ScienceDaily: Top News

---

• New oral diabetes drugs may also protect patients' kidney health
• 'Ecosystem canaries' provide early warning signs of catastrophic changes to ecosystems
• Pacific sea level predicts global temperature changes
• In cells, some oxidants are needed
• Paleontologists discover major T. rex fossil
• Study confirms long-term effects of 'chemobrain' in mice
• Fruit flies could be key to fighting cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus
• An unexpected finding: Rare iodine polymer discovery is key to starch-iodine mystery
• Over-the-counter laser pointers a threat to eyesight
• Gallstone disease may increase heart disease risk
• Using nature's recipe to create mother of pearl
• Modifying a living genome with genetic equivalent of 'search and replace'
• How genomic sequencing may be widening racial disparities in cancer care
• More evidence that 'healthy obesity' may be a myth

New oral diabetes drugs may also protect patients' kidney health Posted: 18 Aug 2016 06:29 PM PDT In a clinical trial of patients with type 2 diabetes, canagliflozin (a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor) slowed kidney function decline to a greater extent than glimepiride (a sulfonylurea), while having similar blood sugar–lowering effects, report investigators.

'Ecosystem canaries' provide early warning signs of catastrophic changes to ecosystems Posted: 18 Aug 2016 06:28 PM PDT 'Ecosystem canaries' can provide early warning signals of large, potentially catastrophic, changes or tipping points in ecosystems, say researchers. Like canaries that coal miners used to check for poisonous gasses deep underground, 'ecosystem canaries' are species that are often the first to disappear from a stressed ecosystem. Their vanishing can be linked to changes in the functioning of ecosystems, which can serve as a warning that a tipping point is approaching.

Pacific sea level predicts global temperature changes Posted: 18 Aug 2016 06:27 PM PDT Sea level changes in the Pacific Ocean can be used to estimate future global surface temperatures, according to a new paper. Scientists knew both the rate at which global surface temperature is rising and sea level in the Pacific varied, but had not connected the two phenomena. The researchers estimate by the end of 2016, average surface temperature will increase up to 0.5 F (0.28 C) more than in 2014.

In cells, some oxidants are needed Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Some studies are showing that reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules sometimes can aid in maintaining health -- findings now boosted by a surprising discovery from the researchers.

Paleontologists discover major T. rex fossil Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Paleontologists have discovered a Tyrannosaurus rex, including a very complete skull. The find, which paleontologists estimate to be about 20 percent of the animal, includes vertebrae, ribs, hips and lower jaw bones.

Study confirms long-term effects of 'chemobrain' in mice Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer have long complained of lingering cognitive impairments after treatment. These effects are referred to as 'chemobrain,' a feeling of mental fogginess. A new study reports long-lasting cognitive impairments in mice when they are administered a chemotherapy regimen used to treat breast cancer in humans.

Fruit flies could be key to fighting cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the US and has been identified as a cause of cancer in women. A team of researchers has completed studies on fruit flies with a condition that mimics a form of HPV-induced cancer. The fly models they developed may help scientists understand the underlying mechanism by which HPV can cause cancer.

An unexpected finding: Rare iodine polymer discovery is key to starch-iodine mystery Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT In the pursuit of a new class of photovoltaic materials, researchers happened upon an entirely different discovery that addresses a centuries-old mystery of chemistry: Why does an iodine solution turn blue-black when starch is added to the mix? A rare iodine polymer discovery is key to the starch-iodine mystery, say scientists.

Over-the-counter laser pointers a threat to eyesight Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT Some laser pointers that can be bought over the counter are unsafe to the point that they can cause blindness, report researchers. Now they are calling on government to consider banning green lasers. In the meantime, they are recommending authorities to implement stringent testing and quality control.

Gallstone disease may increase heart disease risk Posted: 18 Aug 2016 01:59 PM PDT A history of gallstone disease was linked to a 23 percent increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Preventing gallstone disease may also benefit heart health, say researchers.

Using nature's recipe to create mother of pearl Posted: 18 Aug 2016 11:59 AM PDT Researchers have created a synthetic nacre remarkably similar to the natural material, which is also known as mother of pearl, though their synthetic version forms in weeks instead of months or years.

Modifying a living genome with genetic equivalent of 'search and replace' Posted: 18 Aug 2016 11:59 AM PDT Researchers have made further progress on the path to fully rewriting the genome of living bacteria. Such a recoded organism, once available, could feature functionality not seen in nature. It could also make the bacteria cultivated in pharmaceutical and other industries immune to viruses, saving billions of dollars of losses due to viral contamination.

How genomic sequencing may be widening racial disparities in cancer care Posted: 18 Aug 2016 10:15 AM PDT As scientists learn more about which genetic mutations are driving different types of cancer, they're targeting treatments to small numbers of patients with the potential for big payoffs in improved outcomes. But even as we learn more about these driver mutations, a new study suggests the science might be leaving racial and ethnic minorities behind.

More evidence that 'healthy obesity' may be a myth Posted: 18 Aug 2016 10:11 AM PDT The term 'healthy obesity' has gained traction over the past 15 years, but scientists have recently questioned its very existence. A new study provides further evidence against the notion of a healthy obese state, revealing that white fat tissue samples from obese individuals classified as either metabolically healthy or unhealthy actually show nearly identical, abnormal changes in gene expression in response to insulin stimulation.

You are subscribed to email updates from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States