Fwd: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Feb 3

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 2:48 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Tuesday, Feb 3
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 3, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Scientists discover organism that hasn't evolved in more than 2 billion years
- Penta-graphene, a new structural variant of carbon, discovered
- Rediscovering spontaneous light emission
- Astronomers find new details in first known spiral galaxy
- The future of holographic video
- Research team succeeds in building transistors using silicene
- Study shows stress in early life can lead to overall bodily wear-and-tear on into middle age
- Early Newton notebook shows prescient understanding of water ascension in plants
- New Raspberry Pi 2 carries more power at same price
- Researchers describe the wavefunction of Schroedinger's cat
- Superager brains yield new clues to their remarkable memories
- Researchers discover insulin-decreasing hormone in flies, humans
- A novel shuttle for fatty acids
- Researchers find genetic cues for a big heart
- Fruitful collaboration yields insight on the tomato genome

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers find new details in first known spiral galaxy Case Western Reserve University astronomers peered deep into space to discover new features of a galaxy that's been sketched and photographed for 170 years.
	How can we protect Mars from Earth while searching for life? The search for life on Mars presents us with many challenges – not the least of which is microbial contamination. How do we ensure that microbes from Earth don't hitchhike all the way to the Red Planet and spread there? When a spacecraft is on the surface of Mars, what steps are needed to protect the environment from changes that could hurt any Martian life that is there?
	Virgin Galactic gets back on track toward space tourism The only thing interrupting the creosote and mesquite that make up one of New Mexico's most remote stretches of desert is a pristine runway where Virgin Galactic plans one day to launch the world's first commercial space-line.
	How Venus Express outperformed expectations for eight years It was a hell of a ride to our hellish sister planet. Eight long years of studying Venus is way more than ESA scientists were expected from its mission. Venus Express spacecraft that launched on Nov. 9, 2005 and entered the orbit of its target planet on Apr. 11, 2006, was originally planned to last for 500 days. The mission was successfully extended three times and ended in slow death while entering Venusian hostile atmosphere this January. "Venus Express fulfilled its original overall goals, gathered most expected data, and in fact could accomplish its objectives beyond what was originally thought by exceeding its nominal mission several times," Patrick Martin, ESA Venus Express mission manager told astrowatch.net. "It did much more than what it was planned for thanks to both a very robust spacecraft and very professional operations teams."
	Is the universe actually shrinking? Whoa, here's something to think about. Maybe the Universe isn't expanding at all. Maybe everything is actually just shrinking, so it looks like it's expanding. Turns out, scientists have thought of this.
	Ten interesting facts about asteroids At first glance, looking at a bunch of space rocks doesn't sound that exciting. Like, aren't they just a bunch of rubble? What use can they be in understanding the Solar System compared to looking at planets or moons?
	Image: ESA's Vega rocket with IXV payload ESA's Vega rocket, with IXV on top, now awaits its fourth flight with liftoff on 11 February at 13:00 GMT (14:00 CET) from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Video: Testing technologies for Europe's Intermediate Experimental Vehicle IXV, Europe's Intermediate Experimental Vehicle, will soon be launched by Vega into a suborbital path.
	The solar system's 'yearbook' is about to get filled in Lined up like familiar faces in your high school yearbook, here are images of the 33 largest objects in the Solar System, ordered in size by mean radius. Engineer Radu Stoicescu put this great graphic together, using the highest resolution images available for each body. Nine of these objects have not yet been visited by a spacecraft. Later this year, we'll visit three of them and be able to add better images of Ceres, Pluto and Charon. It might be a while until the remaining six get closeups.

Medicine & Health news

	Study shows stress in early life can lead to overall bodily wear-and-tear on into middle age (Medical Xpress)—A team of scientists with researchers from several institutions in France has found that multiple stress events that occur early in life can cause an increase in overall wear-and-tear on the body, well into middle age. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes how they conducted a study of survey data collected over the course of a national child development study in Britain and what it revealed.
	New strategy pinpoints single protein to reduce allergic responses to multiple medications Every day in hospitals around the world, patients suffer painful allergic reactions to the medicines they are given. The reactions, known as pseudo-allergies, often cause patients to endure itchiness, swelling and rashes as an unwanted part of their treatment plan. The reactions can be so severe they may stop patients from taking their needed medications and sometimes can even prove fatal. It's never been shown conclusively what triggers these allergic reactions—until now.
	Skin based immunity secrets revealed A team of international scientists has discovered a new mechanism by which immune cells in the skin function act as the body's 'border control', revealing how these cells sense whether lipid or fat-like molecules might indicate the presence of foreign invaders.
	Researchers isolate genetic variants responsible for leprosy predisposition (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with members from institutions in China, the U.S. and Singapore has successfully isolated six genetic variants in people that confer a higher predisposition to infection by the bacteria that causes leprosy. In their paper published in the journal Nature Genetics, the team describes the study they undertook to isolate the genetic variants that had thus far gone unknown, and explain why what they have found could help towards developing treatments for people with the disease.
Study finds our thoughts are susceptible to external influence even against our will For a recent San Francisco State University study, participants were asked to look at a commonplace image but avoid thinking of the word that corresponds with the image or how many letters are in that word. The task may seem simple, but the study found that when presented with ☼, for example, nearly 80 percent of people will automatically conjure up the word "sun" and about half will quietly count to three.
	Research team uncovers genetic trigger for immune response The thousands of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules present in each cell are known primarily for their role converting food and oxygen into energy. But Yale researchers have identified an unexpected relationship between mtDNA and the innate immune response.
	Team identifies neurons important for induction of natural REM sleep Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have added another piece to the complex puzzle of how the brain controls one of the most essential functions - sleep. In their report in the January 13 issue of PNAS, they describe finding that activation of cholinergic neurons - those that release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine - in two brain stem structures was able to induce REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep in an animal model. Better understanding of brain mechanisms that control different sleep states is essential for the treatment of sleep disorders.
	Study sheds new light on aggressive cancer in children A new study involving researchers at The University of Nottingham has revealed how children with an aggressive cancer predisposition syndrome experience a never before seen flood of mutations in their disease in just six months.
	Superager brains yield new clues to their remarkable memories SuperAgers, aged 80 and above, have distinctly different looking brains than those of normal older people, according to new Northwestern Medicine research that is beginning to reveal why the memories of these cognitively elite elders don't suffer the usual ravages of time.
	Researchers discover insulin-decreasing hormone in flies, humans An insulin-regulating hormone that, until now, only had been postulated to exist has been identified by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
	Researchers find genetic cues for a big heart Bigger isn't always better, even when it comes to the body's most vital organs. An enlarged or thickened cardiac muscle can actually force the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body, weakening the organ until it eventually wears out.
	Study ties immune cells to delayed onset of post-stroke dementia A single stroke doubles a person's risk of developing dementia over the following decade, even when that person's mental ability is initially unaffected. Why this delayed deterioration occurs has been a mystery. Now, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators think they have discovered a major reason for it.
	New findings on how the brain ignores distractions When we concentrate on something, we also engage in the unsung, parallel act of purposefully ignoring other things. A new study describes how the brain may achieve such "optimal inattention." With this knowledge, scientists at Brown University hope they can harness our power to ignore—for instance, to reduce pain.
	MicroRNAs can limit cancer spread Cancers that have spread throughout the body, a process known as metastasis, are difficult, often impossible, to control. They are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
Can we talk? Patients may avoid topic of work-related asthma for fear of losing jobs Certain topics are difficult to discuss with your doctor - work-related asthma is apparently one of them. Identifying a health issue related to your job is scary because you don't want a doctor telling you things may have to change - maybe even how you earn a living. And often, doctors don't bring it up with their patients.
Precision medicine in action: Genomic test helps solve medical mystery Precision medicine is getting a jump-start from a new national initiative announced in President Obama's State of the Union message. One Georgia family has already experienced its benefits: genomic testing called whole exome sequencing helped Mayo Clinic neurologist Zbigniew Wszolek, M.D., solve a medical mystery that had left a boy with painful, jerking spasms that at times prevented him from walking or talking. Dr. Wszolek describes the case in a newly published article in the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Study describes behaviors, preferences of picky eaters Although there's no scientific definition of picky eating, parents say they know it when they see it. Now a University of Illinois study shows that picky eaters do exhibit definable preferences and mealtime behaviors.
Scientists develop active substance for fatal muscle wasting in male children Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a congenital disease which causes muscle degeneration and eventual death in teenagers. Recently, researchers from Bern developed an active substance, which they together with an international team tested successfully.
	How to determine how much food you should eat Dietary guidelines broadly recommend a daily intake of 10,000 kilojoules (2,400 calories) for men and 8,000 kilojoules (1,900 calories) for women. But what do these figures mean in the context of the number of kilojoules or calories you personally need to consume to attain and maintain a healthy body weight?
Seniors shouldn't be blinded by old notions of eye disease Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older Americans, but new treatments have dramatically changed the course of this disease over the last 10 years, making AMD more manageable than ever. During AMD Awareness Month this February, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is reminding people with AMD that they can save their vision thanks to recent treatment advances, but early detection is a critical first step.
	Add nature, art and religion to life's best anti-inflammatories Taking in such spine-tingling wonders as the Grand Canyon, Sistine Chapel ceiling or Schubert's "Ave Maria" may give a boost to the body's defense system, according to new research from UC Berkeley.
	Meal planning creates most stress for working mums What's for dinner mum? A seemingly harmless questioned asked by millions of children every day is actually the most stressful part of food-related jobs for working mothers, new research from Flinders University shows.
	Study examines prenatal investments, breastfeeding and birth order Many mothers can relate to the experience of having hundreds of pictures of their first-born child, but far fewer of their younger children. A new study by University of Notre Dame economist Kasey Buckles finds that those younger children often get less attention in other ways as well.
Early intervention program for psychosis demonstrates effectiveness Providing comprehensive coordinated care to young people after they experience a first episode of psychosis can help them avoid hospitalization and resume their school and work lives, according to research published today in Psychiatric Services in Advance, a publication of the American Psychiatric Association.
NY attorney general targets popular herbal supplements (Update) Numerous store brand supplements aren't what their labels claim to be, an ongoing investigation of popular herbal supplements subjected to DNA testing has found, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Tuesday.
Seniors need two pneumonia vaccines, CDC advisory panel says (HealthDay)—Adults 65 and older need two vaccines to better protect them from bacterial infection in the blood (called sepsis), meningitis and pneumonia, according to a revised vaccination schedule from the 2015 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
	Recommendations presented for MRI use in multiple myeloma (HealthDay)—Recommendations for the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in multiple myeloma are presented in a consensus statement published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Patient engagement can cut costs, improve outcomes (HealthDay)—Patient engagement initiatives can decrease costs without sacrificing quality care, according to an article published Jan. 22 in Medical Economics.
	Medicaid expansion tops savings versus marketplace (HealthDay)—Medicaid expansion is associated with greater reductions in out-of-pocket spending for previously uninsured low-income adults than Marketplace exchange coverage with premium tax credits and generous benefits, according to a report published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
	Researchers seek tools to modulate the synthesis of CoQ10 in human cells A study which includes the participation of University of Granada scientists has provided new data on the Q10 coenzyme (CoQ10), a molecule which is synthesized within the cells of the organism itself and which has essential functions for cellular metabolism. This study opens the door for the development, in the not too distant future, of tools to modulate the synthesis of CoQ10 in human cells according to metabolic needs. This is particularly important for the treatment of diseases caused by primary and secondary deficiencies in CoQ10.
Study uncovers genetics of motion sickness 23andMe, Inc. today announced the publication of the first ever genome-wide association study of motion sickness.
Birth method, gestation duration may alter infants' gut microbiota Environmental factors like mode of delivery and duration of gestation may affect how infants' gut bacteria mature, and that rate could help predict later body fat, international researchers from the EpiGen consortium have found in collaboration with scientists at Nestlé Research Center in Switzerland. The work is published this week in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Smoking linked to higher risk of death among colorectal cancer survivors Colorectal cancer survivors who smoke cigarettes were at more than twice the risk of death than non-smoking survivors, adding to existing evidence that cigarette smoking is associated with higher all-cause and colorectal cancer-specific mortality. The findings come from a new study by American Cancer Society researchers, one of the largest studies of smoking and colorectal cancer survival and the first study to prospectively collect both pre- and post-diagnosis smoking information. It is published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Just knowing isn't enough: Issuing hospital report cards had no impact on surgery outcomes If you're an older person having a major operation these days, it is very likely that your hospital is receiving a "report card" on their performance. These reports are designed to prompt hospitals to improve in areas where they perform poorly. That's the good news.
Study compares effectiveness of different transfusion strategies for severe trauma Among patients with severe trauma and major bleeding, those who received a transfusion of a balanced ratio of plasma, platelets, and red blood cells (RBCs) were more likely to have their bleeding stopped and less likely to die due to loss of blood by 24 hours compared to patients who received a transfusion with a higher ratio of RBCs, according to a study in the February 3 issue of JAMA. There was no significant difference in overall death at 24 hours or at 30 days between the two transfusion strategies.
Care of patients prior to making a diagnosis rarely assessed by quality measures An examination of process measures endorsed by the National Quality Forum finds that these measures focus predominantly on management of patients with established diagnoses, and that quality measures for patient presenting symptoms often do not reflect the most common reasons patients seek care, according to a study in the February 3 issue of JAMA.
Hospital readmissions after surgery often related to complications from surgery In a study that included readmission information from nearly 350 hospitals, readmissions the first 30 days after surgery were associated with new postdischarge complications related to the surgical procedure and not a worsening of any medical conditions the patient already had while hospitalized for surgery, according to a study in the February 3 issue of JAMA.
Infections most common cause of readmissions after surgery Surgery patients end up back in the hospital most often because of incision infections that don't show up until after they're sent home, according to a study that found unexpected readmission rates vary widely.
	Britain authorises 'three-parent' babies Britain on Tuesday became the first country in the world to allow the creation of babies with DNA from three people after MPs voted for the controversial procedure.
Panel reverses, says white potatoes ok for WIC recipients Ostracized by health officials for several years, the white potato is back in favor.
Primed memories tempt people into gambling more People are more likely to gamble after having their memories primed, an international team of researchers has found.
	If Facebook use causes envy, depression could follow Browsing Facebook has become a daily activity for hundreds of millions of people. Because so many people engage with the website daily, researchers are interested in how emotionally involved Facebook users can be with the social networking site and how regular use can affect their mental health. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that Facebook use can lead to symptoms of depression if the social networking site triggers feelings of envy among its users. Margaret Duffy, a professor and chair of strategic communication at the MU School of Journalism, says that how Facebook users use the site makes a difference in how they respond to it.
	Study investigates the complex roads that lead families to food insecurity Food insecurity creates a host of unhealthy consequences. The roads leading there can be very different. Understanding those differences may provide a clearer picture of hunger in families and a better way of responding to families' needs. A University of Houston study examined four risk factors for families that can lead to varying degrees of hunger.
	Protective brain protein reveals gender implications for autism, Alzheimer's research For parents of children struggling with autism, the dearth of information is heartbreaking. Medical professionals are hard put to answer the primary questions: Who is autistic? What causes autism? What treatments are available? The situation is similar for Alzheimer's patients and relatives, who are helpless before the aggressive disease devouring a sufferer's identity.
Glioblastoma: Study ties three genes to radiation resistance in recurrent tumors A new study identifies three genes that together enable a lethal form of brain cancer to recur and progress after radiation therapy.
Children's hunger born from mothers' trauma The roots of children's hunger today may stretch back, in part, to the past childhood trauma of their caregivers. Evidence amassed over the past two decades has demonstrated that stress and deprivation during childhood have lifelong consequences on health, as well as school and job performance. A new small-scale study from Drexel University now suggests a strong relationship between exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and household food insecurity among mothers of young children.
Power psychs people up about... themselves We all know the type - people who can talk on and on about their latest adventures, seemingly unaware that those around them may not be interested. They also get really psyched up about their own experiences. A new paper suggests that what separates such people from the rest of us is their perceived sense of power: Powerful people, researchers found, draw inspiration from themselves rather than others.
	Seeing the knee in a new light: Fluorescent probe tracks osteoarthritis development A fluorescent probe may make it easier to diagnose and monitor osteoarthritis, a painful joint disease affecting nearly 27 million Americans. The disease is often detected late in development after painful symptoms occur. Earlier diagnosis might lead to better management and patient outcomes. A new study reports that a fluorescent probe tracked the development of osteoarthritis in male mice, brightening as the disease progressed. The findings are published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
A few cells could prevent bone marrow transplant infections Bone marrow transplantation is a life-saving therapy for patients with blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma. However, the depletion of the patient's immune system prior to transplantation can put patients at risk of for an infection by a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) that can be life threatening in these immune-compromised individuals. Now, researchers have found that a very small subset of anti-viral immune cells, transplanted along with a donor's blood stem cells, could be enough to fight and even prevent the disease caused by CMV, in research conducted in mice and published Jan 16th in the Journal of Immunology.
	Simple strategies lead to improvements in one year-olds at risk for autism A new study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers finds that a collection of simple strategies used by parents can lead to significant improvements in one-year-olds at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
	Fulbright scholar tracks puzzling disease that strikes from soils, thorns Mycetoma, a mysterious illness largely unknown in developed nations, has wreaked havoc on the health of farmers, herdsmen, children and others in close contact with the land in tropical and subtropical regions of our planet.
	Researchers identify two genetic mutations that interact to lower heart attack risk Researchers have determined that two mutations on a single gene can interact in a way that lowers the carrier's risk for a heart attack.
Maternal pot use under microscope in Colorado Marijuana use by pregnant or nursing women might seem like a no-brainer of a bad idea, but a proposal in the state of Colorado to step up such warnings is raising concern because of limited research on the dangers.
What to do? Some questions and answers about measles at work A boss who's worried about an outbreak of measles in the workplace needs to tread lightly.
	Blood test aims to detect Parkinson's in early stages (HealthDay)—Researchers have developed a blood test that they say could help neurologists detect Parkinson's disease and track the illness as it progresses.
	One in five younger diabetics lacks good medical care, study says (HealthDay)—One in every five young American adults with diabetes hasn't seen a doctor in the past 6 months, a new government report indicates.
	Guidelines for VTE prophylaxis, treatment in cancer unchanged (HealthDay)—The 2014 recommendations for the prophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer are unchanged from 2013, according to an article published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Nutritional supplements can improve pressure ulcer healing (HealthDay)—For malnourished adult patients, specific nutritional supplements (arginine, zinc, and antioxidants) are associated with improved pressure ulcer healing, according to a study published in the Feb. 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Many Americans suffering in final year of life (HealthDay)—For a growing number of Americans, the final year of life is marked by pain, depression, and other distressing symptoms, according to a study published in the Feb. 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Younger patients with diabetes more often skipping visits (HealthDay)—One in every five young American adults with diabetes hasn't seen a doctor in the past six months, according to a February data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.
	Serendipity leads to discovery of adult cancer genes in young-adult Ewing Sarcoma A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the journal PLoS One finds alterations in expression of genes PIK3R3 and PTEN, more commonly observed in adult tumors, in the rare, young-adult bone cancer Ewing Sarcoma, potentially offering ways to improve therapy.
Partner caregivers of veterans with brain injuries may be at risk for chronic disease Blame and anger associated with the grief of caring for a loved one with a traumatic-brain injury (TBI) may be related to inflammation and certain chronic diseases, according to researchers from Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. These findings were published in the latest issue of Biological Research for Nursing.
	Neurologists find movement tracking device helps assess severity of Parkinson's disease A device that measures movement and balance can effectively help assess and track the progression of Parkinson's disease, even when medications are used to reduce Parkinson's symptoms, UT Southwestern Medical Center research found.
	Children who get vitamin A may be less likely to develop malaria Children under age 5 living in sub-Saharan Africa were 54 percent less likely to develop malaria if they had been given a single large dose of vitamin A, new research led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests.
Study: Many herbal supplements aren't what the label says Bottles of Walmart-brand echinacea, an herb said to ward off colds, were found to contain no echinacea at all. GNC-brand bottles of St. John's wort, touted as a cure for depression, held rice, garlic and a tropical houseplant, but not a trace of the herb.
	Sanofi, Mannkind launch inhaled insulin called Afrezza Hoping to appeal to millions of needle-phobic Americans with diabetes, drugmakers Sanofi and Mannkind have just launched Afrezza, an insulin that's inhaled, rather than injected.
	Genomic differences between developing male and female brains in the womb New research by scientists at the University of Exeter and King's College London has made significant progress towards understanding the complex process of prenatal human brain development.
One in three people would risk shorter life rather than take daily pill to avoid heart disease One in three people say they would risk living a shorter life instead of taking a daily pill to prevent cardiovascular disease, according to new research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.
'Cleaner' protein protects against atherosclerosis We have an innate mechanism that ensures that our blood vessels do not become blocked. The protein A1M, alpha-1-microglobulin, is naturally present in the body and prevents oxidation of blood fats—a major cause of atherosclerosis. The discovery, published today in the open-access journal Frontiers in Physiology, is the work of a research group led by Professor Bo Åkerström from Lund University.
Cocaine users have impaired ability to predict loss Cocaine addicted individuals may continue their habit despite unfavorable consequences like imprisonment or loss of relationships because their brain circuits responsible for predicting emotional loss are impaired, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published today in The Journal of Neuroscience.
Socioeconomic differences in adolescent health getting wider Health inequalities in young people have grown alongside socioeconomic disparities between the rich and poor.
Researchers identify key mechanisms underlying HIV-associated cognitive disorders While antiretroviral therapies have significantly improved and extended the lives of many HIV patients, another insidious and little discussed threat looms for aging sufferers - HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The disorders, which strike more often in HIV patients over age 50, can result in cognitive impairment, mild to severe, making everyday tasks a challenge.
Pfizer breast cancer drug gets early FDA approval Federal health regulators on Tuesday approved a highly anticipated medicine from Pfizer Inc. to treat postmenopausal women with a certain type of advanced breast cancer who have not already taken other drugs.
Don't delay at first sign of heart attack Craig Goergen, a Purdue University assistant professor of biomedical engineering, says a new American Heart Association campaign that urges people to call 911 at the first sign of a heart attack can be a life-saver.
	New clinical trial for breast and ovarian cancer vaccine University of Colorado Hospital is one of just two academic medical centers in the nation that has enrolled breast and ovarian cancer patients to a new clinical trial of a promising cancer vaccine.
How the end of football season can trigger withdrawal symptoms When the football season ends with the final play of Sunday's Super Bowl, some fans may begin to feel withdrawal symptoms.
Key dates in embryonic research Britain's House of Commons votes Tuesday on allowing the use of donated DNA to create so-called "three-parent" babies to overcome mitochondrial diseases—disorders handed down along the maternal line.
	Researchers develop optimised PSA screening program As an indicator of prostate cancer, the PSA test is regarded in urology as highly controversial since it is not always unequivocal. A team of researchers from the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital has now developed a programme that compensates the shortfalls of PSA screening with methods from personalised medicine. As a result, prostate cancer screening is able to reach a new level of quality.
Only 11 percent of nursing homes in Ireland have dedicated dementia care units The first national survey to map demographic trends in the provision of specialist long-term care for people with dementia in Ireland was launched by Adjunct Professor in Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin, Davis Coakley recently at a special event in the Trinity Long Room Hub. The study, carried out by Trinity researchers from the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College and the Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC), found very low numbers of dementia-specific care units (SCUs) throughout the Republic of Ireland. The researchers identified large gaps in service provision, especially in Leinster, and excessive numbers of patients in individual housing units. They argued that the findings showed that 'SCUs have evolved in an arbitrary, fragmented and uncoordinated manner'.
	Dry mouth syndrome can be a symptom of asthma Scientists at the University of Granada and the High Resolution Hospital in Loja (Granada) prove that asthmatic patients who suffer from xerostomia (dry mouth syndrome) have a poorer level of control disease. Whether an asthmatic patient also suffers from severe xerostomia can be of great use for the pneumologist when it comes to establishing that particular patient's level of control disease.
A look at the UK's proposal to make babies from 3 people As British lawmakers vote Tuesday on whether to legalize the creation of babies made from the DNA of three people, here are some questions and answers about the proposed techniques and the controversy surrounding them.
Clarity needed in studies on gender and access to cardiac rehabilitation Sex-based inequalities in life expectancy and quality due to heart disease are repeatedly described, but how gender and social structure play roles in this phenomenon are unclear. Women and men can equally benefit from secondary prevention/cardiac rehabilitation, and there is a need to understand gender barriers to uptake.
Kidney function considerations are critical when assessing drugs in clinical trials Kidney function can affect the potency and metabolism of drugs that are eliminated by the kidneys or other pathways, but little information is available on how to interpret the effects of kidney function on the benefits and risks of drugs in development.
Research points to genes that may help us form memories Gene expression within neurons is critical for the formation of memories, but it's difficult to identify genes whose expression is altered by learning. Now researchers have successfully monitored the expression of genes in neurons after rats were exposed to auditory fear conditioning, in which a neutral auditory tone is paired with electric shock.
Reducing hospital readmission rates will require community-focused efforts Recent research indicates that most of the variation in hospital readmission rates in the United States is related to geography and other factors over which hospitals have little or no control. Access and quality of care outside of the hospital setting seem to be especially important.
Sleep problems may impact bone health The daily rhythm of bone turnover is likely important for normal bone health, and recent research suggests that sleep apnea may be an unrecognized cause of some cases of osteoporosis. Sleep apnea's effects on sleep duration and quality, oxygen levels, inflammation, and other aspects of health may have a variety of impacts on bone metabolism.
Non-invasive first trimester blood test reliably detects Down's syndrome Cell-free fetal DNA testing, which measures the relative amount of free fetal DNA in a pregnant woman's blood, is a new screening test that indicates the risk of Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edward syndrome (trisomy 18), and Patau syndrome (trisomy 13).
Study examines link between participation in quality improvement program and complications David A. Etzioni, M.D., M.S.H.S., of Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, and colleagues compared rates of any complications, serious complications, and death during a hospitalization for elective general/vascular surgery at hospitals that did vs did not participate in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). The study appears in the February 3 issue of JAMA.
Study examines link between surgical quality improvement program and outcomes, costs Nicholas H. Osborne, M.D., M.S., of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and colleagues evaluated the association of participation in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) with surgical outcomes and payments among Medicare patients. The researchers used national Medicare data (2003-2012) for a total of 1,226,479 patients undergoing general and vascular surgery at 263 hospitals participating in ACS NSQIP and 526 nonparticipating (control) hospitals. The study appears in the February 3 issue of JAMA.
Using genetics to customize drug therapy Geneticists at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health will provide their scientific expertise to a new initiative aimed at preventing and reducing the adverse effects of medications in people with mental illnesses.
Sparing hope for the future: Preserving fertility in cancer patients While families around the world delay childbearing to later in life, cancer diagnoses are affecting people ever earlier in life. When these lifestyle trends collide, we see an increasing number of young women rendered infertile by cancer or cancer treatments.
WHO names Ebola response chief The World Health Organization said Tuesday it had appointed its assistant director-general Bruce Aylward to head its overall response to the deadly Ebola outbreak.
Surgical metrics do not provide a clear path to improvement, study says While surgical outcomes have improved nationally over time, surgical outcome reporting does not necessarily lead to better outcomes, according to a Mayo Clinic study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
TGen-Scottsdale Lincoln personalized therapy offers hope for patients with advanced cancer A new course of action—prescribing chemotherapy based on genetic research—has led to a Happy New Year for Phoenix resident Phil Zeblisky, an advanced Stage 4 pancreatic cancer patient who benefitted from a cutting-edge clinical trial, and now has no detectable cancer.
Low infection rate halts Ebola vaccine trials in Liberia Britain's Wellcome Trust said that clinical trials it was funding for a new Ebola vaccine in Liberia were halted on Tuesday due to a fall in new cases.
Egyptian doctors demand army say what happened to AIDS cure Some two dozen demonstrators gathered at the Doctors' Association in the Egyptian capital on Tuesday, demanding that the army release information about a promised cure for AIDS and hepatitis it has delayed since last year.
Key findings in New York state herbal supplements probe Some key findings in an investigation by the New York state Attorney General's Office into the store brand herbal supplements sold by four major retailers: GNC, Target, Walmart and Walgreens:
Federal health officials face tough questions on flu vaccine Federal health officials are facing questioning about why this year's flu vaccine isn't giving good protection against the winter menace.
New molecule protects heart from toxic breast cancer drugs A new molecule has been found that protects the heart from toxic breast cancer drugs and also kills the cancerous tumor. The research from Italy addresses the burgeoning problem of heart disease in cancer survivors and is announced by the European Society of Cardiology today on World Cancer Day.
University partnerships in high- and low-income countries can increase research capacity Developing national health research capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is a key element toward strengthening their health systems. Collaborations with universities in high -income countries may be an important tool in building research capacity, but often suffer from imbalanced power relations. In this week's PLOS Medicine Nelson Sewankambo from Makerere University, Uganda and Stefan Peterson from the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and colleagues describe their experience of setting up a mutually beneficial collaboration between the Karolinska Institutet and Makerere University in Uganda.
	New tool provides unique insight for those with traumatic brain injury A new study reveals that individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have significantly more difficulty with gist reasoning than traditional cognitive tests. Using a unique cognitive assessment developed by researchers at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas, findings published Friday in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology indicate that an individual's ability to "get the gist or extract the essence of a message" after a TBI more strongly predicts his or her ability to effectively hold a job or maintain a household than previously revealed by traditional cognitive tests alone. The study also further validates the Center for BrainHealth's gist reasoning assessment as an informative tool capable of estimating a broad range of daily life skills.
Obama says health care repeal drive 'makes no sense' US President Barack Obama has ridiculed Republicans who are voting to strike down "Obamacare" Tuesday, saying their seemingly doomed effort "makes absolutely no sense."

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