Fwd: Science X Newsletter Monday, Mar 2

RESPEKT !

New target identified in fight against Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 3:08 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Monday, Mar 2
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for March 2, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Best of Last Week–Can space travel faster than light, another planet behind the Sun and should we allow head transplants
- Light, meet matter: Single-photon quantum memory in diamond optical phonons at room temperature
- Pens filled with high-tech inks for do-it-yourself sensors
- The first ever photograph of light as both a particle and wave
- Black phosphorus is new 'wonder material' for improving optical communication
- Forbidden quantum leaps possible with high-resolution spectroscopy
- Breakthrough in OLED technology
- Mind-readers: Scientists crack a piece of the neural code for learning and memory
- Water in smog may reveal pollution sources
- Aerogel catalyst shows promise for fuel cells
- Purring tempo, sliding notes grab cats' attention
- Sleep-walking neurons: Brain's GPS never stops working-even during sleep
- Genetically speaking, mammals are more like their fathers
- Construction begins 2016 for Hyperloop on five-mile stretch
- An old-looking galaxy in a young universe

Astronomy & Space news

	An old-looking galaxy in a young universe A team of astronomers, led by Darach Watson, from the University of Copenhagen used the Very Large Telescope's X-shooter instrument along with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to observe one of the youngest and most remote galaxies ever found. They were surprised to discover a far more evolved system than expected. It had a fraction of dust similar to a very mature galaxy, such as the Milky Way. Such dust is vital to life, because it helps form planets, complex molecules and normal stars.
	Spacewalking astronauts finish extensive, tricky cable job Spacewalking astronauts successfully completed a three-day cable job outside the International Space Station on Sunday, routing several-hundred feet of power and data lines for new crew capsules commissioned by NASA.
	Where do stars form in merging galaxies? Collisions between galaxies, and even less dramatic gravitational encounters between them, are recognized as triggering star formation. Observations of luminous galaxies, powered by starbursts, are consistent with this conclusion. Numerical simulations also support this picture, with gravity funneling copious amounts of gas into the central regions of galaxies, fueling powerful bursts of star formation there. But starbursts are not ubiquitous in interacting galaxies. Triggering therefore depends on many factors, including the specific merger geometry (how they come together), the properties of the progenitor galaxies (how much gas is available for new stars), and time-scale (maybe the starburst has yet to happen, or has finished?)
	Giant methane storms on Uranus Most of the times we have looked at Uranus, it has seemed to be a relatively calm place. Well, yes its atmosphere is the coldest place in the solar system. But, when we picture the seventh planet in our solar system invariably the image of a calming blue hazy disc that the spacecraft Voyager 2 took in 1986 comes to mind.
	NASA spacecraft nears historic dwarf planet arrival NASA's Dawn spacecraft has returned new images captured on approach to its historic orbit insertion at the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn will be the first mission to successfully visit a dwarf planet when it enters orbit around Ceres on Friday, March 6.
	Hunting transiting exoplanets European Southern Observatory (ESO) gears up for the exoplanet hunting. The Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), a wide-field observing system made up of an array of twelve telescopes was installed at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile. It will search for transiting exoplanets—planets that pass in front of their parent star and hence produce a slight dimming of the star's light that can be detected by sensitive instruments. "NGTS will have some sensitivity to habitable zone planets - these are planets at the right distance from their star that they would receive similar amounts of heat as the Earth does," Don Pollacco of the University of Warwick (UK) told astrowatch.net.
	Mystery giant Mars plumes still unexplained On Feb. 16, an international group of researchers proposed new hypotheses about some unusual plumes spotted by amateur astronomers on Mars in 2012. The plumes were seen rising to altitudes of over 250 km above. By comparison, similar features seen in the past have never exceeded 100 km. Now, new conclusions presented by scientists still raise more questions about the mysterious plumes, than they answer. "We tentatively explored two scenarios that might help explain the observed phenomenon: a cloud of condensed CO2 or H2O, or even dust, and an aurora. After elaborating the details of these two hypotheses, we came to the conclusion that none of them provided a fully satisfactory answer," Antonio García Muñoz of ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), co-author of the paper reporting the results in the journal Nature, told astrowatch.net. "Therefore, we consider that the genuine nature of the phenomenon is stil! l an open issue."
	New method makes space weather easier to predict Scientists can now gain a better understanding of space weather – the dreaded solar winds and flares – thanks to the development of high spatial resolution observation and computing methods. For the first time, it will thus be possible to study the interrelated events that occur on the sun and trigger solar activity. To this effect, a current project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF is in the process of developing new methods that can generate three-dimensional images and will allow scientists to study the chronological sequence and evolution of processes taking place in the sun's interior. These new methods will make it possible to link detailed observational data about the sun with complex computer simulations of solar activity.
	Image: Simulating space for JWST's four infrared instruments Building a space telescope is no mean feat. Conditions here on Earth are drastically different from those experienced in orbit around our planet. How do we know that any telescope built in our controlled laboratories can withstand the harsh environment of space?
	The huge "Y" in the atmosphere of Venus due to a wave distorted by the wind Venus is covered by a dense layer of clouds which does not display any noteworthy characteristic. However, when looked in the ultraviolet wavelength, it presents conspicuous dark structures. The biggest one, which practically covers the entire planet, is shaped like a "Y" and it has been a mystery since its discovery more than half a century ago. Recently, a study led by astronomers from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), in collaboration with the university of the Basque Country and the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences of Portugal, has described the mechanism that sustains this structure and has for the first time succeeded in reproducing its evolution in the course of one month.
	NASA spacecraft making first visit to dwarf planet Ceres (Update) A NASA spacecraft is about to reach the end of a nearly eight-year journey and make the first rendezvous with a dwarf planet.
SpaceX launches two communications satellites US space transportation company SpaceX launched two commercial communications satellites atop a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday evening.
	Why we see familiar-looking objects in Mars topology What is up with the fossils on Mars? Found – a dinosaur skull on Mars? Discovered – a rat, squirrel or gerbil on Mars? In background of images from Curiosity, vertebrae from some extinct Martian species? And the human skull, half buried in photos from Opportunity Rover. All the images are made of stone from the ancient past and this is also what is called Pareidolia. They are figments of our imaginations, and driven by our interest to be there – on Mars – and to know that we are not alone. Altogether, they make a multitude of web pages and threads across the internet.
	Halley research station hosts research to understand human adaptation to space flight A medical doctor, based at the most southerly UK research station in Antarctica, is about to embark on a new campaign of life science experiments to study how people adapt to life in remote and isolated locations in preparation for prolonged space flight. One of these experiments, set up in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA ), involves staff at British Antarctic Survey's (BAS) Halley Research Station being tested using a specially designed spaceflight simulator over the austral winter.

Medicine & Health news

	Sleep-walking neurons: Brain's GPS never stops working-even during sleep Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have found that navigational brain cells that help sense direction are as electrically active during deep sleep as they are during wake time—and have visual and vestibular cues to guide them. Such information could be useful in treating navigational problems, among the first major symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.
	Results challenge conventional wisdom about where the brain processes visual information Neuroscientists generally think of the front end of the human visual system as a simple light detection system: The patterns produced when light falls on the retina are relayed to the visual cortex at the rear of the brain, where all of the "magic" happens that transforms these patterns into the three-dimensional world view that we perceive with our mind's eye.
	Mind-readers: Scientists crack a piece of the neural code for learning and memory It sounds like the stuff of science fiction: researchers slice a brain into thin little sections and, just by measuring the properties of specific neurons, they can determine what an organism learned before it died. In fact, this sort of mind reading has become a reality. In work published today in Nature, researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) describe how postmortem brain slices can be "read" to determine how a rat was trained to behave in response to specific sounds. The work provides one of the first examples of how specific changes in the activity of individual neurons encode particular acts of learning and memory in the brain.
	Japanese firm behind Ebola drug says tests offer 'hope' The Japanese company behind an experimental Ebola treatment says it offers new hope for thousands of people infected with the deadly virus in west Africa, but acknowledged it is "not a miracle drug".
	Alzheimer amyloid clumps found in young adult brains Amyloid—an abnormal protein whose accumulation in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease—starts accumulating inside neurons of people as young as 20, a much younger age than scientists ever imagined, reports a surprising new Northwestern Medicine study.
	Treadmill performance predicts mortality: New formula gauges 10-year risk of dying Analyzing data from 58,000 heart stress tests, Johns Hopkins cardiologists report they have developed a formula that estimates one's risk of dying over a decade based on a person's ability to exercise on a treadmill at an increasing speed and incline.
	How an FDA-approved drug boosts myelin synthesis Damage to myelin, the fatty insulator that enables communication between nerve cells, characterizes multiple sclerosis (MS) and other devastating neurological diseases.
	New target identified in fight against Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis Highlighting a potential target in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests that triggering a protein found on the surface of brain cells may help slow the progression of these and other neurological diseases.
	Researchers develop new approach to diagnosing TB—oral swabs Drawing inspiration from veterinary medicine, researchers at the University of Washington have helped developed a new prospective approach to diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) - easy-to-obtain oral swab samples, greatly improving on standard diagnostics.
	New genetic syndrome found, tied to errors in 'master switch' during early development Analyzing a puzzling multisystem disorder in three children, genetic experts have identified a new syndrome, shedding light on key biological processes during human development. The research also provides important information to help caregivers manage the disorder, and may offer clues to eventually treating it.
	Healthy-looking prostate cells mask cancer-causing mutations Prostate cells that look normal under the microscope may be hiding genetic mutations that could develop into cancer, prompting new ways to improve treatment for the disease, according to research published in Nature Genetics today.
Scientists override the body's inflammatory response Scientists who have discovered the mechanism of a protein that suppresses inflammation in the body, say the information could potentially be used to develop new drugs to control inflammation.
	Low sugar uptake in brain appears to exacerbate Alzheimer's disease A deficiency in the protein responsible for moving glucose across the brain's protective blood-brain barrier appears to intensify the neurodegenerative effects of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new mouse study from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).
	Team finds key to tuberculosis resistance The cascade of events leading to bacterial infection and the immune response is mostly understood. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune response to the bacteria that causes tuberculosis have remained a mystery—until now. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have now uncovered how a bacterial molecule controls the body's response to TB infection and suggest that adjusting the level of this of this molecule may be a new way to treat the disease. The report appears this week as an advance online publication of Nature Medicine.
	Sequencing the hookworm: Ancylostoma ceylanicum genome provides potential new drug, vaccine targets In an advance that may potentially lead to new treatments for parasitic hookworms, scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Cornell University have sequenced the genome of the hookworm, Ancylostoma ceylanicum. The genome of the nematode that, according to some estimates, infects as many as 400 million people worldwide will help researchers find genes active during infection and devise new drugs or vaccines that target these genes. The study, which also includes researchers from the University of California San Diego and the California Institute of Technology, was published in Nature Genetics.
	New insight into antibiotic resistance strengthens call for increased focus on research Scientists at the University of Birmingham have identified a new mechanism of antibiotic resistance in bacterial cells which could help us in understanding, and developing solutions to, the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
	Brain waves: Basal forebrain neurons fine-tune consciousness by synchronizing rhythms in the cortex Like musical sounds, different states of mind are defined by distinct, characteristic waveforms, recognizable frequencies and rhythms in the electrical field of the brain. When the brain is alert and performing complex computations, the cerebral cortex, the wrinkled outer surface of the brain, thrums with cortical band oscillations in the gamma wavelength; in some neurological disorders like schizophrenia, these waves are out of tune and the rhythm is out of sync.
	Maternal health in India much worse than previously thought, new study finds More than 40 percent of women in India are underweight when they begin pregnancy, according to a new study published by Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. On average, these women gain only 15 pounds throughout pregnancy - just half of the recommended amount.
	Anxious people more apt to make bad decisions amid uncertainty Highly anxious people have more trouble deciding how best to handle life's uncertainties. They may even catastrophize, interpreting, say, a lovers' tiff as a doomed relationship or a workplace change as a career threat.
	Researchers find direct link between insulin resistance and behavioral disorders People with diabetes are more prone to anxiety and depression than those with other chronic diseases that require similar levels of management. The reasons for this aren't well understood, but Joslin Diabetes Center researchers have discovered one potential explanation.
Finding psychological insights through social media Social media has opened up a new digital world for psychology research. Four researchers will be discussing new methods of language analysis, and how social media can be leveraged to study personality, mental and physical health, and cross-cultural differences. The speakers will be presenting their research during the symposium "Finding Psychological Signal in a Billion Tweets: Measurement Through the Language of Social Media," at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) 16th Annual Convention in Long Beach, California.
Image-guided treatment shown to break the migraine cycle An innovative interventional radiology treatment has been found to offer chronic migraine sufferers sustained relief of their headaches, according to research being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's Annual Scientific Meeting. Clinicians at Albany Medical Center and the State University New York Empire State College in Saratoga Springs used a treatment called image-guided, intranasal sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) blocks to give patients enough ongoing relief that they required less medication to relieve migraine pain.
Young girl's story may lead Idaho to approve marijuana oil (AP)—Ten-year-old Alexis Carey has a rare but intractable form of epilepsy, Dravet Syndrome. The genetic diseases causes severe and multiple seizures, which often leave parents guessing if the terror of watching their child seize up will pass or turn fatal.
Pediatricians face increasing pressure to delay vaccinations Pediatricians are facing increasing pressure from some parents who want to spread out the recommended vaccine schedule for their children by postponing vaccines, pointing to a need for improved programs that support timely vaccinations, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus.
With kids' antipsychotic treatment on the rise, study looks at prescriber decision-making More kids nationwide are taking medications designed to treat such mental illnesses as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and pediatricians and psychiatrists at the University of Vermont want to know why.
	Black men less willing to be investigated for prostate cancer The incidence of prostate cancer among men of Afro-Caribbean origin is higher than in white men, they are more likely to be diagnosed as emergencies and their mortality rates are higher. Until now it has been unclear why these disappointing outcomes exist.
3-D printing offers innovative method to deliver medication 3-D printing could become a powerful tool in customizing interventional radiology treatments to individual patient needs, with clinicians having the ability to construct devices to a specific size and shape. That's according to a study being presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's Annual Scientific Meeting. Researchers and engineers collaborated to print catheters, stents and filaments that were bioactive, giving these devices the ability to deliver antibiotics and chemotherapeutic medications to a targeted area in cell cultures.
Interventional radiology offers new treatment for enlarged prostates Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition in which the prostate is enlarged but not cancerous, have a new, breakthrough treatment option that is less invasive and has fewer complications than other minimally invasive treatments, such as transurethral resection of the prostate and surgical options, according to research presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's (SIR's) Annual Scientific Meeting. Using an interventional radiology treatment known as prostate artery embolization (PAE), clinicians were able to improve patient symptoms, regardless of the size of BPH before the treatment, researchers found in a retrospective study.
Cesarean section rates in Portugal decline by 10 percent A new study reports a significant decline in the rate of cesarean section (C-section) births in Portugal. Findings published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, a journal of the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology, indicate a 10% reduction in overall C-section rates between 2009 and 2014, with a 14% reduction in state-hospitals during the same time period. Researchers believe this may be due to more information and training of healthcare staff, along with inclusion of C-section rates as part of the criteria for hospital funding.
Deadly bacteria released from US high-security lab US officials in Louisiana are investigating how a dangerous and often deadly bacteria got out of a high-security laboratory at a research facility, USA Today reported Sunday.
	Soft drink tax could improve health of the nation An excise tax on sugar-sweetened drinks would be an effective way to improve the health of heavy consumers, new research shows.
	Could Ebola mutate faster than we can develop treatments? As the worst known epidemic of the Ebola virus continues in West Africa, scientists around the world are trying to develop treatments for those infected. But a process of viral mutation, known as "genetic drift", could potentially compromise their efforts.
	Seth Mnookin on vaccination and public health Seth Mnookin, an assistant professor of science writing and associate director of MIT's Graduate Program in Science Writing, is the author of "The Panic Virus: The True Story Behind the Vaccine-Autism Controversy" (Simon and Schuster, 2011), an acclaimed book that examines how inaccurate scientific reports linking vaccines to autism have reverberated through the media. The book won the the National Association of Science Writers' Science in Society Award in 2012. Mnookin spoke on the significance of the recent and ongoing measles outbreak in the U.S., and the current status of vaccination acceptance.
	Doctors nonsurgically correct infant ear deformities A team of researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center has improved a nonsurgical procedure that safely and effectively corrects newborn ear deformities in just two weeks – a drastically shorter period of time than previously reported.
Time to take a stand against the sale of caffeinated energy drinks International health experts are calling on governments to take a stronger regulatory stand on the use of energy drinks and curb the growing harm caused by their consumption.
	Nothing but a number A number, is a number, is a number, right? Not so say researchers Shamsher Singh and Beata Bajorek. They're developing a new diagnostic tool that will enable doctors to better define 'elderly' patients and to more accurately prescribe them medications.
	Measles vaccine in modified form also effective against Chikungunya virus A modified, conventional measles vaccine has the potential to act against the Chikungunya virus. This is the result of a study at the University Clinic for Clinical Pharmacology of the MedUni Wien (Medical University of Vienna), which has now been published in the top journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Up until now, there has been no effective vaccine against the Chikungunya virus and the associated feverish illness which can prove lethal, and is particularly prevalent in Latin America and the Caribbean.
	No more bleeding for 'iron overload' patients? Hemochromatosis (HH) is the most common genetic disorder in the western world, and yet is barely known. Only in the US 1 in 9 people carry the mutation (although not necessarily the disease).
	Preventing the spread of cancer with copper molecules Chemists at Bielefeld University have developed a molecule containing copper that binds specifically with DNA and prevents the spread of cancer. First results show that it kills the cancer cells more quickly than cisplatin – a widely used anti-cancer drug that is frequently administered in chemotherapy. When developing the anti-tumour agent, Professor Dr. Thorsten Glaser and his team cooperated with biochemists and physicists. The design of the new agent is basic research. 'How and whether the copper complex will actually be given to cancer patients is something that medical research will have to determine in the years to come,' says the chemist.
	Study identifies teens at-risk for synthetic marijuana use Synthetic cannabinoids ("synthetic marijuana"), with names like Spice, K2, Scooby Doo and hundreds of others, are often sold as a "legal" alternative to marijuana. Often perceived as a safe legal alternative to illicit drug use, synthetic marijuana use was associated with 11,561 reports of poisonings in the United States between January 2009 and April 2012.
	Mobile phones not causing increase in brain tumors, according to new study The risk of brain tumours has not changed significantly with increased mobile phone use, according to new research from the University of Auckland.
	Vitamin D and depression links debunked Vitamin D deficiency does not cause depression in later life but may be a marker for depression, a local study suggests.
Experts' advice for preventing a fall this winter Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries among older people but, even though the weather continues to be wet and icy, experts from the University of Manchester are showing that falls can be avoided.
	So much has changed since the first HIV test was approved 30 years ago Thirty years ago today, on March 2, 1985, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new HIV test. It was the result of nine months of round-the-clock labor by dozens of scientists. Immediately adopted by the American Red Cross and other institutions, the blood test marked the beginning of a new era in HIV medicine.
Guidelines suggest blood thinners for more women, seniors with AFib Nearly all women and people over 65 in the U.S. with atrial fibrillation are advised to take blood thinners under new guidelines based on an analysis from the Duke Clinical Research Institute.
Alcohol screening and intervention for risky drinking: A guide for physicians A new review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) provides tips for physicians to help patients cut down on excessive alcohol use and is aimed at health care providers who are not addiction specialists. The article is based on current evidence, including recent Canadian guidelines.
Published outcomes announced from study on adolescent bariatric surgery safety Cardiovascular risks of severe pediatric obesity, assessed among adolescents participating in the "Teen Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery" (Teen-LABS) study, were published this week in JAMA Pediatrics. Teen-LABS is a multi-center clinical study funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that is examining the safety and health effects of surgical weight loss procedures. Teen-LABS is being conducted at five clinical centers in the U.S., including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The study's Chair, Thomas H. Inge, MD, PhD, is located at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Are doctors using unnecessary tests to diagnose chronic kidney disease? Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects 13 percent of adults in the U.S. and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and costs. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston have found that many of the tests frequently conducted to screen for CKD have little clinical benefit on diagnosis and therapeutic management. These findings are published in a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine on March 2, 2015.
Researchers identify the mitochondrial 'shield' that helps cancer cells survive Scientists have moved closer to understanding why cancer cells can be so resilient, even when faced with the onslaught of nearly toxic drug cocktails, radiation, and even our own immune systems. A new research report appearing in the March 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal, shows that intermediate filaments formed by a protein called "vimentin" or VIF, effectively "insulate" the mitochondria in cancer cells from any attempt to destroy the cell. Under normal circumstances, VIF serves as the "skeleton" for cells by helping them maintain their shapes. In some cancer cells, however, VIF actually help to preserve the cancer cell's center of energy, the mitochondria, either by helping the cell to resist outside assaults or by helping it recover quickly. Because a number of cancer treatments target the mitochondria of cancer cells, this discovery should help researchers develop new drugs that more effectively treat cancer.
Anticholinergic drugs linked to risk for pneumonia in elderly Taking commonly used medications with anticholinergic effects is associated with a significantly higher risk for developing pneumonia in a study of more than 3,000 older Group Health patients living in the community—not in nursing homes. "Anticholinergic Medications and Risk of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Elderly Adults: A Population-Based Case-Control Study" is in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
	Promising new strategy to halt pancreatic cancer metastasis Pancreatic cancer and its metastases might have their days numbered, according to a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Why nitrate supplementation may increase athletic performance Walk down the aisles of any food supplement store and you'll see that the use of nitrate supplements by athletes and fitness buffs has been popular for years. The hope is that these supplements will increase endurance (and possibly other performance/health benefits) by improving the efficiency at which muscles use oxygen. Now, a research study published in the March 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal helps explain how some of these supplements may work and why they may increase performance—they decrease the viscosity of blood, aiding in blood flow, while at the same time ensuring that tissue oxygen requirements are not compromised.
Preventing metabolic disease may start in the womb... of your grandmother No one wants to have child who is born underweight, but for numerous reasons, this may be unavoidable. An intriguing research report involving rats suggests that helping fetuses achieve optimal weight before birth is of even greater importance than currently believed: Underweight infants may eventually become the grandparents of children at a higher risk for metabolic problems like high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. This report appears in the March 2015 issue of The FASEB Journal.
	One step closer to defeating Alzheimer's disease Tackling brain inflammation ameliorates Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a study published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.
	On-board school bus filtration system reduces pollutants by 88 percent An on-board air filtration system developed specifically for school buses reduces exposure to vehicular pollutants by up to 88 percent, according to a study by researchers at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
	Mutation may cause early loss of sperm supply Brown University biologists have determined how the loss of a gene in male mice results in the premature exhaustion of their fertility. Their fundamental new insights into the complex process of sperm generation may have direct applications to a similar loss of fertility in men.
	Study: US parents increasingly ask doctors to delay vaccines U.S. parents have increasingly pressured doctors to delay vaccines for young children, making their kids and others vulnerable to preventable diseases, a study suggests.
	Study finds nut and peanut consumption decreases mortality If you're looking for a simple way to lower your risk of dying from a heart attack, consider going nuts.
Growth screening could help detect celiac disease in kids Screening for five growth parameters helped detect celiac disease (CD) with good accuracy in both boys and girls because growth falters in most children with CD, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Cerebral blood flow as a possible marker for concussion outcomes A new imaging study suggests that cerebral blood flow recovery in the brain could be a biomarker of outcomes in patients following concussion, according to a study published online by JAMA Neurology.
	Survey of teen dating violence among US high school students A survey of U.S. high school students suggests that 1 in 5 female students and 1 in 10 male students who date have experienced some form of teen dating violence during the past 12 months, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
	Study shows minors easily able to purchase electronic cigarettes online Teenagers in North Carolina were easily able to buy electronic cigarettes online because both Internet vendors and shipping companies failed to verifying ages in a study that assessed compliance with North Carolina's 2013 e-cigarette age-verification law, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
Conservative treatment normalizes head shape in most infants with skull flattening More than three-fourths of infants with skull flattening related to sleep position achieve normal head shape with conservative treatment—without the need for helmet therapy, reports a study in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Google Glass shows promising uses in plastic surgery The "wearable technology" Google Glass has a wide range of possible applications in plastic surgery—with the potential to enhance surgical training, medical documentation, and patient safety, according to a special paper in the March 2015 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
New care model enhances psychological, cognitive and physical recovery of ICU survivors The Critical Care Recovery Center care model—the nation's first collaborative care concept focusing on the extensive cognitive, physical and psychological recovery needs of intensive care unit survivors—decreases the likelihood of serious illness after discharge from an ICU, according to a new study from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University schools of medicine and nursing.
Researchers propose novel new treatment of stroke and other neurological diseases Medicine should reconsider how it treats stroke and other neurological disorders, focusing on the intrinsic abilities of the brain and nervous system to heal themselves rather than the "modest" benefits of clot-busting drugs and other neuroprotective treatments.
	Neuron groups, not single cells, maintain brain stability To compensate for erratic shifts and spikes in its neuronal communications, the brain relies on the stabilizing mechanism called "homeostasis"—the ability to maintain relatively stable equilibrium between different elements of its composition—to preserve overall network function. Disruptions in stability cause disorders such as epilepsy, but precious little is known about this macro-level regulatory phenomenon.
You can't take your genes with you: Strategies to share genetic information after death Does the child of a person with a heritable form of cancer have the right to access their parent's genetic information after death? What if no consent was ever established? In the March 2 issue of Trends in Molecular Medicine, biomedical ethicists review current arguments about how to disclose genetic information of the deceased and offer suggestions that may help clinicians and officials develop their own policies.
NHS savings plan led to cuts in some 'ineffective' treatments The drive to reduce NHS spending led to a drop in some treatments considered 'low-value', according to new research.
US women's awareness of breast density varies Disparities in the level of awareness and knowledge of breast density exist among U.S. women, according to the results of a Mayo Clinic study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Despite broad awareness, only half of doctors use prescription drug monitoring programs In a new survey, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that physicians report relatively high awareness of state databases that track drug prescriptions but more than one-fifth indicated they were not aware of their state's program at all.
	Restoring ability to halt cell division may protect lung cells from cancer Researchers led by a team at the University of Illinois at Chicago, have identified a novel role for a signaling mechanism in lung cells that permanently places them into a state of suspended animation called senescence. Alive but unable to do much of anything, including divide, senescent cells cannot become cancerous. Drugs that can induce senescence through this signaling pathway would represent a new class of chemotherapy.
	Heart valve repair surgery may ease mental health symptoms, too (HealthDay)—People with a serious heart valve defect have less depression and anxiety after they undergo surgery to repair the problem, a new study finds.
	Do heart surgery patients get too many blood tests? (HealthDay)—The high number of blood tests done before and after heart surgery can sometimes lead to excessive blood loss, possibly causing anemia and the need for a blood transfusion, new research suggests.
	Circadian clock has significant impact on allergic reaction (HealthDay)—The circadian clock seems to have a significant impact on allergic reaction, according to a review published online Feb. 17 in Allergy.
	Laser at 924/975 + curettage best for axillary hyperhidrosis (HealthDay)—For patients with axillary hyperhidrosis, the optimal treatment option is laser at 924/975 nm combined with curettage, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.
	Stress ups risk of peptic ulcer regardless of H. pylori status (HealthDay)—Psychological stress correlates with increased risk of peptic ulcer, with similar effects associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and ulcers unrelated to either H. pylori or use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to a study published in the March issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
	Invasive strategy improves outcome in elderly with ACS (HealthDay)—An invasive strategy using coronary angiography results in a better outcome in elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to research published in the March 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
	CDC: Routine procedures lead to two cases of HCV transmission (HealthDay)—Two cases of hepatitis C infection that occurred during routine surgeries highlight the need for hospitals to tighten infection control to prevent more transmissions, officials said Friday.
	Oral bisphosphonate use tied to lower endometrial cancer risk (HealthDay)—For postmenopausal women, oral bisphosphonate use is associated with a reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	AMA: Key steps for minimizing liability risk in telemedicine (HealthDay)—Key steps should be taken to minimize the potential risk of liability resulting from use of telemedicine, according to an article published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
When I'm 64—I'll still have hot flashes? Some 40% of women 60 to 65 years old still have hot flashes. For many, the hot flashes are occasional and mild, but for some, they remain really troublesome, shows a new study just published in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). Sexual symptoms also remain a problem for more than half these older women. Furthermore, women bothered by these symptoms are often not getting treatment, even though treatments are available.
Lycopene may ward off kidney cancer in older women A higher intake by postmenopausal women of the natural antioxidant lycopene, found in foods like tomatoes, watermelon and papaya, may lower the risk of renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer.
ACP releases new guidelines for preventing and treating bedsores The American College of Physicians (ACP) today published two evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in Annals of Internal Medicine for the prevention and treatment of bedsores, also called pressure ulcers. Bedsores commonly occur in people with limited mobility, such as those in hospitals or long-term care settings.
	Risks of taking paracetamol long-term may have been underestimated by clinicians Doctors may have underestimated the risks for patients who take paracetamol long-term, suggests research published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
	Disease-carrying fleas abound on New York City's rats In the first study of its kind since the 1920s, rats in New York City were found to carry a flea species capable of transmitting plague pathogens.
	US public sees ill health as resulting from a broad range of causes A new NPR/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll finds that more than six in ten people living in the U.S. (62%) are concerned about their future health. Nearly four in ten (39%) said that they had one or more negative childhood experiences that they believe had a harmful impact on their adult health.
Genetic discovery may help determine effectiveness of Huntington's disease treatments A new genetic discovery in the field of Huntington's disease (HD) could mean a more effective way in determining severity of this neurological disease when using specific treatments. This study may provide insight for treatments that would be effective in slowing down or postponing the death of neurons for people who carry the HD gene mutation, but who do not yet show symptoms of the disease.
Researchers identify genes responsible for lung tumors The lung transcription factor Nkx2-1 is an important gene regulating lung formation and normal respiratory functions after birth. Alterations in the expression of this transcription factor can lead to diseases such as lung interstitial disease, post-natal respiratory distress and lung cancer.
	How the brain's involved in wanting and having sex A new review looks at how the brain impacts the sequence of physical and emotional changes that occur as a person participates in sexually stimulating activities.
	People watching tearjerkers eat 28-55% more Sad movies are bad news for diets. A newly reported study from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab showed movie-goers watching tearjerkers ate between 28% and 55% more popcorn both in the lab and in a mall theater during the Thanksgiving holiday.
	Study shows why some brain cancers resist treatment Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center may have discovered why some brain cancer patients develop resistance to standard treatments including radiation and the chemotherapy agent temozolomide.
Owls and lizards lend their ears for human hearing research Lizards and owls are some of the animal species that can help us to better understand hearing loss in humans, according to new research out of York University's Department of Physics & Astronomy in the Faculty of Science.
Teenager with stroke symptoms actually had Lyme disease A Swiss teenager, recently returned home from a discotheque, came to the emergency department with classic sudden symptoms of stroke, only to be diagnosed with Lyme disease. The highly unusual case presentation was published online last Thursday in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Acute Lyme Neuroborreliosis with Transient Hemiparesis and Aphasia").
The hidden burden of dengue fever in West Africa Misdiagnosis of febrile illnesses as malaria is a continuing problem in Africa. A new study shows that in Ghana, dengue fever is circulating in urban areas and going undiagnosed. The authors of the study hope to use the findings to launch a widespread initiative to better understand acute undifferentiated febrile illnesses in West Africa.
Standardization and simplification is key to helping NICU babies feed and grow A new standardized approach for feeding infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) helps babies attain full oral feeds sooner, improves their growth and sends them home sooner. The guidelines, developed by clinician-scientists at Nationwide Children's Hospital and published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, also reduces the cost of care for these babies by shortening their stays in the NICU by as much as two weeks.
US spends more on cancer care, saves fewer lives than Western Europe Despite sharp increases in spending on cancer treatment, cancer mortality rates in the United States have decreased only modestly since 1970, Samir Soneji, PhD of Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice has found. Refuting previous studies, Soneji published his paper "New Analysis Reexamines the Value of Cancer Care in the United States Compared to Western Europe," today in the March issue of Health Affairs.
	Suicidal ideation prevalent in patients with fibromyalgia (HealthDay)—Suicidal ideation is prevalent among patients with fibromyalgia and is strongly associated with mental health, according to a study published in the February issue of Pain Practice.
	Earlier surgery tied to greater benefit in cervical radiculopathy (HealthDay)—For patients with painful degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy, undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery within six months of becoming symptomatic is associated with a greater reduction in arm pain scores, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
	Cannabis linked to increased risk of cerebrovascular events (HealthDay)—Cannabis seems to be linked to cerebrovascular events, according to research published online Feb. 19 in Stroke.
	High prevalence of HCV in baby boomers presenting to ER (HealthDay)—The prevalence of unrecognized chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is high among baby boomers presenting to the emergency department, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in Hepatology.
	Successful cognitive behavioral therapy in youth equals decreased thinking about suicide Penn Medicine researchers found that patients who did not respond to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety in childhood had more chronic and enduring patterns of suicidal ideation at 7 to 19 years after treatment. This study adds to the literature that suggests that successful CBT for childhood anxiety confers long-term benefits. The complete study is available in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Salmonella and Campylobacter show significant levels of resistance to common antimicrobials in humans and animals Treatment options for some of the most common food-borne infections are decreasing, as types of bacteria (called 'isolates') continue to show resistance to antimicrobial drugs. For example, multi-drug resistant isolates of Salmonella continue to spread across Europe. Also, high resistance to the antimicrobial ciprofloxacin in Campylobacter isolates in both humans and animals has been reported in some Member States. Encouragingly, co-resistance to critically important antimicrobials for both bacteria remains low. These are some the findings of the latest EFSA-ECDC European Union Summary Report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food, which analyses data from 2013.
Can money buy happiness?: The relationship between money and well-being Researchers are investigating new directions in the science of spending. Four presentations during the symposium "Happy Money 2.0: New Insights Into the Relationship Between Money and Well-Being," delve into the effects of experiential purchases, potential negative impacts on abundance, the psychology of lending to friends, and how the wealthy think differently about well-being. The symposium takes place during the SPSP 16th Annual Convention in Long Beach, California.
Interventional radiology treatment relieves chronic plantar fasciitis Patients suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis now have a new weapon against this debilitating foot ailment, according to research presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology's Annual Scientific Meeting. Researchers utilized ultrasound imaging and specific ultrasonic energy to penetrate, emulsify and remove diseased fasciitis tissue. Permanently removing damaged, pain-generating tissue allowed room for healthy tissue to regrow in its place, restoring normal function.
Psychology of food choice: Challenging the status quo Researchers are challenging conventional beliefs about the effectiveness of traditional strategies for encouraging healthy eating. The symposium, "Challenging Misconceptions About the Psychology of Food Choice," includes four presentations that tackle issues such as the harmfulness of weight-stigma, encouraging healthy choices, and strategies to help children and teens. The symposium is featured at the SPSP 16th Annual Convention in Long Beach, California.
Conjoined Brazilian twin dies after surgery A five-year-old Brazilian boy has died after surgery to separate him from his conjoined twin brother, media reported Saturday.
SLeone vice president in Ebola quarantine asks country to pray Sierra Leone's Vice President Sam Sumana, who put himself into quarantine after one of his bodyguards died from Ebola, asked fellow-citizens on Sunday to "have me in your prayers."
	GOP senators pledge help if court bars health law subsidies Three leading Republican senators are promising to help millions of people who may lose federal health insurance subsidies if the Supreme Court invalidates a pillar of President Barack Obama's health care law.
Australia must improve healthcare rationing Australia's struggling healthcare system is not making best use of available funding when deciding on allocating money to different services and should adopt international best-practice to achieve better healthcare rationing.
The failure of the Medicare principle of universality Monash University researchers have revealed for the first time clear and detailed evidence of the inequitable delivery of mental health care services for disadvantaged Australians.
Protecting nerve tissue during bowel surgery After bowel surgery, more than half of the patients suffer from irreparable nerve damage. Now scientists have developed an assistance system that warns surgeons about the risk of inflicting possible injury during operations in the pelvic area. The experts are currently working on a solution for minimally invasive surgery.
Techniques to solve school bullying outlined in public talk A trial on techniques to solve bullying at school is the topic of a public lecture at the University of Auckland next week.
New data on the regulation of the genetic activity that protects against lung cancer A research project led by the University of Granada, which includes researchers from Harvard and Yale, has provided new data for a better understanding of the alterations produced during the development of lung cancer, the tumour with the highest yearly death rate in Spain. This research clears the path for the development of new antitumoral therapeutic strategies based on microRNAs activity
The dangers of overconsumption of licorice A recent case study published in Pediatric Neurology details the account of a 10-year-old boy who suffered seizures after over-indulging in licorice sweets.
Cholera epidemic kills 41 in Mozambique The death toll from a cholera epidemic in Mozambique that broke out after widespread flooding has risen by almost 50 percent in two weeks to 41, health officials said Monday.
Improved survival for patients with brain mets who are 50 and younger and receive SRS alone Cancer patients with limited brain metastases (one to four tumors) who are 50 years old and younger should receive stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) without whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), according to a study available online, open-access, and published in the March 15, 2015 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). For patients 50 years old and younger who received SRS alone, survival was improved by 13 percentage points when compared to those patients 50 years old and younger who received both SRS and WBRT.
Use of new systemic adjuvant therapy in gastrointestinal tumors increasing A new study finds that the use of adjuvant systemic therapy for localized gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs ) has significantly increased over time and that patients treated with the therapy have better survival than those treated with surgery alone. The study, which appears early online in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology, also finds that older patients and minorities are less likely to receive adjuvant therapy for GISTs.
Infection control experts outline guidance for animal visitations in hospitals New expert guidance by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) outlines recommendations for developing policies regarding the use of animals in healthcare facilities, including animal-assisted activities, service animals, research animals and personal pet visitation in acute care hospitals. The guidance was published online in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
	Video: Are e-cigarettes safer than the real thing? Electronic cigarettes have exploded in popularity in recent months. People have turned to "vaping" as an alternative to puffing on the real thing. But is that vapor you're inhaling any safer than taking a drag on a cigarette?
Case study: Nebraska's Ebola isolation and decontamination approach The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit (NBU), located at the Nebraska Medical Center, has shared its protocol for Ebola patient discharge, handling a patient's body after death and environmental disinfection in the March issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
	ASPS: Cosmetic procedures increased 3 percent in 2014 (HealthDay)—According to a new report, 15.6 million cosmetic procedures, including both minimally-invasive and surgical, were performed in the United States in 2014, an increase of 3 percent since 2013. The report was issued by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
New FDA official inherits raft of projects, challenges One of the nation's leading medical researchers joined the Food and Drug Administration on Monday, taking on the agency's No. 2 leadership job at a critical juncture for prescription drugs, medical devices and tobacco products.
	Improving diagnosis of coronary artery disease in women—recommendations of a national expert panel Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in women often presents with different types of symptoms than in men and can be challenging to diagnose due to a variety of factors. A national panel of experts convened to review the latest evidence regarding CAD in women, diagnostic approaches, and new types of tests and technologies. Their findings and policy recommendations are published in an article in Population Health Management. The article is available Open Access on the Population Health Management website.
Federal study: Foster kids struggle to get health screenings Some foster children are not getting their required medical screenings even though the visits are paid for by Medicaid, federal health investigators warn in a study released Monday.
Study highlights benefits of screening for heart disease in men with erectile dysfunction New research reveals that screening for cardiovascular disease in men presenting with erectile dysfunction may be a cost-effective intervention for preventing both cardiovascular disease and, over the longer term, erectile dysfunction.
New research aims to refine increasingly popular plastic surgery procedures Two of the fastest-growing plastic surgery procedures are gluteoplasty or "butt augmentation," to improve the appearance of the buttocks; and labiaplasty to address cosmetic and functional concerns with the vagina. New insights into the use and outcomes of these procedures are presented in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
	What makes some women able to resist or recover psychologically from assault-related trauma? In a study of 159 women who had been exposed to at least one assault-related potentially traumatic event, 30% developed major depressive disorder, which may be attributed to self-blame common to survivors of assault. Fewer women (21%) developed chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.
Understanding lung disease in aboriginal Australians A new study has confirmed that Aboriginal Australians have low forced vital capacity—or the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after taking the deepest breath possible. The finding may account for the increased overall impact of lung disease among Aboriginal people in Australia that has previously been attributed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, also known as emphysema).
Sleep in America poll finds pain a significant challenge when it comes to Americans' sleep A new poll by the National Sleep Foundation finds that pain is a key factor in the gap between the amount of sleep Americans say they need and the amount they're getting - an average 42 minute sleep debt for those with chronic pain and 14 minutes for those who've suffered from acute pain in the past week.
	UN warns against complacency as Ebola fight enters new phase The United Nations is urging donors, organizations and countries fighting Ebola in West Africa not to give in to complacency as the death toll from the virus climbs toward 10,000.

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