From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 2:08 AM
Subject: Phys.org Newsletter Tuesday, Jun 25
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>
Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 25, 2013:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
- German team creates robot ape (w/ Video)- Three planets in habitable zone of nearby star (w/ video)
- Study shows wind and solar plant benefits vary by location
- New laser shows what substances are made of, could be new eyes for military (w/ video)
- New scheme for quantum computing
- Nitric oxide could make blood transfusions safer
- Physicists create tabletop antimatter 'gun'
- NREL reports world record 31.1 percent efficiency for III-V solar cell
- Researchers use video game tech to steer roaches on autopilot (w/ Video)
- Efficient production process for coveted nanocrystals
- Ten thousandth near-Earth object unearthed in space
- Averting worse economic collapses
- New approach to mobile video fuses streaming and downloading to dodge delays, improve quality
- Hunger affects decision making and perception of risk
- Laser guided codes advance single pixel terahertz imaging
Space & Earth news
Indonesia sorry over haze as thousands sent to fight fires
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has apologised to Singapore and Malaysia over fires that have cloaked the countries in thick haze, as thousands more emergency workers were deployed on Tuesday to tackle the blazes.
Power plant limits at center of Obama climate plan
President Barack Obama is taking climate change efforts into his own hands, proposing sweeping steps to limit heat-trapping pollution from coal-fired power plants.
New breed of satellites
(Phys.org) —These pictures give the first detailed views of the next batch of Galileo satellites, the first of which has already been delivered to ESA for rigorous testing in simulated space conditions.
New reports show dominant role of agriculture and forestry in Alabama
A newly released series of reports demonstrates the dominant and, in many cases, indispensable role the agriculture and forestry sector plays in the economic fortunes of Alabama's 67 counties.
Effects of diluted bitumen on crude oil transmission pipelines
Diluted bitumen has no greater likelihood of accidental pipeline release than other crude oils, says a new report from the National Research Council. The committee that wrote the report found that diluted bitumen has physical and chemical properties within the range of other crude oils and that no aspect of its transportation by pipeline would make it more likely than other crude oils to cause an accidental release. The committee was not asked to address whether the consequences of a diluted bitumen release differ from those of other crude oils.
Obama: Keystone pipeline must not add to global warming
President Barack Obama signaled Tuesday that the Canada-US Keystone XL oil pipeline will be approved only if it does not increase emissions of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
NASA's sun satellite launch delayed until Thursday
NASA has delayed the launch of a sun-observing satellite by a day so that technicians can restore power to launch range equipment.
NOAA study finds fishing tops US lightning death activities
NOAA's National Weather Service has discovered that 64 percent of lightning deaths since 2006 occurred while people were participating in leisure activities, with fishing topping the list at 26 deaths. John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the National Weather Service, conducted the study by examining demographic information for 238 deaths attributed to lightning over the last seven years. NOAA released these findings on the first day of National Lightning Safety Awareness Week to call attention to the danger of outdoor activities during a thunderstorm.
Unfolding Gaia
(Phys.org) —Gaia, ESA's billion-star surveyor, will be launched into space towards the end of this year. In the meantime, ESA Space Science has launched a new 'minisite' focused on the Gaia mission.
Water isotopes leave fingerprints for climate scientists
University of Colorado meteorologist David Noone and his team are working to understand how water moves around the planet. With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the project team observes and analyzes the stable isotope composition of water vapor and precipitation, primarily at the 300-meter (984-foot) Boulder Atmospheric Observatory tower.
Researchers explore 'inner space' to predict our water future
Leonardo da Vinci once remarked "we know more about celestial bodies than the Earth underfoot", and in 500 years not a lot has changed - especially where most of our fresh water is concerned.
Chinese spacecraft completes mission
China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft has completed a challenging mission to manually dock with a space module and its three astronauts are expected to return to earth on Wednesday, state media said Tuesday.
Tsunami may have hit US East Coast earlier in June (Update)
Scientists suggest a rare tsunami may have hit the U.S. East Coast earlier this month.
Obama lays out national plan to fight climate change (Update)
US President Barack Obama on Tuesday laid out a broad new plan to fight climate change, using executive powers to get around "flat earth" science deniers who have blocked action in Congress.
Obama's climate strategy falls short: experts (Update)
Environmental groups said Tuesday that US President Barack Obama's plan to combat climate change is long overdue but not enough to reverse a global problem that is outpacing the solutions.
Telecoupling pulls pieces of sustainability puzzle together
Global sustainability is like a high-stakes jigsaw puzzle – and an international group of scientists have created a new framework to assemble the big picture without losing pieces.
Dry run for the 2020 Mars mission
(Phys.org) —A film director looking for a location where a movie about Mars could be shot might consider the Atacama Desert, one of the harshest landscapes the planet has to offer. Due to the accidents of its geography, Atacama is the driest place on Earth. Some scientists believe there was no rain to speak of in part of the Atacama between 1570 and 1971. With little moisture in the air its salt lakes, sand dunes and lava flows broil or freeze and are blasted by ultraviolet radiation.
This energy-boosting region in the Sun will have a new NASA satellite watching it
How does the sun's energy flow? Despite the fact that we live relatively close (93 million miles, or eight light-minutes) to this star, and that we have several spacecraft peering at it, we still know little about how energy transfers through the solar atmosphere.
Clearing up confusion on future of Colorado River flows
The Colorado River provides water for more than 30 million people, including those in the fast-growing cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Increasing demand for that water combined with reduced flow and the looming threat of climate change have prompted concern about how to manage the basin's water in coming decades.
Ten thousandth near-Earth object unearthed in space
(Phys.org) —More than 10,000 asteroids and comets that can pass near Earth have now been discovered. The 10,000th near-Earth object, asteroid 2013 MZ5, was first detected on the night of June 18, 2013, by the Pan-STARRS-1 telescope, located on the 10,000-foot (convert) summit of the Haleakala crater on Maui. Managed by the University of Hawaii, the PanSTARRS survey receives NASA funding.
Three planets in habitable zone of nearby star (w/ video)
(Phys.org) —A team of astronomers has combined new observations of Gliese 667C with existing data from HARPS at ESO's 3.6-metre telescope in Chile, to reveal a system with at least six planets. A record-breaking three of these planets are super-Earths lying in the zone around the star where liquid water could exist, making them possible candidates for the presence of life. This is the first system found with a fully packed habitable zone.
Medicine & Health news
Health economics assessment of antimicrobial copper for infection control
A unique health economics assessment of copper's role in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) is being presented this week at the WHO's International Conference on Prevention and Infection Control (ICPIC) in Geneva, demonstrating rapid payback on the capital investment.
Patient factors play key role in emergency department imaging
Despite concerns to the contrary, very little of the variation in Emergency Department (ED) imaging utilization is attributable to physician experience, training or gender, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Practical approach makes new ESC cardiac pacing and resynchronization guidelines accessible to all
The 2013 ESC Guidelines on Cardiac Pacing and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy¹ developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), have created a new classification system for bradyarrhythmias according to mechanisms rather than aetiology. The guidelines, presented at the EHRA EUROPACE meeting 23-26 June in Athens, Greece, and published simultaneously in the European Heart Journal and Europace, have been redesigned to offer a more accessible format for users. Greater emphasis than ever before has been placed on a practical 'how to' approach targeted at generalists, including GPs and geriatricians, as well as expert cardiologists and electro physiologists.
MRI phantoms: Moving to the next stage
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an indispensable tool for diagnosing, treating, and understanding a host of medical conditions, and the technology is evolving rapidly.
Varied quality of CPR among EMS, hospitals hurts survival
The quality of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) you receive may vary, depending on the EMS department or hospital administering it, according to the American Heart Association.
Using serial neuroimaging studies to identify timing of abusive head trauma in infants
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pennsylvania) have categorized the appearance and evolution of abnormalities on neuroimages that represent abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants.
Researchers determine that brain reserve independently protects against cognitive decline in MS
U.S. and Italian researchers have determined that brain reserve, as well as cognitive reserve, independently protects against cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis (MS). Their article, "Brain reserve and cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis: What you've got and how you use it", was published in Neurology on June 11, 2013 (Neurology 2013;80:2186-2193). Authors James Sumowski, PhD, Victoria Leavitt, PhD, and John DeLuca, PhD, are with Kessler Foundation in West Orange, NJ. Maria Rocca, MD, Gianna Riccitelli, PhD, Giancarlo Comi, MD, and Massimo Filippi, MD, are with San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Philip Morris fumes at Thailand cigarette pack rules
Tobacco giant Philip Morris and hundreds of Thai retailers vowed Tuesday to sue the kingdom's health authorities over new rules introducing bigger and more prominent anti-smoking warnings on cigarette packets.
Study finds dramatic increase in hospitalization of US children with inflammatory bowel disease
The largest investigation to date has found a dramatic increase in the number of hospitalizations for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during the past decade in the United States.
Involving community group in depression care improves coping among low-income patients, study finds
Improving care for depression in low-income communities—places where such help is frequently unavailable or hard to find—provides greater benefits to those in need when community groups such as churches and even barber shops help lead the planning process, according to a new study.
Immunohistochemistry effectively detects ALK rearrangement
ALK rearrangement has been demonstrated to be a potent oncogenic driver and a promising therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It defines a distinct molecular subset of NSCLC, in particular adenocarcinoma that can benefit by the treatment of ALK-inhibitors. Development of robust and reliable laboratory tests for predictive biomarkers is essential to select appropriate patients for targeted therapy.
Continued research needed on treatment for women with lung cancer who are never smokers
The incidence of lung cancer in women affects an estimated 516,000 women worldwide, of which 100,000 are in the United States and 70,000 in Europe. Until now, lung cancers occurring in women have been treated similarly to lung cancers in men. However, numerous studies have highlighted different characteristics of lung cancer in women.
PET-CT improves care of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer patients
Each year, 13 percent of all newly diagnosed lung cancer patients are diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Approximately 39 percent of patients with SCLC are diagnosed with limited-stage disease, meaning the cancer is only present in one lung, but may have spread to lymph nodes or tissue between the lungs. These patients are often treated with chemotherapy and definitive radiation therapy. Staging information is essential because of the high propensity for metastatic disease in SCLC, and the identification of metastases can spare patients from the toxicity associated with thoracic radiotherapy. Furthermore, in those patients who do receive radiotherapy, knowing the exact extent of disease may permit more accurate treatment volume delineation.
Exercise benefits patients with type 2 diabetes
Moderate-intensity exercise reduces fat stored around the heart, in the liver and in the abdomen of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, even in the absence of any changes in diet, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.
Cola and honey: Exploring food riddles in rhythm disturbances
Drinking excessive amounts of cola and eating honey made from the pollen of Rhododendrons can cause unusual syncope (fainting) and symptoms of arrhythmia, report two case studies presented as abstracts at the EHRA EUROPACE 2013 meeting, in Athens 23 to 26 June.
Breast implant scare: One in four found flawed
Doctors in France have removed PIP breast implants from more than 16,000 women and found a quarter of the scandal-tainted products had signs of splitting or leakage, a watchdog said on Tuesday.
New treatments for pain and MS being developed in open innovation programme
Two revolutionary treatments which could alleviate pain in people with hypersensitivity to heat, and provide a new regenerative therapy with MS sufferers, are being developed University of Cambridge researchers at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst (SBC), the UK's first open innovation bioscience campus.
How beneficial polyphenols truly are?
Scientifically proving the health benefits of polyphenols, particularly in reducing cardiovascular disease risks, can only be useful when taking into account how they fit in the body's complexity.
Absence of gene leads to earlier, more severe case of multiple sclerosis
(Medical Xpress)—A UC San Francisco-led research team has identified the likely genetic mechanism that causes some patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to progress more quickly than others to a debilitating stage of the disease. This finding could lead to the development of a test to help physicians tailor treatments for MS patients.
Medication plus talk therapy for anxiety in seniors
(Medical Xpress)—A study of older adults has found that combining antidepressant medication with a type of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) appears to be very effective as a treatment for anxiety. Together, they also seem to keep older adults anxiety-free for longer periods of time than either medication or CBT alone.
New heart valve can be implanted in people suffering with adult congenital heart disease without open heart surgery
Many adult congenital heart patients have undergone multiple heart surgeries by the time they reach their 20s. Each time surgeons operate on the heart, the risk of complications increases. A new valve recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, now gives these patients a new way to manage their disease without having to undergo open heart surgery.
Nik Wallenda's 'tricks' are incredible balance and arm muscle endurance
Nik Wallenda, who completed a 1,400-foot tightrope walk over a river gorge near the Grand Canyon on live television Sunday, is not super-human despite his successful feat, according to Ajit Chaudhari (AH-jit CHOW-dree), an assistant professor of orthopaedics at The Ohio State University.
How men and women cooperate
(Medical Xpress)—While men tend to match their partners' emotions during mutual cooperation, women may have the opposite response, according to new research.
Babies know when a cuddle is coming
Babies as young as two months know when they are about to be picked up and change their body posture in preparation, according to new research.
GAP-AF study helps to define optimal approach to ablation
(Medical Xpress)—Using catheter ablation to create complete linear lesions around pulmonary veins, proved more effective than the creation of incomplete lesions in preventing recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), reports the GAP-AF study. The study, presented today in the Late Breaking Clinical Trials session I at the EHRA EUROPACE 2013 meeting in Athens, Greece, represents the first time that a randomized controlled study has been undertaken comparing the two different ablation strategies for patients with paroxysmal AF.
Tick-caused bobcat fever can be deadly to domestic cats
(Medical Xpress)—Kansas State University veterinarians are warning pet owners to watch out for ticks carrying a disease that could kill cats.
Hepatitis B virus control: Identifying proteins in mutation management
(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science in Japan have determined how APOBEC proteins mediate hypermutations that inhibit viral replication. They also identify the host factor protein UNG that can repair these mutations. This research is also described in the inaugural June 2013 issue of the Kanazawa University Research Bulletin.
Maintaining wakefulness: The role of orexin neuropeptides
(Medical Xpress)—One of Kanazawa University's leading professors has spent the last 15 years investigating the role of orexin neuropeptides in the brain. Takeshi Sakurai's work is furthering understanding of sleep and wakeful states and leading to the development of new therapies for insomnia and narcolepsy. This research is also described in the inaugural June issue of the Kanazawa University Research Bulletin.
Past brain activation revealed in scans
(Medical Xpress)—What if experts could dig into the brain, like archaeologists, and uncover the history of past experiences? This ability might reveal what makes each of us a unique individual, and it could enable the objective diagnosis of a wide range of neuropsychological diseases. New research at the Weizmann Institute hints that such a scenario is within the realm of possibility: It shows that spontaneous waves of neuronal activity in the brain bear the imprints of earlier events for at least 24 hours after the experience has taken place.
New study on popular prostate cancer protein provides insight into disease progression
Researchers at the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute have uncovered for the first time the vital role a popular protein plays in the stroma, the cell-lined area outside of a prostate tumor.
Oxytocin could help you reach out to others for support, researchers show
The next time someone snubs you at a party and you think hiding is the solution to escape your feelings of rejection, think again. Scientists have shown that reaching out to other people during a stressful event is an effective way to improve your mood, and researchers at Concordia University suggest that the hormone oxytocin may help you accomplish just that.
Vitamin D reduces blood pressure and relieves depression in women with diabetes
In women who have type 2 diabetes and show signs of depression, vitamin D supplements significantly lowered blood pressure and improved their moods, according to a pilot study at Loyola University Chicago Niehoff School of Nursing.
Children with ADHD more likely to be moderately disabled after mild traumatic brain injury
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Chicago have found that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to demonstrate a moderate disability after sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury than children without ADHD. Detailed findings of this phenomenon are reported and discussed in "The impact of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder on recovery from mild traumatic brain injury. Clinical article," by Christopher M. Bonfield, M.D., Sandi Lam, M.D., M.B.A., Yimo Lin, B.A., and Stephanie Greene, M.D., published today online, ahead of print, in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics.
New theory of emotions
unimaginable. Although emotions are so important, philosophers are still discussing what they actually are. Prof. Dr. Albert Newen and Dr. Luca Barlassina of the Institute of Philosophy II at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum have drawn up a new theory. According to this, emotions are not just special cases of perception or thought but a separate kind of mental state which arises through the integration of feelings of bodily processes and cognitive contents. They describe the model in the journal "Philosophy and Phenomenological Research".
Spatial training boosts math skills
(Medical Xpress)—Training young children in spatial reasoning can improve their math performance, according to a groundbreaking study from Michigan State University education scholars.
Mutua Madrileña funds IDIBELL and ICO project to improve diagnosis of Lynch syndrome
The Fundación Mutua Madrileña, in its 10th Call for Aids to Research, has selected a project to improve the diagnosis of Lynch syndrome led by researcher Marta Pineda, from the Hereditary Cancer research group of the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO). The aid is provided with 33,000 euros and has a duration of two years.
'Active surveillance' may miss aggressive prostate cancers in black men
A Johns Hopkins study of more than 1,800 men ages 52 to 62 suggests that African-Americans diagnosed with very-low-risk prostate cancers are much more likely than white men to actually have aggressive disease that goes unrecognized with current diagnostic approaches. Although prior studies have found it safe to delay treatment and monitor some presumably slow-growing or low-risk prostate cancers, such "active surveillance" (AS) does not appear to be a good idea for black men, the study concludes.
Many Americans earn low grades for proper med use: survey
(HealthDay)—Americans get an average of C+ on the proper use of medications, and one in seven even gets an F, a new report card shows.
Did extreme cola habit cause woman's irregular heartbeat?
(HealthDay)—Excessive soda consumption appeared to be the culprit in the case of a 31-year-old woman suffering from fainting spells and an irregular heartbeat after she spent more than half her life drinking only colas in place of water, a new study contends.
Prenatal smoke exposure impacts reward processing
(HealthDay)—Adolescents prenatally exposed to maternal cigarette smoking exhibit weaker brain response to anticipatory rewards than their nonexposed peers, according to a study published online June 19 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Fewer reoperations seen with cervical disc replacement
(HealthDay)—Total disc replacement (TDR) is associated with a lower reoperation rate and longer time to reoperation compared with anterior cervical fusion (ACF), according to a study published in the June 15 issue of Spine.
Funding influences exposure and review of cancer research
(HealthDay)—Abstracts submitted to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting by researchers who have financial relationships with commercial interests are more prominently placed and more favorably scored by peers, according to research published online June 17 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Growing mismatch in med school graduates, GME places
(HealthDay)—Although the number of medical school enrollees and graduates is increasing, the number of U.S. graduate medical education (GME) programs has not increased at the same rate, and consequently physician shortages are likely to become more apparent, according to a perspective piece published online June 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Diet-exercise combo doesn't cut heart risks in type 2 diabetes patients
(HealthDay)—Weight loss accomplished from diet and exercise does not appear to cut the risk of heart problems for people with diabetes, a new study finds.
Bacteria in gut might mitigate heart attack, researchers say
Diet, exercise and gut bacteria? Surprisingly enough, it turns out that all three - yes, even the bacteria in your gut - might influence how healthy your heart is.
More women removing ovaries to prevent cancer
Ovarian cancer can be a death sentence for many women. It is difficult to treat and often goes undetected until the late stages when it has spread to other organs in the pelvis and abdomen.
Get in the loop: 'Looping' technology communicates directly with hearing aids
Slowly but steadily, people with hearing loss are discovering looping, a simple way to enhance their theater, concert or worship experience - or just to make it easier to hear while riding in a taxi.
Hopkins-led study finds long-banned chemicals found in pregnant mothers' blood
As a reminder of just how persistent some toxic chemicals can be, a Johns Hopkins-led research team reports finding traces of long-banned DDT and PCBs along with other contaminants in the blood of 50 pregnant women checked from Baltimore and its suburbs.
New screening approach identifies small proteins unique to melanoma cells, researcher says
Jamie K. Teer, Ph.D., assistant member of the Cancer Biology and Evolution Program at Moffitt Cancer Center, and colleagues have developed a new streamlined method to rapidly identify the genetic changes in small protein fragments unique to melanoma cancer cells. These fragments can be used as targets for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes that have been shown to reduce cancerous lesions.
Symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome associated with interference in circadian, metabolic genes
Researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute and Agilent Laboratories have found that Prader-Willi syndrome—a genetic disorder best known for causing an insatiable appetite that can lead to morbid obesity—is associated with the loss of non-coding RNAs, resulting in the dysregulation of circadian and metabolic genes, accelerated energy expenditure and metabolic differences during sleep.
Autism in children affects not only social abilities, but also broad range of sensory and motor skills
A group of investigators from San Diego State University's Brain Development Imaging Laboratory are shedding a new light on the effects of autism on the brain.
New research finds flu shot effective regardless of circulating flu strain
New research out of St. Michael's Hospital has found that despite popular belief, the flu shot is effective in preventing the flu, even if the virus going around does not match the vaccine.
Study details cancer-promoting mechanisms of overlooked components in secondhand smoke
Tobacco smoke, diesel exhaust and oil combustion carry polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – PAHs that are known to cause cancer. But of these PAHs, the obviously dangerous high-molecular-weight PAHs like benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) have received the vast majority of research attention. Their low-molecular-weight cousins have been largely overlooked, in part because studies have shown that these compounds alone aren't very successful at mutating genes in cancer-causing ways.
Vietnam vets with PTSD more than twice as likely to have heart disease
Male twin Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were more than twice as likely as those without PTSD to develop heart disease during a 13-year period, according to a study supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Study shows heart failure survivors at greater risk for cancer
Heart failure patients are surviving more often with the heart condition but they are increasingly more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, a trend that could be attributed to increased surveillance, side effects of treatments, or other causes, according to a study published online today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Use of advanced treatment technologies for prostate cancer increases among men with low-risk disease
Use of advanced treatment technologies for prostate cancer, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy and robotic prostatectomy, has increased among men with low-risk disease, high risk of noncancer mortality, or both, a population of patients who are unlikely to benefit from these treatments, according to a study in the June 26 issue of JAMA.
Study examines prevalence, characteristics of traumatic brain injuries among adolescents
The estimated lifetime prevalence of TBI was 20.2 percent; 5.6 percent of respondents reported at least 1 TBI in the past 12 months (4.3 percent of girls and 6.9 percent of boys) and 14.6 percent reported a TBI in their lifetime but not in the past 12 months (12.8 percent of girls and 16.2 percent of boys).
Gene mutation may have effect on benefit of aspirin use for colorectal cancer
In two large studies, the association between aspirin use and risk of colorectal cancer was affected by mutation of the gene BRAF, with regular aspirin use associated with a lower risk of BRAF-wild-type colorectal cancer but not with risk of BRAF-mutated cancer, findings that suggest that BRAF-mutant colon tumor cells may be less sensitive to the effect of aspirin, according to a study in the June 26 issue of JAMA.
Technique to promote nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury restores bladder function in rats
Using a novel technique to promote the regeneration of nerve cells across the site of severe spinal cord injury, researchers have restored bladder function in paralyzed adult rats, according to a study in the June 26 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings may guide future efforts to restore other functions lost after spinal cord injury. It also raises hope that similar strategies could one day be used to restore bladder function in people with severe spinal cord injuries.
Study IDs potential treatment for deadly, HIV-related blood cancer
Researchers at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered a promising new way to treat a rare and aggressive blood cancer most commonly found in people infected with HIV.
Human and canine lymphomas share molecular similarities, first large-scale comparison shows
Humans and their pet dogs are close, so close that they both develop a type of cancer called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In humans it's the most common lymphoma subtype while in dogs, it's one of the most common cancers in veterinary oncology.
Overweight causes heart failure: Large study with new method clarifies the association
An international research team led by Swedish scientists has used a new method to investigate obesity and overweight as a cause of cardiovascular disease. Strong association have been found previously, but it has not been clear whether it was overweight as such that was the cause, or if the overweight was just a marker of another underlying cause, as clinical trials with long-term follow-ups are difficult to implement.
Doubts cast on the molecular mechanism of 'read-through' drug PTC124/Ataluren
A drug developed to treat genetic diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis may need a radical rethink. In a new study published on 25 June in the open access journal PLOS Biology, researchers question the mechanistic basis of the drug called PTC124 (also known as Ataluren), casting doubt as to whether it has the molecular effects that are claimed for it. This may have implications for its effectiveness in treating genetic diseases.
Causal relationship between adiposity and heart failure, and elevated liver enzymes
New evidence supports a causal relationship between adiposity and heart failure, and between adiposity and increased liver enzymes, according to a study published this week in PLOS Medicine. The study, conducted by Inga Prokopenko, Erik Ingelsson, and colleagues from the ENGAGE (European Network for Genetic and Genomic Epidemiology) Consortium, also provides additional support for several previously shown causal associations such as those between adiposity and type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.
Health systems should be re-organized to better help stroke patients
Patients who have experienced a stroke spend a substantial amount of time and effort seeking out, processing, and reflecting on information about the management of their condition because the information provided by health services worldwide is currently inadequate, according to a study by UK and US researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine.
Device aims to avert repeated breast cancer surgeries
When a breast tumor is detected, many women opt to have a lumpectomy, which is surgery designed to remove the diseased tissue while preserving the breast. But during this procedure, doctors cannot learn right away whether all of the cancerous tissue has been removed, with no microscopic signs that cancer cells were left behind. Because of this delay, one in five of these women—up to 66,000 patients annually in the U.S. alone—must return for a second surgery to remove remaining cancer. These follow-up operations boost healthcare costs and can lead to delays in receiving other treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.
UK doctors urged to use preventative breast cancer drugs
Hundreds of thousands of women at high risk of developing breast cancer in Britain should be given drugs which could dramatically reduce their chances of getting the disease, doctors were advised Tuesday.
Hypertension-driven disease rapidly rising in sub-Saharan Africa
Based on the experience of a large hospital in Tanzania, Weill Cornell Medical College researchers have discovered a "startlingly" high burden of hypertension in this sub-Saharan African country.
Memory improves for older adults using computerized brain-fitness program
UCLA researchers have found that older adults who regularly used a brain-fitness program on a computer demonstrated significantly improved memory and language skills.
Delivering the best care to the right patient at the right time
There are two popular models when it comes to delivering the best healthcare – using evidence-based guidelines or applying personalized medicine. Each method has its own merits and drawbacks, but according to one Northwestern Medicine cardiologist, when the two theories are integrated the result is an optimal healthcare delivery model that is both less expensive and better for the patient.
Many kids missing out on healthy lifestyle
(HealthDay)—Only half of American youths get the recommended amount of exercise and less than one-third eat the suggested amount of fruits and vegetables each day, according to a federal government study.
Teen drinkers, pot smokers at raised risk of concussion, study says
(HealthDay)—Concussions appear to be a common injury for teenagers, with the risk higher not only for athletes but also for kids who drink or smoke marijuana, new research indicates.
FDA allows two new cigarettes to hit market
(HealthDay)—Using its newfound authority to regulate tobacco, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has for the first time allowed two new cigarette brands to hit the market.
Breastfeeding boosts ability to climb social ladder
Breastfeeding not only boosts children's chances of climbing the social ladder, but it also reduces the chances of downwards mobility, suggests a large study published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Professor examines social capabilities of performing multiple-action sequences
(Medical Xpress)—The day of the big barbecue arrives and it's time to fire up the grill. But rather than toss the hamburgers and hotdogs haphazardly onto the grate, you wait for the heat to reach an optimal temperature, and then neatly lay them out in their apportioned areas according to size and cooking times. Meanwhile, your friend is preparing the beverages. Cups are grabbed face down from the stack, turned over, and – using the other hand – filled with ice.
FDA-approved medications may have unexpected use: Stopping deadly ebola
A class of drugs that includes treatments for breast cancer and infertility appears able to inhibit the deadly, incurable Ebola virus, new research suggests.
Problem-solving governs how we process sensory stimuli
Various areas of the brain process our sensory experiences. How the areas of the cerebral cortex communicate with each other and process sensory information has long puzzled neu-roscientists. Exploring the sense of touch in mice, brain researchers from the University of Zurich now demonstrate that the transmission of sensory information from one cortical area to connected areas depends on the specific task to solve and the goal-directed behavior. These findings can serve as a basis for an improved understanding of cognitive disorders.
Study identifies protein that contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have demonstrated that a protein called caspase-2 is a key regulator of a signaling pathway that leads to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. The findings, made in a mouse model of Alzheimer's, suggest that inhibiting this protein could prevent the neuronal damage and subsequent cognitive decline associated with the disease. The study was published this month in the online journal Nature Communications.
Blind(fold)ed by science: Study shows the strategy humans use to chase objects
A new study has found that chasing down a moving object is not only a matter of sight or of sound, but of mind.
Fighting cancer with microgravity research
(Phys.org) —For lab-coated cancer biologists, peering through microscopes at stained tissue samples under fluorescent lights, the International Space Station may be the last thing that comes to mind. But 40 years of microgravity research proves cancer biologists may indeed want to look 220 miles up. Space provides physical conditions that are not possible on Earth, and as it turns out, those conditions may be ripe for studying cancer—along with a wide range of other diseases.
Nitric oxide could make blood transfusions safer
(Medical Xpress)—Blood transfusions are supposed to save lives. Doctors give transfusions to severely ill or injured people with the expectation that their conditions will improve. In fact, transfusions do not always help and can even make things worse. When red blood cells are stored, their ability to deliver oxygen decreases. This can cause tissue hypoxia in patients who receive blood transfusions, resulting in severe complications. In a study that appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Jonathan Stamler of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and his colleagues show that adding nitric oxide to stored red blood cells improves oxygen delivery.
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