الجمعة، 22 نوفمبر 2013

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News


Dreading pain can be worse than pain itself

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 03:42 PM PST

Faced with inevitable pain, most people would choose to get it out of the way as soon as possible, according to a new study.

Does obesity reshape our sense of taste?

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 12:49 PM PST

Obesity may alter the way we taste at the most fundamental level: by changing how our tongues react to different foods. Biologists report that being severely overweight impaired the ability of mice to detect sweets.

How flu evolves to escape immunity

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:23 AM PST

Scientists have identified a potential way to improve future flu vaccines after discovering that seasonal flu typically escapes immunity from vaccines with as little as a single amino acid substitution.

Two Y genes can replace the entire Y chromosome for assisted reproduction in mice

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST

Live mouse offspring can be generated with assisted reproduction using germ cells from males with the Y chromosome contribution limited to only two genes: the testis determinant factor Sry and the spermatogonial proliferation factor Eif2s3y.

First Class 1 evidence for cognitive rehabilitation in MS

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:56 AM PST

Researchers published the results of the MEMREHAB Trial, providing the first Class I evidence for the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis.

Research sheds light on nerve regeneration following spinal cord injury

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:02 AM PST

Researchers have discovered how the sea lamprey, an eel-like fish, regrows the neurons that comprise the long nerve "highways" that link the brain to the spinal cord. Findings may guide future efforts to promote recovery in humans who have suffered spinal cord injuries.

Genomic variant associated with sun sensitivity, freckles identified

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST

Researchers have identified a genomic variant strongly associated with sensitivity to the sun, brown hair, blue eyes -- and freckles.

Newborn babies have built-in body awareness ability

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:58 AM PST

The ability to differentiate your own body from others is a fundamental skill, critical for humans' ability to interact with their environments and the people in them. Now, researchers provide some of the first evidence that newborn babies enter the world with the essential mechanisms for this kind of body awareness already in place.

Newly identified brown fat stem cells hold possibilities for treating diabetes, obesity

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:56 AM PST

The recent identification of brown fat stem cells in adult humans may lead to new treatments for heart and endocrine disorders, according to a new study.

Two human proteins found to affect how 'jumping gene' gets around

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:56 AM PST

Using a new method to catch elusive "jumping genes" in the act, researchers have found two human proteins that are used by one type of DNA to replicate itself and move from place to place. The discovery breaks new ground in understanding the arms race between a jumping gene driven to colonize new areas of the human genome and cells working to limit the risk posed by such volatile bits of DNA.

Study shows displaying lab costs upfront can save money

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 08:18 AM PST

Health care costs continue to go up, and physicians control more than 80 percent of those costs. Could providing physicians with real-time information about the cost of what they order help to restrain excessive testing?

Insight on cell migration, movement of cancer cells

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 08:18 AM PST

The migration of groups of cells in order to form tissues is common during the development of an organism. Discovering how these multiple movements are achieved is not only crucial to understand the basic principles of development, but provides new information and insights for further research into processes associated with the spread of cancer.

Stress, isolation take toll on those under 50 with HIV; older people fare better

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 07:51 AM PST

Researchers were surprised to learn that people younger than 50 years old with HIV feel more isolated and stressed than older people with the disease. They expected their study to reveal just the opposite.

Ultrasound, nanoparticles may help diabetics avoid the needle

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 07:51 AM PST

A new nanotechnology-based technique for regulating blood sugar in diabetics may give patients the ability to release insulin painlessly using a small ultrasound device, allowing them to go days between injections -- rather than using needles to give themselves multiple insulin injections each day.

New brain cells for Parkinson's and Huntington's patients? Attractants prevent nerve cell migration

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 06:13 AM PST

Medical researchers have been working toward implanting nerve precursor cells in the brains of patients with Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. It was hoped that these cells would assume the function of the cells that have died off. However, the implanted nerve cells frequently did not migrate as hoped, rather they hardly move from the site. Scientists have now discovered an important cause of this: Attractants secreted by the precursor cells prevent the maturing nerve cells from migrating into the brain.

What justifies cellular death?

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 06:13 AM PST

Science has demonstrated that certain deaths provide advantages to the harmonious development of an organism. The majority of cell death events take place towards the end of fetal life and the beginning of childhood, because its then when neural circuits and mechanisms that were used during gestation and are no longer needed get obliterated.

New crizotinib side-effect: Reduced measures of kidney function during treatment

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 06:12 AM PST

A study shows that using crizotinib to treat ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) appears to reduce kidney function when assessed by one of the most commonly used clinical methods.

Nut consumption linked to reduced death rate, study suggests

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 04:21 PM PST

In the largest study of its kind, people who ate a daily handful of nuts were 20 percent less likely to die from any cause over a 30-year period than were those who didn't consume nuts, say scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Harvard School of Public Health

Tiny antisense molecules increase 'good cholesterol' levels in obese primates

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 11:37 AM PST

A strategy to increase levels of beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has been shown for the first time to be effective in non-human primates. The approach uses tiny antisense sequences to block the action of microRNAs that would otherwise inhibit a protein required for generation of HDL, the "good cholesterol" that helps remove harmful lipids from the body.

'Undruggable' mutation meets its match

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:34 AM PST

Researchers have identified and exploited a newfound "Achilles heel" in K-Ras, the most commonly mutated oncogene in human cancers. K-Ras has earned a reputation as being "undruggable" because scientific researchers have failed to design a drug that successfully targets the mutant gene. The weak point is a newly discovered "pocket," or binding site, identified a team that has designed a chemical compound that fits inside this pocket and inhibits the normal activity of mutant K-Ras, but leaves the normal protein untouched.

Hormone therapy could enhance therapeutic effect of head, facial bone grafts

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:20 AM PST

Bone grafts, which are used to treat head injuries and birth defects, still pose major medical challenges, but scientists are reporting progress toward a new hormone therapy that could improve the outcomes of these surgeries.

Reducing salt in bread without losing saltiness, thanks to a texture trick

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:20 AM PST

Want to make bread taste pleasantly salty without adding more salt? Change the bread's texture so it is less dense, say scientists. They report that simply making the pores, or holes, larger can make people perceive bread as having saltier taste. The process could become a new strategy for reducing salt intake, which is a risk factor for high blood pressure and heart disease.

Mental stress, heart disease: Stronger presence in women under 50

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST

Researchers have found that women younger than 50 with a recent heart attack are more likely to experience restricted blood flow to the heart (myocardial ischemia) in response to psychological stress.

Smokers who quit cut heart disease risk faster than previous estimates

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 08:19 AM PST

Certain smokers who quit can reduce their risk of heart disease to the level of never-smokers sooner than previously thought. Some former smokers may reduce their risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death in less than 15 years.

Blood vessel tangles in brain best left alone, study suggests

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST

Patients with a condition that causes blood vessels in the brain to form an abnormal tangle could be helped by the findings of new research.

Top hospitals reduce readmissions by preventing complications

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST

Checking back into the hospital within 30 days of discharge is not only bad news for patients, but also for hospitals, which now face financial penalties for high readmissions. The key to reducing readmissions may be focusing on the whole patient, rather than the specific conditions that caused their hospitalizations, according to a new study.

Introducing solid foods while continuing to breast feed could prevent child allergies

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:35 AM PST

Introducing solid food with breast milk after the 17th week of birth could reduce food allergies in babies, according to research. The research suggests that giving the baby solid food beside breast feeding helps it develop a better, stronger immune system to fight food allergies.

Cows chomping on fresh grass, red clover produce omega milk

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:04 AM PST

Fat is an important ingredient that has a material impact on the nutritional value, texture, taste, shelf-life and producer price of milk. However, milk products are a significant source of saturated fatty acids in the Western diet. How should dairy cattle be fed for their milk to contain more unsaturated fatty acids?

Rare disease yields clues about broader brain pathology

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:03 AM PST

Alexander disease is a devastating brain disease that almost nobody has heard of — unless someone in the family is afflicted with it. Alexander disease strikes young or old, and in children destroys white matter in the front of the brain. Many patients, especially those with early onset, have significant intellectual disabilities.

Probe measuring immune function can be used to determine nanoparticle dosage for patients

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 07:03 AM PST

The development of a probe to measure the body's immune function could lead to more accurate, individualized doses for cancer patients prescribed nanoparticle-based drugs, according to research.

Two-thirds of women who attempt natural delivery after a c-section are successful

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:14 AM PST

Almost two-thirds of women who attempt a natural delivery after having a caesarean section for their first birth are successful, according to a new study.

Size, connectivity of brain region linked to anxiety level in young children

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:14 AM PST

Researchers have shown that by measuring the size and connectivity of a part of the brain associated with processing emotion -- the amygdala -- they can predict the degree of anxiety a young child is experiencing in daily life.

First breast biopsy system offering real-time monitoring, guidance

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:14 AM PST

Breast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer among women. Just within the European Union, every 2.5 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and every 7.5 minutes a woman dies from the disease. It is estimated that about one in 12 women will develop the disease before the age of 75 years.

Older people recovering from hip fracture experience barriers for mobility at home

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:13 AM PST

About half of hip fracture patients reported barriers for mobility when entering the home or in the outdoor home environment. One year after the fracture, many people still experienced barriers, especially in the outdoor environment.

Amount of iron in blood can be measured using mobile phone

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 05:12 AM PST

Researchers have developed a smart material which changes color based on the amount of iron in a fluid, whether it be water, wine or blood serum. Afterwards, if the result is photographed with a digital camera such as those on mobile phones, the concentration of this metal can be quantified without the need for chemical analysis. Soon, it could be possible to find out whether a person has a blood iron deficiency or overload with a mere pinch of the finger and a mobile phone.

Researchers suggest China consider national flu vaccination plan with staggered timing

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:39 PM PST

China should tailor its influenza vaccination strategies to account for its three distinct flu regions, according to the first comprehensive study of the country's flu patterns conducted by a research team of Chinese and American scientists.

Bedtime aspirin may reduce risk of morning heart attack

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:36 PM PST

Taking aspirin at bedtime instead of in the morning might reduce acute heart events, according a new study.

Younger Hispanic women face higher risk of death from heart attack

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:36 PM PST

Younger Hispanic women face a higher risk of death in hospitals after a heart attack, are more likely to suffer from co-existing conditions such as diabetes, and are less likely to undergo percutaneous coronary interventions or coronary artery bypass surgery as compared with white women and men, according to research.

Older sedentary adults reduced injury to heart through moderate physical activity

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:36 PM PST

Moderate physical activity in sedentary older adults reduced the progression of injury to the heart, according to research.

Individuals who flush after drinking at higher risk of hypertension

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:36 PM PST

Excessive drinking is a known risk factor for hypertension. Drinking that results in facial flushing indicates high sensitivity or even intolerance to alcohol. A new study has found that drinking-related hypertension has a higher risk in flushers than in non-flushers, and the risk of hypertension was significantly increased when flushers consumed more than four drinks per week.

Frontal-lobe damage from alcohol may occur before general mental status challenges

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:36 PM PST

Executive performance, such as attention and memory, is associated with the frontal lobes. Researchers found specific structural changes in the prefrontal area and left cerebellum can predict executive performance in alcoholics. These volumes may identify executive dysfunctions even when clinical signs of alcohol dependence are absent or mild and a more general mental status appears normal.

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


Dreading pain can be worse than pain itself

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 03:42 PM PST

Faced with inevitable pain, most people would choose to get it out of the way as soon as possible, according to a new study.

Sticky business: Magnetic pollen replicas offer multimodal adhesion

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 01:34 PM PST

Researchers have created magnetic replicas of sunflower pollen grains using a wet chemical, layer-by-layer process that applies highly conformal iron oxide coatings. The replicas possess natural adhesion properties from the pollen while gaining magnetic behavior.

Does obesity reshape our sense of taste?

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 12:49 PM PST

Obesity may alter the way we taste at the most fundamental level: by changing how our tongues react to different foods. Biologists report that being severely overweight impaired the ability of mice to detect sweets.

What can happen when graphene meets a semiconductor

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:23 AM PST

A new study has found that intrinsic ripples form on a sheet of graphene when it is placed on top of a semiconductor. The ripples further change the Schottky barrier height, affecting electron transport.

Black hole birth captured: Biggest, brightest to happen in at least 20 years

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:23 AM PST

Intelligent telescopes designed by Los Alamos National Laboratory got a front row seat recently for an unusual birth. "This was the burst of the century," said James Wren, one of the scientists involved in the discovery. "It's the biggest, brightest one to happen in at least 20 years, and maybe even longer than that."

How flu evolves to escape immunity

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:23 AM PST

Scientists have identified a potential way to improve future flu vaccines after discovering that seasonal flu typically escapes immunity from vaccines with as little as a single amino acid substitution.

Improve learning by taming instructional complexity

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:23 AM PST

From using concrete or abstract materials to giving immediate or delayed feedback, there are rampant debates over the best teaching strategies to use. But, in reality, improving education is not as simple as choosing one technique over another. Carnegie Mellon University and Temple University researchers scoured the educational research landscape and found that because improved learning depends on many different factors, there are actually more than 205 trillion instructional options available.

The era of neutrino astronomy has begun

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST

Astrophysicists using a telescope embedded in Antarctic ice have detected the mysterious phenomena known as cosmic neutrinos -- nearly massless particles streaming to Earth at the speed of light from outside our solar system, striking in a powerful burst of energy. Researchers now will try to detect the cosmic neutrinos' source.

Two Y genes can replace the entire Y chromosome for assisted reproduction in mice

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST

Live mouse offspring can be generated with assisted reproduction using germ cells from males with the Y chromosome contribution limited to only two genes: the testis determinant factor Sry and the spermatogonial proliferation factor Eif2s3y.

Monster gamma-ray burst in our cosmic neighborhood

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 11:22 AM PST

Gamma-ray bursts are violent bursts of gamma radiation associated with exploding massive stars. For the first time ever, researchers have observed an unusually powerful gamma-ray burst in the relatively nearby universe -- a monster gamma-ray burst.

First Class 1 evidence for cognitive rehabilitation in MS

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:56 AM PST

Researchers published the results of the MEMREHAB Trial, providing the first Class I evidence for the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis.

Will 2-D tin be the next super material?

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:56 AM PST

A single layer of tin atoms could be the world's first material to conduct electricity with 100 percent efficiency at the temperatures that computer chips operate, according to theoretical physicists.

Researchers map brain areas vital to understanding language

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:56 AM PST

In a new study, researchers uncovered the brain mechanisms that underlie discourse comprehension, or the ability to understand written or spoken language through the construction of rich mental models.

Climate change may disrupt butterfly flight seasons

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:56 AM PST

The flight season timing of a wide variety of butterflies is responsive to temperature and could be altered by climate change, according to a new study that leverages more than a century's worth of museum and weather records.

Infrared vision lets researchers see through -- and into -- multiple layers of graphene

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:02 AM PST

Scientists have developed a technique for "seeing through" a stack of graphene sheets to identify and describe the electronic properties of each individual sheet -- even when the sheets are covering each other up.

Research sheds light on nerve regeneration following spinal cord injury

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:02 AM PST

Researchers have discovered how the sea lamprey, an eel-like fish, regrows the neurons that comprise the long nerve "highways" that link the brain to the spinal cord. Findings may guide future efforts to promote recovery in humans who have suffered spinal cord injuries.

How are fear-related behaviors, anxiety disorders controlled?

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST

A team of researchers has just shown that interneurons located in the forebrain at the level of the prefrontal cortex are heavily involved in the control of fear responses.

Genomic variant associated with sun sensitivity, freckles identified

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST

Researchers have identified a genomic variant strongly associated with sensitivity to the sun, brown hair, blue eyes -- and freckles.

Genetic defect keeps verbal cues from hitting the mark: Gene found in human speech problems affects singing, not learning in songbirds

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:59 AM PST

A genetic defect that profoundly affects speech in humans also disrupts the ability of songbirds to sing effective courtship tunes. This defect in a gene called FoxP2 renders the brain circuitry insensitive to feel-good chemicals that serve as a reward for speaking the correct syllable or hitting the right note, a recent study shows.

Newborn babies have built-in body awareness ability

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:58 AM PST

The ability to differentiate your own body from others is a fundamental skill, critical for humans' ability to interact with their environments and the people in them. Now, researchers provide some of the first evidence that newborn babies enter the world with the essential mechanisms for this kind of body awareness already in place.

Who learns from the carrot, and who from the stick?

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:58 AM PST

To flexibly deal with our ever-changing world, it is thought that we need to learn from both the negative and positive consequences of our behavior. In other words, from punishment and reward. Scientists have now demonstrated that serotonin and dopamine related genes influence how we base our choices on past punishments or rewards. This influence depends on which gene variant you inherited from your parents.

The company you keep shapes what you learn, study in locusts suggests

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:58 AM PST

A team of scientists has shown how the environment shapes learning and memory by training locusts like Pavlov's dog to associate different smells with reward or punishment.

Newly identified brown fat stem cells hold possibilities for treating diabetes, obesity

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:56 AM PST

The recent identification of brown fat stem cells in adult humans may lead to new treatments for heart and endocrine disorders, according to a new study.

Two human proteins found to affect how 'jumping gene' gets around

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 09:56 AM PST

Using a new method to catch elusive "jumping genes" in the act, researchers have found two human proteins that are used by one type of DNA to replicate itself and move from place to place. The discovery breaks new ground in understanding the arms race between a jumping gene driven to colonize new areas of the human genome and cells working to limit the risk posed by such volatile bits of DNA.

Oldest large body of ancient seawater identified under Chesapeake Bay

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 08:49 AM PST

USGS scientists have determined that high-salinity groundwater found more than 1,000 meters (0.6 mi.) deep under the Chesapeake Bay is actually remnant water from the Early Cretaceous North Atlantic Sea and is probably 100-145 million years old. This is the oldest sizeable body of seawater to be identified worldwide.

Researchers gain fuller picture of cell protein reactions

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 08:18 AM PST

Researchers have developed a new technique for analyzing complex enzyme activity within cells.

Insight on cell migration, movement of cancer cells

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 08:18 AM PST

The migration of groups of cells in order to form tissues is common during the development of an organism. Discovering how these multiple movements are achieved is not only crucial to understand the basic principles of development, but provides new information and insights for further research into processes associated with the spread of cancer.

Power boosting self-cleaning solar panels

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 08:18 AM PST

High-power, self-cleaning solar panels might be coming soon to a roof near you. There are two obvious problems with photovoltaic cells, solar panels. First, they are very shiny and so a lot of the incident sunlight is simply reflected back into the sky rather than being converted into electricity. Secondly, they get dirty with dust and debris caught on the wind and residues left behind by rain and birds. Now, new research suggests that it might be possible to add a nanoscopic relief pattern to the surface of solar cells that makes them non-reflective significantly boosting efficiency and at the same time making them highly non-stick and self-cleaning.

Stress, isolation take toll on those under 50 with HIV; older people fare better

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 07:51 AM PST

Researchers were surprised to learn that people younger than 50 years old with HIV feel more isolated and stressed than older people with the disease. They expected their study to reveal just the opposite.

Ultrasound, nanoparticles may help diabetics avoid the needle

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 07:51 AM PST

A new nanotechnology-based technique for regulating blood sugar in diabetics may give patients the ability to release insulin painlessly using a small ultrasound device, allowing them to go days between injections -- rather than using needles to give themselves multiple insulin injections each day.

Captive breeding for thousands of years has impaired olfactory functions in silkmoths

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 07:38 AM PST

Domesticated silkmoths Bombyx mori have a much more limited perception of environmental odors compared to their wild relatives. A new study on silkmoths revealed that the insects' ability to perceive environmental odours has been reduced after about 5000 years of domestication by humans. Scientists compared olfactory functions in Bombyx mori and in their wild ancestors. Perception of the pheromone bombykol, however, remained highly sensitive in domesticated males.

Ancient Roman glass inspires modern science

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST

A 1700-year-old Roman glass cup is inspiring researchers in their search for new ways to exploit nanoparticles and their interactions with light.

Infant galaxies merging near 'cosmic dawn'

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 07:36 AM PST

Astronomers using the combined power of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope and NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a far-flung trio of primitive galaxies nestled inside an enormous blob of primordial gas nearly 13 billion light-years from Earth.

Playing computer games together makes brains feel and think alike

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 06:14 AM PST

Scientists have discovered that playing computer games can bring players' emotional responses and brain activity into unison. By measuring the activity of facial muscles and imaging the brain while gaming, the group found out that people go through similar emotions and display matching brainwaves.

New brain cells for Parkinson's and Huntington's patients? Attractants prevent nerve cell migration

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 06:13 AM PST

Medical researchers have been working toward implanting nerve precursor cells in the brains of patients with Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. It was hoped that these cells would assume the function of the cells that have died off. However, the implanted nerve cells frequently did not migrate as hoped, rather they hardly move from the site. Scientists have now discovered an important cause of this: Attractants secreted by the precursor cells prevent the maturing nerve cells from migrating into the brain.

Amazon drones: The latest weapon in combatting climate change

Posted: 21 Nov 2013 06:12 AM PST

A flying, insect-like robot will give an unprecedented look at Peru's tropical cloud forest, one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems and a key indicator of global climate change.

The last croak for Darwin's frog?

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 04:23 PM PST

Deadly amphibian disease chytridiomycosis has caused the extinction of Darwin's frogs, believe scientists.

Breakthrough for biofuel production from tiny marine algae

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 04:21 PM PST

Researchers have developed a method for greatly enhancing biofuel production in tiny marine algae.

Nut consumption linked to reduced death rate, study suggests

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 04:21 PM PST

In the largest study of its kind, people who ate a daily handful of nuts were 20 percent less likely to die from any cause over a 30-year period than were those who didn't consume nuts, say scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Harvard School of Public Health

Tiny antisense molecules increase 'good cholesterol' levels in obese primates

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 11:37 AM PST

A strategy to increase levels of beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) has been shown for the first time to be effective in non-human primates. The approach uses tiny antisense sequences to block the action of microRNAs that would otherwise inhibit a protein required for generation of HDL, the "good cholesterol" that helps remove harmful lipids from the body.

Engineering education may diminish concern for public welfare issues

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:39 AM PST

Collegiate engineering education may foster a "culture of disengagement" regarding issues of public welfare, according to new research.

'Undruggable' mutation meets its match

Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:34 AM PST

Researchers have identified and exploited a newfound "Achilles heel" in K-Ras, the most commonly mutated oncogene in human cancers. K-Ras has earned a reputation as being "undruggable" because scientific researchers have failed to design a drug that successfully targets the mutant gene. The weak point is a newly discovered "pocket," or binding site, identified a team that has designed a chemical compound that fits inside this pocket and inhibits the normal activity of mutant K-Ras, but leaves the normal protein untouched.