23 października 2014

Fwd: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 22


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 23, 2014 at 2:33 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Oct 22
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>


The Phys.org team would like to share a free eBook from our current sponsor, COMSOL.

We're offering a free digital copy of COMSOL News 2014: The Multiphysics Magazine. Discover the exciting ways engineers are using multiphysics simulation for design and innovation. View online or download: http://goo.gl/RHPlwE

***************************************************

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 22, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Extremely stretchable hydrogels may be used in artificial muscles
- Organic molecules in Titan's atmosphere are intriguingly skewed
- Human skin cells reprogrammed directly into brain cells
- Two families of comets found around nearby star Beta Pictoris
- Goofy dinosaur blends Barney and Jar Jar Binks (w/ Video)
- Oldest DNA ever found sheds light on humans' global trek
- Computer scientists can predict the price of Bitcoin
- LCD technology maintains 3D images it displays without drawing power
- Fermi satellite finds hints of starquakes in magnetar 'storm'
- NIST offers electronics industry two ways to snoop on self-organizing molecules
- Mathematical model shows how the brain remains stable during learning
- A real-time tracking system developed to monitor dangerous bacteria inside the body
- New genome-editing technique enables rapid analysis of genes mutated in tumors
- Research reveals how lymph nodes expand during disease
- New insights on carbonic acid in water

Astronomy & Space news

Fermi satellite finds hints of starquakes in magnetar 'storm'

(Phys.org) —NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected a rapid-fire "storm" of high-energy blasts from a highly magnetized neutron star, also called a magnetar, on Jan. 22, 2009. Now astronomers analyzing this data have discovered underlying signals related to seismic waves rippling throughout the magnetar.

Two families of comets found around nearby star Beta Pictoris

Beta Pictoris is a young star located about 63 light-years from the Sun. It is only about 20 million years old and is surrounded by a huge disc of material—a very active young planetary system where gas and dust are produced by the evaporation of comets and the collisions of asteroids.

Organic molecules in Titan's atmosphere are intriguingly skewed

(Phys.org) —While studying the atmosphere on Saturn's moon Titan, scientists discovered intriguing zones of organic molecules unexpectedly shifted away from its north and south poles. These misaligned features seem to defy conventional thinking about Titan's windy atmosphere, which should quickly smear out such off-axis concentrations.

Lichens can survive space conditions for extended periods

A new study shows that a large percentage of hardy lichens exposed to space conditions for one and a half years remain viable after returning to Earth. The lichen Xanthoria elegans was part of the lichen and fungi experiment (LIFE) on the International Space Station (ISS).

Third spacewalk in three weeks at space station

Spacewalking astronauts doubled as trash men Wednesday, heaving an old science experiment and two antennas overboard at the International Space Station.

'Twisted rope' clue to dangerous solar storms

A "twisted rope" of magnetically-charged energy precedes solar storms that have the potential to damage satellites and electricity grids, French scientists said on Wednesday.

China to send orbiter to moon and back

China will launch its latest lunar orbiter in the coming days, state media said Wednesday, in its first attempt to send a spacecraft around the moon and back to Earth.

New robotic telescope revolutionizes the study of stars

In the last 8 months a fully robotic telescope in Tenerife has been carrying out high-precision observations of the motion of stellar surfaces. The telescope is the first in the SONG telescope network and a milestone in a new global stellar research project, aiming at making it possible to follow the stars twenty-four seven.

Chandra's archives come to life

Every year, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory looks at hundreds of objects throughout space to help expand our understanding of the Universe. Ultimately, these data are stored in the Chandra Data Archive, an electronic repository that provides access to these unique X-ray findings for anyone who would like to explore them. With the passing of Chandra's 15th anniversary in operation on August 26, 1999, the archive continues to grow as each successive year adds to the enormous and invaluable dataset.

Image: Hubble sees turquoise-tinted plumes in Large Magellanic Cloud

The brightly glowing plumes seen in this image are reminiscent of an underwater scene, with turquoise-tinted currents and nebulous strands reaching out into the surroundings.

Image: Siding Spring grazes Mars

This excellent view of Mars seen together with Comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring was captured by Scott Ferguson, Florida, USA, on 19 October 2014 on the morning that the enigmatic object made the closest-known planetary flyby by a comet.

Historical comet-landing site is looking for a name

The Rosetta mission reaches a defining moment on Wednesday November 12, when its lander, Philae, is released. After about seven hours of descent, Philae will arrive on the surface of Comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. But exactly where will it land?

Packing for Mars

Like surgeons in an operating room, the technicians work gowned and masked in ESA's ultraclean microbiology laboratory, ensuring a high-tech sensor will not contaminate the Red Planet with terrestrial microbes.

New window on the early Universe

Scientists at the Universities of Bonn and Cardiff see good times approaching for astrophysicists after hatching a new observational strategy to distill detailed information from galaxies at the edge of the Universe. Using two world-class supercomputers, the researchers were able to demonstrate the effectiveness of their approach by simulating the formation of a massive galaxy at the dawn of cosmic time. The ALMA radio telescope – which stands at an elevation of 5,000 meters in the Atacama Desert of Chile, one of the driest places on earth – was then used to forge observations of the galaxy, showing how their method improves upon previous efforts.

Partial solar sclipse over North America Thursday

A partial solar eclipse will be viewable across much of North America on Thursday, but experts urged would-be sky watchers to use the proper gear to avoid damaging their eyes.

Solar flare knocks out some radio temporarily

Federal forecasters say a brief but strong solar flare Wednesday morning temporarily blacked out a few radio communication systems before weakening.

Image: Third substantial solar flare in two days

The sun erupted with another significant flare today, peaking at 10:28 a.m. EDT on Oct. 22, 2014.

NASA-NOAA Suomi NPP Satellite team ward off recent space debris threat

While space debris was the uncontrolled adversary in the award-winning space thriller film "Gravity," space debris, also known as "space junk," is an ongoing real-life concern for teams managing satellites orbiting Earth, including NOAA-NASA's Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, or Suomi NPP, satellite. It is not unusual for satellites that have the capability of maneuvering to be repositioned to avoid debris or to maintain the proper orbit.

Stunning view of solar system's largest volcano and Valles Marineris revealed by India's Mars orbiter mission

India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) has delivered another sweet treat – a stunning view of our Solar System's largest volcano and the largest canyon.

Medicine & Health news

Human skin cells reprogrammed directly into brain cells

Scientists have described a way to convert human skin cells directly into a specific type of brain cell affected by Huntington's disease, an ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Unlike other techniques that turn one cell type into another, this new process does not pass through a stem cell phase, avoiding the production of multiple cell types, the study's authors report.

Unsteady on your feet? Little touches could make all the difference

When a toddler takes their first steps we observe an uncertain sway in their walking. Being unsteady on our feet is something we can experience throughout life – and a new study has shown how even the lightest fingertip touch can help people to maintain their balance.

Scientists discover hidden subpopulation of melanoma cells

UNC School of Medicine researchers have pinpointed a set of intriguing characteristics in a previously unknown subpopulation of melanoma cancer cells in blood vessels of tumors. These cells, which mimic non-cancerous endothelial cells that normally populate blood vessels in tumors, could provide researchers with another target for cancer therapies.

Proteases help nerve cells to navigate

Our ability to move relies on the correct formation of connections between different nerve cells and between nerve and muscle cells. Growing axons of nerve cells are guided to their targets by signposts expressed on the surface of other cells. Very prominent are "do not enter" signs that push axons away. Cell culture studies suggest that protein-cutting enzymes (proteases) remove these signs as soon as they are recognized by the growing axons. In this way, the "bond of recognition" between the axon and the sign is quickly broken, and the axons are more easily guided in a new direction. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried and the Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal have now shown that proteases indeed control the navigation of growing axons. However, contrary to the current belief, they do so by regulating the number of existing signs. Without proteases, the signposts would be masked an! d the axons would grow in the wrong direction. These findings clarified how cells form connections during development and may also improve our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Cause of ageing remains elusive

A report by Chinese researchers in the journal Nature a few months ago was a small sensation: they appeared to have found the cause for why organisms age. An international team of scientists, headed by the University of Bonn, has now refuted a basic assumption of the Nature article. The reasons for ageing thus remain elusive.

Researchers find facial width-to-height ratio predicts self-reported dominance and aggression

(Medical Xpress)—A combined team of researchers from several institutions in the U.K. has found that facial width-to-height ratio can be used to predict self-reported dominance and aggression. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the researchers describe a study they conducted while looking for correlations between facial features and personality traits with both male and female volunteers and the results they found.

Mathematical model shows how the brain remains stable during learning

Complex biochemical signals that coordinate fast and slow changes in neuronal networks keep the brain in balance during learning, according to an international team of scientists from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Japan, UC San Francisco (UCSF), and Columbia University in New York.

Steadily rising increases in mitochondrial DNA mutations cause abrupt shifts in disease

New work by a pioneering scientist details how subtle changes in mitochondrial function may cause a broad range of common metabolic and degenerative diseases. Mitochondria are tiny energy-producing structures within our cells that contain their own DNA.

New genome-editing technique enables rapid analysis of genes mutated in tumors

Sequencing the genomes of tumor cells has revealed thousands of genetic mutations linked with cancer. However, sifting through this deluge of information to figure out which of these mutations actually drive cancer growth has proven to be a tedious, time-consuming process.

Research reveals how lymph nodes expand during disease

Cancer Research UK and UCL scientists have discovered that the same specialised immune cells that patrol the body and spot infections also trigger the expansion of immune organs called lymph nodes, according to a study published in Nature today.

Highly effective new anti-cancer drug shows few side effects in mice

A new drug, known as OTS964, can eradicate aggressive human lung cancers transplanted into mice, according to a report in Science Translational Medicine. The drug, given as a pill or by injection, inhibits the action of a protein that is overproduced by several tumor types, including lung and breast, but is rarely expressed in healthy adult tissues. Without this protein, cancer cells fail to complete the cell-division process and die.

A real-time tracking system developed to monitor dangerous bacteria inside the body

Combining a PET scanner with a new chemical tracer that selectively tags specific types of bacteria, Johns Hopkins researchers working with mice report they have devised a way to detect and monitor in real time infections with dangerous Gram-negative bacteria. These increasingly drug-resistant bacteria are responsible for a range of diseases, including fatal pneumonias and various bloodstream or solid-organ infections acquired in and outside the hospital.

Teenage self-harm linked to problems in later life

Those who self-harm as teenagers are more at risk of developing mental health and substance misuse problems as adults, new research from the biggest study of its kind in the UK has revealed.

Promising blood biomarkers identified for colorectal cancer: Is a screening blood test within reach?

The search for blood-borne biomarkers that could be used to screen for colorectal cancer (CRC) has uncovered two promising candidates that may one day lead to the development of a simple blood test. Scientists have been piecing together the molecular events involved in the development of CRC and have identified abnormal DNA methylation patterns and the presence of microRNAs as major players in the carcinogenic process.

Measures to avoid hospital readmission often don't work

(Medical Xpress)—Health care interventions designed to keep patients from having to be readmitted to the hospital are proving unsuccessful, a researcher from the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a colleague have found.

Exposure to aluminium may have impact on male fertility

New research from scientists in the UK and France suggests that human exposure to aluminium may be a significant factor in falling sperm counts and reduced male fertility.

Acoustic technique developed to detect knee osteoarthritis

A revolutionary medical technique using sound waves to identify osteoarthritis in the knee has been developed by researchers.  

Seven ways to feel full without overeating

Not feeling full after or between meals can result in overeating. In the October issue of Food Technology magazine published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), contributing editor Linda Milo Ohr writes about studies that show eating certain nutrients and foods may help curb appetite and keep one feeling fuller longer.

Early intervention could boost education levels

(Medical Xpress)—Taking steps from an early age to improve childhood education skills could raise overall population levels of academic achievement by as much as 5%, and reduce socioeconomic inequality in education by 15%, according to international research led by the University of Adelaide.

Many colleges failing to meet NCAA standards for concussion treatment

While most colleges and universities in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have created programs to help diagnose and treat concussions sustained by their athletes, many do not fully meet the NCAA's standards, according to new work by Harvard researchers.

Teens playing high-contact sports at risk for using drugs, alcohol

(Medical Xpress)—Teens who play sports like football, wrestling, hockey or lacrosse are more likely to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or marijuana than student athletes who play noncontact sports, according to a new University of Michigan study.

Unhealthy brands using Facebook to target young people

World-first research by the University of Sydney reveals that junk food brands are engaging with young Facebook users to promote unhealthy foods which can contribute to obesity and lifestyle diseases.

Most respond well to genetic testing results, according to study

(Medical Xpress)—People at high risk for psychological distress respond positively to receiving results of personalized genetic testing, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Research partnership results in FDA-approved obstetric medical device

A partnership between researchers at UALR and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences has resulted in an inexpensive, disposable external medical device that monitors contractions in pregnant women.

Genes exhibit different behaviours in different stages of development

The effect that genes have on our brain depends on our age. These are the findings of a group of researchers from the MedUni Vienna. It has been known for a number of years that particular genetic variations are of importance for the functioning of neural circuits in the brain. Just how these effects differ in the various stages of life has until recently not been fully understood. This international study has been able to demonstrate that genetic variations at different times in our lives can actually have opposite effects on the brain, which provides an explanation for the differences that clinicians observe in the psychiatric symptoms and response to medications of adolescents and adults.

New guide highlights ways to boost use of multi-sensory environments in dementia care

A new guide developed by two British academics has shed fresh light on the positive impact multi-sensory environments can have when caring for people with dementia.

Newly discovered bacterial defence mechanism in the lungs

A new study from Karolinska Institutet presents a previously unknown immunological mechanism that protects us against bacterial infections in the lungs. The study is being published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and shows that healthy lungs contain Interleukin-26, a messenger substance that is further increased by local exposure to a bacterial compound, which in turn increases the mobilisation of anti-bacterial white blood cells. The research team now hope that the discovery will facilitate our understanding of why patients with diseases such as COPD and asthma are more sensitive to bacterial infection than others, and that the discovery also may lead to new and better treatments in the long-term.

High hopes rest on 800 vials of experimental Ebola vaccine shipped from Canada

The world has been warned that the current Ebola epidemic may not end without the use of a vaccine – and no licensed vaccines exist yet. That may soon change, because scientists are making swift progress.

An antibody that blocks immune signaling offers a promising research tool and potential therapeutic agent

Through a combination of natural immune selection and targeted protein engineering, A*STAR researchers have generated an antibody that efficiently blocks a disease-related inflammatory pathway in both human cells and mouse experimental models.

Watching 3-D videos of trees helps people recover from stress

Writers, outdoor enthusiasts and leaf-peeping tourists have known for centuries that nature has restorative powers that reduce feelings of stress and promote a sense of tranquility.

Johnson & Johnson plans Ebola vaccine testing

Johnson & Johnson will begin safety testing in early January on a vaccine combination that could protect people from a strain of the deadly Ebola virus.

Big strides made in fighting TB, says WHO

The known tally of people with tuberculosis rose last year but overall "major progress" is being made in rolling back the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.

Scary part of Halloween is sugar, calories in trick-or-treat bag

For most kids Halloween is all about the candy. It is estimated that each child's bag of goodies contains about 4,800 calories, has 3 cups of sugar and 1½ cups of fat. The real horror in the Halloween trick-or-treat bag is how it adds to an already-scary epidemic of childhood obesity.

Clinical trial could change standard treatment for stroke

A large international clinical trial has shed new light on the effectiveness of current hospital protocols for managing blood pressure in stroke patients.

Moderate delays in cancer treatment may have no effect on patient outcomes

Delays between a patient presenting with symptoms of colorectal cancer to their GP and receiving treatment may have no impact on survival rates, according to a study by academics at the University of Aberdeen.

Death rates in prisons from smoking-related illnesses are higher than in the general US population

A research team led by Ingrid Binswanger, MD, MPH, associate professor, School of Medicine, recently published findings that death rates in prisons from smoking-related illnesses are higher than in the general U.S. population. The researchers also looked at whether smoking bans in prison are linked to reductions in smoking-related deaths.

Fecal blood test may save more lives than colonoscopy

State public health programs could screen many more low-income and uninsured people for colorectal cancer – and save up to four times as many lives – by using stool sample blood tests instead of colonoscopies, finds a new study in Health Services Research.

Seven tips for parents with a selfie-obsessed child

Hollywood starlets, heads of state and just about every tween, teen and young adult has snapped a selfie at one time or another.

Advances in muscular dystrophy treatments from targeting endogenous stem cells

In the past few months significant insights into the molecular controls of damaged tissue and how to manipulate them for better regeneration has been revealed for treating rare muscular disorders, which also extends to the larger number of more common degenerative diseases

Gait and dementia link confirmed

Researchers at Newcastle University have found a definitive link between gait - the way someone walks - and early changes in cognitive function in people with Parkinson's disease.

More children should brush their teeth to halt tooth decay and gum disease

Schools and nurseries should help children to brush their teeth. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has urged local authorities to tackle a growing crisis in the state of people's teeth in disadvantaged areas of England.

Protecting us from our cells

Our immune system defends us from harmful bacteria and viruses, but, if left unchecked, the cells that destroy those invaders can turn on the body itself, causing auto-immune diseases like type-1 diabetes or multiple sclerosis. A molecule called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) boosts the body's natural defence against this 'friendly fire', scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Monterotondo, Italy, have found. The findings, published today in EMBO Molecular Medicine, are especially exciting because IGF-1 is already approved for use in patients, which could speed up the move to clinical trials for treating auto-immune diseases.

Seaweed menace may yield new medicines

An invasive seaweed clogging up British coasts could be a blessing in disguise. University of Greenwich scientists have won a cash award to turn it into valuable compounds which can lead to new, life-saving drugs.

Research suggests team-based care is most effective way to control hypertension

Patients diagnosed with high blood pressure are given better control of their condition from a physician-pharmacist collaborative intervention than physician management alone, according to new research.

Association between air toxics and childhood autism

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were more likely to have been exposed to higher levels of certain air toxics during their mothers' pregnancies and the first two years of life compared to children without the condition, according to the preliminary findings of a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health investigation of children in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Silencing the speech gene FOXP2 causes breast cancer cells to metastasize

It is an intricate network of activity that enables breast cancer cells to move from the primary breast tumor and set up new growths in other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.

Automated tracking increases compliance of flu vaccination for health-care personnel

New research found tracking influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel through an automated system increased vaccination compliance and reduced workload burden on human resources and occupational health staff. The study is published in the November issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).

Proper dental care linked to reduced risk of respiratory infections in ICU patients

New research shows vulnerable patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who received enhanced oral care from a dentist were at significantly less risk for developing a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), like ventilator-associated pneumonia, during their stay. The study was published in the November issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).

Indiana Project screenings show need for more mental health services in youth detention

Indiana is at the forefront of providing mental health screening and services to juvenile offenders, but more efforts are needed to improve the services provided to detained youths, according to Indiana University School of Medicine research findings published in the October issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Doctors who helped paralysed man walk seek new patients (Update)

The paralysed Polish man who regained his ability to walk after receiving revolutionary treatment said Wednesday he was a "lucky devil", as his doctors announced they were looking for new candidates for the procedure.

British doctors to get bonus for dementia diagnoses

Britain's National Health Service came under fire on Wednesday for setting up a temporary bonus scheme of for family doctors who refer patients with cases of dementia.

Lessons from the 'Spanish flu,' nearly 100 years later

Just in time for flu season, a new Michigan State University study of "the mother of all pandemics" could offer insight into infection control measures for the flu and other epidemic diseases.

New study shows that shifting precipitation patterns affect tea flavor, health compounds

A team of researchers including Montana State University professor Selena Ahmed has found that shifting patterns of precipitation affect key chemicals responsible for the flavor and health properties of tea.

Quality of biopsy directly linked to survival in bladder cancer patients

UCLA researchers have shown for the first time that the quality of diagnostic staging using biopsy in patients with bladder cancer is directly linked with survival, meaning those that don't get optimal biopsies are more likely to die from their disease.

Brain simulation raises questions

What does it mean to simulate the human brain? Why is it important to do so? And is it even possible to simulate the brain separately from the body it exists in? These questions are discussed in a new paper published in the scientific journal Neuron today.

Drones help show how environmental changes affect the spread of infectious diseases

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, can collect detailed information in real time at relatively low cost for ecological research. In a new Opinion piece published in the Cell Press journal Trends in Parasitology, experts demonstrate that drones can be used to understand how environmental factors influence the spread of infectious diseases.

How people view their own weight influences bariatric surgery success

Negative feelings about one's own weight, known as internalized weight bias, influence the success people have after undergoing weight loss surgery, according to research appearing in the journal Obesity Surgery, published by Springer. The study, from the Geisinger Health System in the US, is considered the first and only study to examine internalized weight bias in relation to post-surgical weight loss success in adults.

When heart cancer hides in the brain: Two rare cases of cardiolymphoma present a useful coincidence

It was fortunate for the middle-aged woman that she presented her symptoms at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO), where doctors had seen another strange case just two years before.

Baby cries show evidence of cocaine exposure during pregnancy

A new study conducted by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers provides the first known evidence of how a similar acoustic characteristic in the cry sounds of human infants and rat pups may be used to detect the harmful effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on nervous system development.

100 days in Michigan: U-M team releases new analysis of state's Medicaid expansion

Right out of the starting gate, Michigan's expansion of health coverage for the poor and near-poor holds lessons for other states that are still on the fence about expanding their own Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, a new analysis shows.

Trans fats still weighing Americans down

Good news, bad news: The amount of trans fats we eat has declined over the last 30 years, but we're still consuming more than recommended.

Can bariatric surgery lead to severe headache?

Bariatric surgery may be a risk factor for a condition that causes severe headaches, according to a study published in the October 22, 2014, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Study examines readmission after colorectal cancer surgery as quality measure

No significant variation was found in hospital readmission rates after colorectal cancer surgery when the data was adjusted to account for patient characteristics, coexisting illnesses and operation types, which may prompt questions about the use of readmission rates as a measure of hospital quality.

Online dermatologic follow-up for atopic dermatitis earns equivalent results

An online model for follow-up care of atopic dermatitis (eczema) that gave patients direct access to dermatologists resulted in equivalent clinical improvement compared to patients who received traditional in-person care writes author April W. Armstrong, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Colorado, Denver, and colleagues.

Exposure therapy appears helpful in treating patients with prolonged grief

Cognitive behavioral therapy with exposure therapy (CBT/exposure), where patients relive the experience of a death of a loved one, resulted in greater reductions in measures of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) than CBT alone.

Thermal paper cash register receipts account for high bisphenol A (BPA) levels in humans

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is used in a variety of consumer products, such as water bottles, dental composites and resins used to line metal food and beverage containers, and also is used in thermal paper cash register receipts. Now, research conducted at the University of Missouri is providing the first data that BPA from thermal paper used in cash register receipts accounts for high levels of BPA in humans. Subjects studied showed a rapid increase of BPA in their blood after using a skin care product and then touching a store receipt with BPA.

Hospital logs staggering 2.5 million alarms in just a month

Following the study of a hospital that logged more than 2.5 million patient monitoring alarms in just one month, researchers at UC San Francisco have, for the first time, comprehensively defined the detailed causes as well as potential solutions for the widespread issue of alarm fatigue in hospitals.

Ebola death toll edging to 4,900 mark: WHO

The death toll in the world's worst-ever Ebola outbreak has edged closer to 4,900, while almost 10,000 people have now been infected, new figures from the World Health Organization showed Wednesday.

Vegan croissants, gluten-free pasta: Europe wakes up to fussy eating

Once firmly entrenched in their traditional gastronomy, consumers in gourmet havens like France and Italy are slowly starting to demand gluten-, dairy- and meat-free diets as environmental and health concerns kick in.

Bipolar disorder discovery at the nano level

A nano-sized discovery by Northwestern Medicine scientists helps explain how bipolar disorder affects the brain and could one day lead to new drug therapies to treat the mental illness.

Many Americans in debt, bankruptcy paying for cancer care

(HealthDay News) —Besides the danger and worry from the disease itself, many Americans battling cancer are faced with high bills for medical care, two new reports show.

Experimental infertility treatment seems effective, cheaper

(HealthDay)—A crucial part of conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF)—the incubation of embryos in a laboratory dish—can instead take place in a device inside the vagina, new research suggests.

Eating disorders linked to adverse perinatal outcomes

(HealthDay)—Maternal eating disorders are associated with adverse pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal health outcomes, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Drug coupons shrink patients' costs considerably

(HealthDay)—Drug coupons could reduce patients' out-of-pocket costs by 60 percent, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

Hospice doesn't offset intensive end-of-life ovarian cancer care

(HealthDay)—Increasing use of hospice in the final days of ovarian cancer does not offset intensive end-of-life care in older women, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Depression tied to worse lumbar spine surgery outcomes

(HealthDay)—Depressive symptoms are associated with poorer long-term outcome in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

Paralyzed patients have weaker bones and a higher risk of fractures than expected

People paralyzed by spinal cord injuries lose mechanical strength in their leg bones faster, and more significantly, than previously believed, putting them at greater risk for fractures from minor stresses, according to a new study by a research team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).

New ALS associated gene identified using innovative strategy

Using an innovative exome sequencing strategy, a team of international scientists led by John Landers, PhD, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School has shown that TUBA4A, the gene encoding the Tubulin Alpha 4A protein, is associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurological disorder also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Details of the study were published today in Neuron.

Finally: A missing link between vitamin D and prostate cancer

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the journal Prostate offers compelling evidence that inflammation may be the link between Vitamin D and prostate cancer. Specifically, the study shows that the gene GDF-15, known to be upregulated by Vitamin D, is notably absent in samples of human prostate cancer driven by inflammation.

If you're over 60, drink up: Alcohol associated with better memory

Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, University of Kentucky, and University of Maryland found that for people 60 and older who do not have dementia, light alcohol consumption during late life is associated with higher episodic memory—the ability to recall memories of events.

Researchers uncover powerful new class of weapons in the war on cancer

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have identified small molecules that can represent a new class of anticancer drugs with a novel target for the treatment of lung cancer. These findings are detailed in Nature Communications. A PCT patent (WO 2013028543 A1) was jointly documented by these two Institutes for the invention.

Cancer patients should not hesitate to speak with their doctors about dietary supplements

Many cancer patients use dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals and herbs or other botanicals but often don't tell their doctor.

'Humbled' NBC cameraman recovers from Ebola

A US photojournalist said Tuesday he was grateful to be alive after the hospital treating him declared him now free of Ebola, in a minor victory over the virus that has killed more than 4,500 people.

Bitter lessons from old Ebola frontline in Uganda

In Ebola-hit communities in west Africa, hope of stopping the deadly virus may seem far away at times.

In US, Ebola fears rise but most confident in response

After two health care workers in Texas were infected with Ebola while caring for a Liberian patient, a poll Tuesday showed a rattled US public that nevertheless stayed confident in the government's response.

At least four months to contain Ebola: Red Cross chief

The Ebola epidemic will take at least four months to contain even if all necessary steps are taken, the global head of the Red Cross said Wednesday, warning of "the price for inaction".

3,080-mile race's research to focus on runners' response to extreme physical activity

Cardiovascular health, nutritional status and stress on the body are some of the human conditions under study during a 3,080-mile race in 2015.

Improving care for intoxicated women assault victims

New research at the University of Adelaide could lead to improvements in professional health care for women who experience physical or sexual assault while under the influence of alcohol.

A treatment for osteoporosis and bone cancer, employed for the first time in dental filling procedures

Journal of Dental Research publishes a paper directed by Salvatore Sauro, Professor at University CEU Cardenal Herrera in Spain, in collaboration with international researchers from Finland, Brazil, United States and United Kingdom. The research report has demonstrated how the use of zoledronic acid, in combination with bioactive ion-releasing resin-based restorative materials used as dental adhesive, reduces the degradation of dentin collagen and promotes remineralisation at the resin-dentine interface.

German thalidomide maker wins appeal in Spain compensation case (Update)

A Spanish court has upheld an appeal by the German maker of the banned pregnancy drug thalidomide and scrapped a previous ruling ordering the firm to compensate Spaniards who suffered birth defects from it in the 1960s.

Improving compassion and care for older people

Researchers at the University of Southampton are launching a study to improve the compassion and care experienced by older people on hospital wards.

Early palliative care can cut hospital readmissions for cancer patients

Doctors at Duke University Hospital have developed a new collaborative model in cancer care that reduced the rates at which patients were sent to intensive care or readmitted to the hospital after discharge.

Study finds no increase in pregnancy-related death for African-American women

In contrast to national trends, a study performed at Alabama's largest hospital finds no racial difference in the risk of pregnancy-related death between African American and Caucasian women, reports the November issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia.

Susceptibility for relapsing major depressive disorder can be calculated

The question if an individual will suffer from relapsing major depressive disorder is not de-termined by accident. Neuroscientists from the Mercator Research Group 'Structure of Memory' have chosen a new research approach, using computer-based models to study the disease. They show that chronic depression is triggered due to an unfortunate combination of internal and external factors. Their research findings were published in the journal PLoS ONE.

NIH begins early human clinical trial of VSV Ebola vaccine

Human testing of a second investigational Ebola vaccine candidate is under way at the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Expert recommendations for diagnosing pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome

A panel of leading clinicians and researchers across various general and specialty pediatric fields developed a consensus statement recommending how to evaluate youngsters in whom neuropsychiatric symptoms suddenly develop, including the abrupt, dramatic onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This difficult diagnosis is typically made by pediatricians or other primary care clinicians and child psychiatrists, who will benefit from the guidance provided in the recommendations published in Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.

US: Monitoring for all coming from Ebola nations

U.S. health officials said Wednesday that they would begin monitoring all travelers—even Americans—who come to the U.S. from Ebola-stricken West African nations for 21 days, significantly expanding their vigilance.

US to track everyone coming from Ebola nations

U.S. authorities said Wednesday that everyone traveling into the U.S. from Ebola-stricken nations will be monitored for symptoms for 21 days. That includes returning American aid workers, federal health employees and journalists, as well as West African travelers.

Discussing Ebola: children feel safe, calm when adults do, too

(HealthDay)—With so much news focused on the Ebola epidemic in Africa, parents and other caregivers should think about how to help children feel safe, experts say.

Where Ebola battles are won

(HealthDay)—Four hospitals that are home to advanced biocontainment facilities have become America's ground zero in the treatment of Ebola patients.


This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
(......) 
You are subscribed as pascal.alter@gmail.com


Brak komentarzy:

Prześlij komentarz