Now veterinarians at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University have developed two surveys that may prove to be similarly useful in evaluating the quality of life for dogs and cats with heart disease.
Cambodia remains last vulture bastion in Southeast Asia
In face of what has become a precipitous slide toward extinction across the Asian continent, the vultures of Cambodia have persisted, giving conservationists hope that these important scavengers can come back from the brink, according to authors from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Royal Government of Cambodia, and other groups in a new study.
Better looking birds have more help at home with their chicks
In choosing a mate both males and females rely on visual cues to determine which potential partner will supply the best genes, best nesting site, best territory, and best parenting skills. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Frontiers in Zoology shows that male blue tits' (Cyanistes caeruleus) parental behavior is determined by female ornamentation (ultraviolet coloration of the crown), as predicted by the differential allocation hypothesis (DAH).
Researchers use computer model to probe mysteries of human immune system
A new computational model developed by a team of Virginia Tech researchers and published in PLoS Computational Biology provides a framework to better understand responses of macrophage cells of the human immune system.
Biological switch paves way for improved biofuel production
(Phys.org) -- Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have discovered a mechanism that controls the way that organisms breathe or photosynthesise, potentially paving the way for improved biofuel production.
Eating garbage: Bacteria for bioremediation
(Phys.org) -- A 150-foot-high garbage dump in Colombia, South America, may have new life as a public park. Researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated that bacteria found in the dump can be used to neutralize the contaminants in the soil.
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