Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Will earlier springs throw nature out of step?
The recent trend towards earlier UK springs and summers has been accelerating, according to a study published today in the scientific journal Global Change Biology. The collaborative study, involving scientists from 12 UK research institutions, universities and conservation organisations, is the most comprehensive and rigorous assessment so far of long-term changes in the seasonal timing of biological events across marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments in the UK.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Drug shows promise for Huntington's disease
An early stage clinical trial of the experimental drug dimebon (latrepirdine) in people with Huntington's disease appears to be safe and may improve cognition. That is the conclusion of a study published today in the Archives of Neurology.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Study reveals new details on the dangers of third-hand smoke
Nicotine in third-hand smoke, the residue from tobacco smoke that clings to virtually all surfaces long after a cigarette has been extinguished, reacts with the common indoor air pollutant nitrous acid to produce dangerous carcinogens. This new potential health hazard was revealed in a multi-institutional study led by researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Gadgets not related to teenagers' brain pain
Use of most electronic media is not associated with headaches, at least not in adolescents. A study of 1,025 13- to 17-year-olds, published in the open-access journal BMC Neurology, found no association between the use of computer games, mobile phones or television and the occurrence of headaches or migraines. However, listening to one or two hours of music every day was associated with a pounding head.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Depressed people feel more gray than blue
People with anxiety and depression are most likely to use a shade of gray to represent their mental state. Researchers writing in the open-access journal BMC Medical Research Methodology describe the development of a color chart, the Manchester Color Wheel, which can be used to study people's preferred pigment in relation to their state of mind.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
High-altitude climbs may cause corneal swelling, but do not appear to affect vision
Swelling commonly occurs in the corneas of mountain climbers, but does not appear to affect vision at altitudes of up to 6,300 meters (about 20,670 feet), according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Glaucoma medications may be associated with reduced risk of death over 4-year period
Glaucoma patients who take medication for the condition appear to have a reduced likelihood of death, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Marijuana ineffective as an Alzheimer's treatment: UBC-Vancouver Coastal Health research
The benefits of marijuana in tempering or reversing the effects of Alzheimer's disease have been challenged in a new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Medication appears well-tolerated, beneficial in Huntington's disease patients
A medication previously studied in patients with Alzheimer's disease (latrepirdine) appears well tolerated and may improve thinking, learning and memory skills among individuals with Huntington's disease, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Hypertension may predict dementia in older adults with certain cognitive deficits
High blood pressure appears to predict the progression to dementia in older adults with impaired executive functions (ability to organize thoughts and make decisions) but not in those with memory dysfunction, according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Lower detection of prostate cancer with PSA screening in US than in a European randomized trial
Fewer prostate cancers were detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in the US than in a European randomized trial because of lower screening sensitivity, according to a new brief communication published online February 8 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Usual care often not consistent with clinical guidelines for low back pain
Australian general practitioners often treat patients with low back pain in a manner that does not appear to match the care endorsed by international clinical guidelines, according to a report in the Feb. 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Study examines course and treatment of unexplained chest pain
Fewer than half of individuals who have "non-specific" chest pain (not explained by a well-known condition) experience relief from symptoms following standard medical care, according to a report in the Feb. 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In addition, one-tenth of those with persistent chest pain undergo potentially unnecessary diagnostic testing.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Brown biologist solves mystery of tropical grasses' origin
Brown University biologist Erika Edwards and a colleague have found that rainfall, not temperature, was the primary trigger for the evolutionary beginnings of C4 tropical grasses. Their results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Caltech neuroscientists discover brain area responsible for fear of losing money
Neuroscientists at the California Institute of Technology and their colleagues have tied the human aversion to losing money to a specific structure in the brain -- the amygdala.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Patients 'unafraid' to gamble highlight role of amygdala in decision-making
Two patients with rare lesions to the brain have provided direct of evidence of how we make decisions -- and what makes us dislike the thought of losing money.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
JCI online early table of contents: Feb. 8, 2010
This release contains summaries, links to PDFs, and contact information for the following newsworthy papers to be published online, Feb. 8, 2010, in the JCI: Marker of Ewing sarcoma: potential new drug target?; Enhancing arrest of cell growth to treat cancer in mice; New approach to treating the kidney disease Alport syndrome?; Role for the protein HIF-2-alpha in Chuvash polycythemia; Rab25: a suppressor of tumor formation in intestines?; and Complete chemokine profile of a cell.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
New CATCH rule to determine need for CT scans in children with minor head injury
A new tool may help standardize the use of computed tomography (CT scans) in children with minor head injury and help reduce the number of scans, according to a new study in CMAJ.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Marker of Ewing sarcoma: Potential new drug target?
Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is a bone tumor that affects children and young adults. The protein CD99 is highly expressed in most cases of EWS, but its function in the disease is unknown. Now, researchers have identified a crucial role for CD99 in the development of EWS and suggest that targeting CD99 or its downstream molecular pathway may be a new therapeutic approach for EWS.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Nicotine replacement therapy is over-promoted since most ex-smokers quit unassisted
Health authorities should emphasize the positive message that the most successful method used by most ex-smokers is unassisted cessation, despite the promotion of cessation drugs by pharmaceutical companies and many tobacco control advocates.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Enhancing arrest of cell growth to treat cancer in mice
New research, to be published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, has identified a new type of cellular senescence (i.e., irreversible arrest of cell growth) and determined a way to enhance it to suppress prostate tumor development and growth in mice. These data suggest that enhancing this process might provide a new approach for cancer prevention and therapy.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Method of the future uses single-cell imaging to identify gene interactions
Cellular imaging offers a wealth of data about how cells respond to stimuli, but harnessing this technique to study biological systems is a daunting challenge. In a study published online in Genome Research, researchers have developed a novel method of interpreting data from single-cell images to identify genetic interactions within biological networks, offering a glimpse into the future of high-throughput cell imaging analysis.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Antiretroviral therapy associated with increase in pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa
In PLoS Medicine this week a study conducted in a multi-country HIV treatment program in sub-Saharan Africa has found that pregnancy rates increase in HIV-infected women after they start antiretroviral therapy.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Soft drink consumption may increase risk of pancreatic cancer
Increased sugar intake may stimulate tumor growth through effects of insulin.Pancreatic cancer rates increased nearly twofold over the past several decades.Drinking two or more soft drinks a week led to an 87 percent increased risk.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Research reveals link between beer and bone health
A new study suggests that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density. Details of this study are available in the February issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Society of Chemical Industry.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Mediterranean diet may lower risk of brain damage that causes thinking problems
A Mediterranean diet may help people avoid the small areas of brain damage that can lead to problems with thinking and memory, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10-17, 2010.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Financial hardship contributes to diagnosis anxiety
Women with medium or low levels of income are more susceptible to anxiety and depression after ductal carcinoma in situ diagnosis.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Medicare reimbursement change meant to save money has opposite effect
Increased Medicare payments to physicians for outpatient surgeries for bladder cancer have led to a dramatic rise in the number of these procedures being performed and an overall increase in cost to the health care system.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
UC Davis study confirms link between advanced maternal age and autism
Advanced maternal age is linked to a significantly elevated risk of having a child with autism, regardless of the father's age, according to an exhaustive study of all births in California during the 1990s by UC Davis Health System researchers.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Family meals, adequate sleep and limited TV may lower childhood obesity
A new national study suggests that preschool-aged children are likely to have a lower risk for obesity if they regularly engage in one or more of three specific household routines: eating dinner as a family, getting adequate sleep and limiting their weekday television viewing time. The study showed that 4-year-olds living in homes with all three routines had an almost 40 percent lower prevalence of obesity than did children living in homes that practiced none of these routines.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Metabolite common among cancers
A study published online on Feb. 8 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine reports that several distinct mutations found in a subset of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia result in excess production of the same metabolite.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
The private sale of drugs in public hospitals
Governments are under increasing pressure to provide access to expensive new drugs. Canadian patients who want access to drugs that are not publicly insured are seeking to pay for these drugs within public hospitals, states an article in CMAJ.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Hand-grip strength associated with poor survival
Poor or declining hand-grip strength in the oldest old is associated with poor survival and may be used as a tool to assess mortality, found an article in CMAJ. The fastest growing segment of the elderly population is the group older than 85 years, classified as the oldest old.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
More smokers than non-smokers accept HPV vaccination for their daughters
A parent's existing health habits or behaviors, like cigarette smoking, may influence the likelihood that they will have their daughters vaccinated against HPV.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Morality research sheds light on the origins of religion
The details surrounding the emergence and evolution of religion have not been clearly established and remain a source of much debate among scholars. Now, an article published by Cell Press in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences on Feb. 8 brings a new understanding to this long-standing discussion by exploring the fascinating link between morality and religion.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
A potent suppressor of endometrial cancer is revealed
Treatment of endometrial cancer has not advanced significantly in 30 years and there are no screening tests to promote early detection. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Harvard Medical School developed a new approach to specifically target genetic changes to the endometrial cells in mice. Using this new technique, they show that loss of an emerging tumor suppressor causes abnormal growth and widespread malignancy of cells lining the uterus.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Mice shed new light on causes of childhood deafness
Mice with a genetic change that causes progressive hearing loss in children, also have hearing loss because sound waves are not processed properly. The ear's attempts to compensate for hearing loss may, ironically, cause further damage leading to complete hearing loss. These mice will allow detailed research into many forms of deafness, and bring closer the prospects of therapies to slow or halt hearing loss in both children and adults.
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Few women take tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer
Less than a quarter of one percent of women took tamoxifen in 2000 and 2005 to prevent breast cancer.Further research is recommended to explore explanations for the drug's low use.
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Conservation from space: Landscape diversity helps to conserve insects
Rugged, hilly landscapes with a range of different habitat types can help maintain more stable butterfly populations and thus aid their conservation, according to new findings published today in the journal Ecology Letters. The research, carried out by scientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Butterfly Conservation and the University of York, has implications for how we might design landscapes better to help conserve species.
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Women with gout at greater risk of heart attack than men
Women with gout are at greater risk of a heart attack than men with the disease, indicates research published ahead of print in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Estrogen-only HRT may increase risk of asthma after menopause
Estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of developing asthma after the menopause, suggests a large scale study published ahead of print in the journal Thorax.
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Scientists identify first genetic variant linked to biological aging in humans
A new discovery has important implications for the understanding of cancer and age-associated diseases.
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Virus-free technique enables Stanford scientists to easily make stem cells pluripotent
Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine, say scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Unlike other commonly used techniques, the method, which is based on standard molecular biology practices, does not use viruses to introduce genes into the cells or permanently alter a cell's genome.
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Inhibiting serotonin in gut could cure osteoporosis
An investigational drug that inhibits serotonin in the gut, administered orally once daily, effectively cured osteoporosis in mice and rats, reports a new paper in Nature Medicine. Serotonin in the gut has been shown in recent research to stall bone formation. The finding could lead to new therapies that build new bone; most osteoporosis drugs only prevent the breakdown of old bone.
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Gene that improves quality of reprogrammed stem cells identified by Singapore scientists
In Nature, Singapore scientists report that Tbx3 significantly improves quality of induced pluripotent stem cells.
Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Industrial cleaner linked to increased risk of Parkinson's disease
Workers exposed to tricholorethylene, a chemical once widely used to clean metal such as auto parts, may be at a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10-17, 2010.
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Study finds higher risk of stillbirth in women with fibroids
In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that show that there is an increased risk of intrauterine fetal death, commonly known as stillbirth, in women who have fibroids.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Infection-fighting antibodies made in plants as effective as costlier conventional version
The first head-to-head comparison of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies produced from plants versus the same antibodies produced from mammalian cells has shown that plant-produced antibodies can fight infection equally well. Scientists conducted the comparison as a test of the potential for treating disease in developing nations with the significantly less expensive plant-based production technique.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
February Geology and GSA Today Highlights
GEOLOGY presents studies of mineralized microfossils in the Yukon; what the Great Barrier Reef tells us about sea level; a new find in Japan of fossilized iridescent leaf-beetle wings; the puzzle of Ediacara biota; mammalian fossils in Mongolia; a dust bowl long before the Dust Bowl in the North American Great Plains; fish-eating semi-aquatic spinosaurs; evidence against the Lilliput Effect; and geochemical mapping of Mars. GSA TODAY explains how rock is converted to soil.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Princeton scientist makes a leap in quantum computing
Princeton University's Jason Petta has demonstrated a method that alters the properties of a lone electron without disturbing the trillions of electrons in its immediate surroundings. The feat is essential to the development of future varieties of superfast computers with near-limitless capacities for data.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Youth who self-identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual at higher suicide risk, say Montreal researchers
Mental health professionals have long-known that gay, lesbian and bisexual teens face significantly elevated risks of mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts and suicidal attempts. However, a group of McGill University researchers in Montreal has now come to the conclusion that self-identity is the crucial risk-factor, rather than actual sexual behaviors. Their results were published in February in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Blacks with MS have more severe symptoms, decline faster than whites, new study shows
Fewer African Americans than Caucasians develop multiple sclerosis, statistics show, but their disease progresses more rapidly, and they don't respond as well to therapies, a new study by neurology researchers at the University at Buffalo has found.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Renewable oil companies
The entry of oil companies into the realm of renewable energy could present major obstacles for the development of a sustainable economy that is not based on carbon resources, according to a report in the International Journal of Green Economics.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Bioethics memory aid can help assess patient decision-making capacity in medical emergencies
Physicians in training and bioethicists at Johns Hopkins have created an easy-to-remember checklist to help medical students and clinicians quickly assess a patient's decision-making capacity in an emergency.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Sweet! -- sugar plays key role in cell division
Using an elaborate sleuthing system they developed to probe how cells manage their own division, Johns Hopkins scientists have discovered that common but hard-to-see sugar switches are partly in control.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Nearly half of Americans believe H1N1 outbreak is over, poll finds
Poll shows almost half of Americans believe H1N1 flu outbreak is over and levels of concern about getting sick continue to decline. After initial period of vaccine shortage, 70 percent of adults said there is now enough vaccine in their community for everyone who wants it. More than half of parents either got the vaccine for their children or intend to. Many adults said they have not gotten the vaccine and do not intend to.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Carnegie Mellon first to measure energy released from a virus during infection
For the first time, Carnegie Mellon University physicist Alex Evilevitch has directly measured the energy associated with the expulsion of viral DNA, a pivotal discovery toward fully understanding the physical mechanisms that control viral infection and designing drugs to interfere with the process.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
NTU researchers complete the world's first in-depth study of the malaria parasite genome
Groundbreaking research done at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University's School of Biological Sciences could lead to the development of more potent drugs or a vaccine for malaria. Assistant Professor Zbynek Bozdech and his team of researchers, including graduate students and post-doctorals from SBS' Division of Genomics & Genetics, have scored a world first in successfully using transcriptional profiling to uncover hitherto unknown gene expression (activity) patterns in malaria.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
MWC 2010: FlashFind -- lightning-fast search on mobile devices
Fraunhofer researchers will be presenting fast and easy-to-use search technologies for mobile devices at the 2010 Mobile World Congress.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Early artificial pancreas trials show benefits for kids, teenagers with diabetes overnight
In a landmark study in children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes, JDRF-funded researchers at the University of Cambridge showed that using a first-generation artificial pancreas system overnight can lower the risk of low blood sugar emergencies while sleeping, and at the same time improve diabetes control.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Barley protein concentrate could replace fishmeal in aquaculture feeds
Agricultural Research Service scientists and Montana Microbial Products of Butte, Mont., have developed a barley protein concentrate that could be fed to trout and other commercially produced fish.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Health stories by experts more credible than blogs
Health information written by a doctor is rated as more credible when it appears on a Web site than in a blog or a homepage, according to a study of college students.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Seismology highlights from BSSA February issue
A new study identifies earthquakes through July 2007 that have produced 100 of the strongest peak accelerations and 100 of the strongest peak velocities ever recorded.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Road mapping could be key to curing TB
The complex chain of metabolic events in bacteria that lead to fatal diseases such as tuberculosis may be better understood using mathematical models, according to an article published in the February issue of Microbiology Today.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Clinical course of subepithelial lesions
A research team from South Korea determined the natural history and provided a basis of surveillance of incidentally-detected, asymptomatic subepithelial lesions. Their study showed that most small subepithelial lesions do not change, and regular follow-up with endoscopy may be considered, especially for lesions < 1 cm in diameter.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Shape of Barrett's epithelium effects prevalence of erosive esophagitis
A research team from Japan conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the correlation of the shape and length of Barrett's epithelium with erosive esophagitis. They found that flame-like rather than lotus-like Barrett's epithelium, and Barrett's epithelium with a longer segment were more strongly associated with erosive esophagitis.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Distinct demographic profiles between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
A research team from United Kingdom conducted a large study on more than 2900 people who were hospitalized with severe Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in Wales. They found CD and UC have distinct demographic profiles. The higher prevalence of hospitalized CD in more deprived areas may reflect higher prevalence and higher hospital dependency.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Understanding past and future climate
The notion that scientists understand how changes in Earth's orbit affect climate well enough for estimating long-term natural climate trends that underlie any anthropogenic climate change is challenged by findings published this week. The new research was conducted by a team led by Professor Eelco Rohling of the University of Southampton's School of Ocean and Earth Science hosted at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Carbonate veins reveal chemistry of ancient seawater
The chemical composition of our oceans is not constant but has varied significantly over geological time. In a study published this week in Science, researchers describe a novel method for reconstructing past ocean chemistry using calcium carbonate veins that precipitate from seawater-derived fluids in rocks beneath the seafloor. The research was led by scientists from the University of Southampton's School of Ocean and Earth Science hosted at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Informatics experts contribute to special Health Affairs edition on e-health in the developing world
Five articles, whose lead or senior authors are nationally known informatics leaders and members of the American Medical Informatics Association, appear in the February 2010 issue of Health Affairs and provide a glimpse into the future of health care delivery in an increasingly information-driven era of health care in the developing world.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
How the butterflies got their spots
How two butterfly species have evolved exactly the same striking wing color and pattern has intrigued biologists since Darwin's day. Now, scientists at Cambridge have found "hot spots" in the butterflies' genes that they believe will explain one of the most extraordinary examples of mimicry in the natural world.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Yale researchers may have uncovered the mechanism by which progesterone prevents preterm birth
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine believe they may have discovered how the hormone progesterone acts to prevent preterm birth. The findings will be presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) in Chicago by Errol Norwitz, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Screening for short cervix could improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce preterm birth
Using ultrasound to screen all pregnant women for signs of a shortening cervix improves pregnancy outcomes and is a cost-effective way to reduce preterm birth, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a new study.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
News brief: HPV vaccines may reduce a wide range of genital diseases
High-coverage human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations among adolescents and young women may result in a rapid reduction of genital warts, cervical cell abnormalities, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, researchers report in a new study published online Feb. 5 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Some of these genital abnormalities are precursors of cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
For HIV-infected children, quality of caregiver relationship is crucial
Researchers examined the effects of HIV infection and being raised in institutions on the development of 58 infected and uninfected Ukrainian 4-year-olds. Some of the children lived in institutions from shortly after birth while others lived with their biological families. Results show that the quality of the relationships between the children and their caregivers had a bigger impact on children's physical growth and cognitive performance than the presence of the HIV infection.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Early foster care boosts quality of institutionalized children's ties to caregivers
A new study of young children in orphanages in Bucharest, Romania, has found that children placed in foster care before age 2 were more apt to develop secure attachments to their foster parents than those who entered foster care after age 2. In contrast, the study found that children cared for in institutions who weren't placed in foster care were more likely to have unusual and abnormal patterns of attachments to their caregivers.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Length of time in institutional care may influence children's learning
A new study shows that children adopted early from foster care didn't differ from children who were raised in their birth families but that children adopted from institutional care performed worse than those raised in families on tests measuring visual memory and attention, learning visual information, and impulse control. Findings suggest that children make tremendous advances in cognitive functioning once they reach their adoptive families but the impact of early deprivation is difficult to reverse completely.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
High sensitivity to stress isn't always bad for children
Researchers looked at 338 kindergarteners, as well as their teachers and families, to determine how family adversity and biological reactivity contribute to healthy development. They found that children who had significantly stronger biological reactions to a series of mildly stressful tasks designed to look like challenges in their daily lives were more affected by their family contexts, both bad and good.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Moms' depression in pregnancy tied to antisocial behavior in teens
Researchers studying 120 British youth from inner-city areas found that mothers who became depressed when pregnant were four times as likely to have children who were violent at 16. This was true for both boys and girls. The mothers' depression, in turn, was predicted by their own aggressive and disruptive behavior as teens.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Early abuse tied to more depression in children
A study of 500 low-income children ages 7 to 13, about half of whom had been abused and/or neglected, aimed to find out whether abuse early in life and feelings of depression affected cortisol ("stress hormone") levels. Study results suggest that there are different subtypes of depression, with atypical cortisol regulation occurring among children who were abused before age 5.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Moms influence how children develop advanced cognitive functions
Executive functioning is a set of advanced cognitive functions -- such as the ability to control impulses, remember things, and show mental flexibility -- that help us plan and monitor what we do to reach goals. A new study of 80 infant-mother pairs finds that the ways moms act when they're playing and solving puzzles with their babies can explain some of the differences in children's development of executive functioning.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Study finds screening for spinal muscular atrophy not cost effective
In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting , in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that show that it is not cost effective to screen for spinal muscular atrophy.
Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Link between birth defect gastroschisis and the agricultural chemical atrazine found
In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting , in Chicago, researchers will unveil findings that demonstrate a link between the birth defect gastroschisis and the agricultural chemical atrazine.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Winning the war on weight
Co-author and Head of Monash University's Consumer Health Research Group Dr. Samantha Thomas said those in the severely obese category with a body mass index of more than 40, blamed themselves for their weight and often described themselves as at war with their bodies. Additionally, most felt blamed and ashamed by public health and education campaigns about obesity, which did little to actually help them address their weight.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
An answer to another of life's big questions
Monash University biochemists have described the process by which bacteria developed into more complex cells and found this crucial step happened much earlier in the evolutionary timeline than previously thought.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Panel calls for reducing colorectal cancer deaths by striking down barriers to screening
An NIH state-of-the-science panel was convened this week to identify ways to further increase the use and quality of colorectal cancer screening in the United States. The panel found that the most important factors associated with being screened are having insurance coverage and access to a regular health care provider. Their recommendations highlighted the need to remove out-of-pocket costs for screening tests.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
New study finds possible source of beta cell destruction that leads to type 1 diabetes
Doctors at Eastern Virginia Medical School's Strelitz Diabetes Center have been have been studying the role of the enzyme 12-Lipoxygenase (12-LO) in the development of type 1 diabetes. They hope that targeting this enzyme will hold the key to reversing the disease.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
ASTRO, ACR issue IGRT, SBRT guidelines
The American Society for Radiation Oncology and the American College of Radiology have released practice guidelines for image guided radiation therapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy in the February issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, the official journal of ASTRO.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Cyclone Oli reaches category 4 strength on its way to open waters
Oli has exploded in strength and as of February 4 it was a Category 4 cyclone with peak sustained winds of 132 mph (115 knots/213 km/hr). NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites observed Oli's clouds grow colder and rainfall become heavier over the last day. Residents of French Polynesia should watch for local weather advisories.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
GOES-P all fueled up
The GOES spacecraft continues its processing at the Astrotech Facility in Titusville, Fla., and fuel was loaded into the GOES-P spacecraft on Saturday, Jan. 30. The fuel will keep GOES-P in orbit for about 14 years.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Rice physicists kill cancer with 'nanobubbles'
Scientists at Rice University have discovered a way to use lasers and nanoparticles to identify and treat individual diseased cells with tiny vapor "nanobubbles." In research published in the journal Nanotechnology, the scientists described how to use the method to explode nanobubbles and kill cancer cells. In laboratory tests, they showed they could tune these nanobubbles for "theranostics," a combined approach that melds diagnosis and treatment into a single procedure.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
NIST's second 'quantum logic clock' based on aluminum ion is now world's most precise clock
Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have built an enhanced version of an experimental atomic clock based on a single aluminum atom that is now the world's most precise clock, more than twice as precise as the previous pacesetter based on a mercury atom. The new aluminum clock would neither gain nor lose one second in about 3.7 billion years, according to measurements to be reported in Physical Review Letters.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
New ORNL system provides hybrid electric autos with power to spare
An advancement in hybrid electric vehicle technology is providing powerful benefits beyond transportation.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
'Zen' bats hit their target by not aiming at it
New research conducted at the University of Maryland's bat lab shows Egyptian fruit bats find a target by NOT aiming their guiding sonar directly at it. Instead, they alternately point the sound beam to either side of the target. The new findings by researchers from Maryland and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel suggest that this strategy optimizes the bats' ability to pinpoint the location of a target, but also makes it harder for them to detect a target in the first place.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Democratic, Republican presidents have had similar economic records, says political scientist
In his recent book "Unequal Democracy," noted Princeton political scientist Larry Bartels reaches the controversial conclusion that Democratic presidents have generally done a better job in handling the economy. As he sees it, Democrats have had a better record across the board. But James Campbell, a University at Buffalo professor of political science and widely published author on American politics, says Bartels is incorrect.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Ancient remains put teeth into Barker hypothesis
Ancient human teeth are telling secrets that may relate to modern-day health: Some stressful events that occurred early in development are linked to shorter life spans."Prehistoric remains are providing strong, physical evidence that people who acquired tooth enamel defects while in the womb or early childhood tended to die earlier, even if they survived to adulthood," says Emory anthropologist George Armelagos, who recently published the first summary of prehistoric evidence for the Barker hypothesis.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
More study needed to halt Illinois job slump, economist says
llinois is mired in a deep employment recession that could linger for years unless the state unravels the roots of its nearly decade-long job slump, a new study by a University of Illinois economist warns.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Yes, ecology shapes evolution, but guppies show reverse also true
In the natural stream communities of Trinidad, guppy populations live close together, but evolve differently. Upstream, fewer predators mean more guppies but less food for each; they grow slowly and larger, reproduce later and less, and die older. Downstream, where predators thrive, guppies eat more, grow rapidly, stay small, reproduce quickly and die younger.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
$32 million CU-Boulder instrument package to study space weather set for NASA launch Feb. 9
A $32 million University of Colorado at Boulder instrument package set for launch Feb. 9 by NASA should help scientists better understand the violent effects of the sun on near-Earth space weather that can affect satellites, power grids, ground communications systems and even astronauts and aircraft crews.
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST
Tests showing smokers their individual risk of future disease will help them quit, says paper
Personalized risk assessment has been the mainstay of coronary artery disease prevention and has resulted in significant mortality reduction over the last decade. Such an approach could be equally applied to smoking cessation, now that we have predictive risk assessment tools that identify those at greatest risk of lung-related illness from smoking.