الأربعاء، 8 يونيو 2016

ScienceDaily: Top News

ScienceDaily: Top News


You could be paying more for less effective medicine

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:02 PM PDT

A new study suggests that weak drug regulation and misleading marketing can lead doctors to prescribe more expensive, riskier, and less beneficial drugs.

Rainfall following drought linked to historic nitrate levels in Midwest streams in 2013

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:01 PM PDT

Drought periods followed by rainfall caused nitrate levels to increase to the highest ever measured in some Midwest streams during a 2013 study, according to a new report.

Flipped classrooms turning STEM education upside down

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:15 PM PDT

Given the difficult-to-digest subject matter in many STEM classrooms, educators have customarily relied on traditional lecture-based educational methods where they spend class time walking through content and then assign homework problems to supplement that learning. The problem is that this is a difficult way for some students to learn, so educators applying a new approach by flipping their classrooms.

Laboratory breakthrough may lead to improved x-ray spectrometers

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:15 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a new design for X-ray spectrometers that eschews a commonly utilized component to lowers overall production costs and increase the efficiency of x-ray flux, which may lead to faster acquisition times for sample imaging and increased efficiency for the system. This is essential for biological samples which may be damaged by continued x-ray exposure.

How honeybees do without males

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:13 PM PDT

An isolated population of honeybees, the Cape bees, living in South Africa has evolved a strategy to reproduce without males. A research team has sequenced the entire genomes of a sample of Cape bees and compared them with other populations of honeybees to find out the genetic mechanisms behind their asexual reproduction.

Autism with intellectual disability linked to mother's immune dysfunction during pregnancy

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Pregnant women with higher levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, proteins that control communication between cells of the immune system, may be at significantly greater risk of having a child with autism combined with intellectual disability, researchers have found.

Antipsychotic meds for foster care, other poor children: Still quality challenges

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Significant quality challenges persist in antipsychotic medication use for children in foster care and other Medicaid-insured children, according to a new study. While overall prescribing rates for children in foster care and other Medicaid-insured children have leveled since the mid-2000s, some important guideline-recommended practices are frequently not followed.

Predicting advanced prostate cancer outcomes with NaF-PET/CT

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

A recent pilot study found that sodium fluoride (Na-F-18) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (NaF-PET/CT) accurately detects bone metastases in patients with advanced prostate cancer, and follow-up scans over time correlate clearly with clinical outcomes and patient survival.

New molecular toolkit for the de-novo design of bioactive agents

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Scientists take a new approach to the production of bioactive natural substances: Using synthetic biotechnology methodologies they have developed a biochemical strategy to synthesize medical agents by a templated enzyme design process. First products, a precursor of the anti-cancer medicament Taxol, anti-inflammatory substances and omega-3 fatty acids prove the successfulness of their strategy.

Long-term marijuana use changes brain's reward circuit

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated that long-term marijuana users had more activity in the brain's reward processes when presented with cannabis cues than with natural reward cues.

Magnetic material could host wily Weyl fermions

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

An elusive massless particle could exist in a magnetic crystal structure, revealed by neutron and X-ray research.

Maternal weight gain between pregnancies is linked to complications and adverse outcomes

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Weight gain between pregnancies is linked to pregnancy complications and adverse neonatal outcomes in second born children, according to a new study.

A third of young children in low- and middle-income countries are failing to meet basic milestones

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

An estimated 32.9 percent of all 3- and 4-yerr-old children living in low- and middle-income countries scored poorly on either their cognitive or socioemotional development, according to a new study.

New cheap method of surveying landscapes can capture environmental change

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 11:07 AM PDT

Cheap cameras on drones can be used to measure environmental change which affects billions of people around the world, new research shows.

How 4-D simulation can help construction projects come in on time, budget

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 11:06 AM PDT

Researchers have developed an advanced technique to avoid costly delays often associated with massive public transportation infrastructure projects.

Preschool academic skills improve only when instruction is good to excellent

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 11:06 AM PDT

As the overall quality of instruction in preschool classrooms increases, children experience better outcomes across a range of skills, but the needle only moves on language and reading skills when instructional quality is at or above a threshold.

Research finds offender risk assessment tools in US are promising, but questions remain

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 11:04 AM PDT

The criminal justice system in the United States uses a variety of tools to assess the behavior of criminal offenders, and those risk assessments can have a significant impact on an offender's fate. A new meta-analysis of the research conducted in the US on these tools shows that -- while promising -- it is still unclear whether these tools reduce bias against offenders based on race or other factors.

'Missing tooth' hydrogels handle hard-to-deliver drugs

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 11:04 AM PDT

A 'missing tooth' peptide may be an efficient way to deliver insoluble drugs to precise locations in the body, report scientists.

Scientists craft an artificial seawater concoction

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 11:04 AM PDT

Microbiologists have concocted an artificial seawater medium that can be used to successfully cultivate abundant marine microorganisms, many of which have not been genetically characterized before.

Anti-epileptic drug linked to birth defects when taken with other drugs

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:09 AM PDT

In an analysis of pregnancies in Australia from 1999 to 2014 in which women were taking anti-epileptic drugs, fetal malformation rates fell over time in pregnancies where only one drug was taken, but rates increased in pregnancies where multiple drugs were taken.

Natural killer cells have a memory

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:09 AM PDT

Researchers have decoded a new mechanism of how the immune system can specifically attack pigmented cells of the skin. It was previously believed that so-called natural killer cells did not have an immunological memory for the body's own tissues. However, the scientists have now been able to show that these special immune cells can indeed "remember" pigmented cells when they come into more frequent contact with a specific contact allergen. These results may provide new insights into the development of the skin-depigmenting disease vitiligo but may also offer new options for the treatment of malignant melanoma.

Scientists use modelling to show the role of metabolism and signaling in cancer metastasis

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

Researchers have built a model to investigate the metastasis of cancer by examining the metabolism of breast epithelial cells and look at the role of signaling. This research may contribute to the development of cell specific anti-cancer interventions.

Ebola map may help prepare for future outbreaks

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

To be prepared for new Ebola virus disease cases, it is fundamental to start by identifying the range of the virus and the regions that are more favorable for its propagation.

Two in five formerly depressed adults are happy, flourishing

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

Approximately two in five adults (39 percent) who have experienced major depression are able to achieve complete mental health. Researchers consider complete mental health as occurring when people achieve almost daily happiness or life satisfaction, positive social and psychological well-being, and are also free of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and substance abuse for at least one full year.

Universe's first life might have been born on carbon planets

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

Our Earth consists of silicate rocks and an iron core with a thin veneer of water and life. But the first potentially habitable worlds to form might have been very different. New research suggests that planet formation in the early universe might have created carbon planets consisting of graphite, carbides, and diamond. Astronomers might find these diamond worlds by searching a rare class of stars.

Weak spots in Europe's 'Right to be Forgotten' data privacy law

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

In the first study of its kind, university researchers say that hackers can discover the identities of people who requested to be delisted under Europe's 'Right to be Forgotten' law. The law allows citizens to petition Internet search providers such as Google to remove search results linked to personal information that is negative or defamatory.

Revisiting trajectories at the quantum scale

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:06 AM PDT

There is a gap in the theory explaining what is happening at the macroscopic scale, in the realm of our everyday lives, and at the quantum level, at microscopic scale. Scientists now say that the assumption that quantum particles move because they follow a precise trajectory over time has to be called into question.

Coral reefs fall victim to overfishing, pollution aggravated by ocean warming

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:06 AM PDT

Coral reefs are declining around the world because a combination of factors -- overfishing, nutrient pollution, and pathogenic disease -- ultimately become deadly in the face of higher ocean temperatures, researchers have concluded. The findings are based on one of the largest and longest studies done on this issue.

New tool could help investors pick the clean energy project right for them

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:06 AM PDT

In 2013, Serbia announced its goal of having 27 percent of the country's power be generated from renewable sources by 2020. Hitting that target will require building additional clean energy facilities, but figuring out what type of project -- solar, wind, hydropower or other renewable sources -- to support can be a daunting task for investors. Now, a team of researchers is trying to simplify the decision.

Bad behavior may not be a result of bad parenting, but a lack of common language

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:33 AM PDT

Most parents will admit that talking with a teenage child can be difficult. It's even more challenging when they don't speak the same language – a reality for a growing number of immigrant families. New research suggests this language barrier can have negative consequences.

Study questions cancer link with bone growth factor for spinal surgery

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

Adding to previous evidence, a study based on a statewide cancer database shows no increase in cancer risk in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery with the bone-promoting growth factor recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP).

Prevalence of obesity in U.S. increases among women, but not men

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

The prevalence of obesity in 2013- 2014 was 35 percent among men and 40 percent among women, and between 2005 and 2014, there was an increase in prevalence among women, but not men, according to an American study.

Anesthesia is safe in the young, study finds

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

A single exposure to general anesthesia poses no cognitive risk to healthy children under age three, a critical time in brain development, according to a multicenter study.

Climate change will affect farmers' bottom line

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:31 AM PDT

Over the next 70 to 100 years, our climate is projected to change dramatically, with major impacts on a wide variety of economic sectors. But the sector that is most likely to be affected by these changes is agriculture. A number of studies support this assertion, but relatively few look at the effect of climate change on agriculture from a comprehensive economic perspective.

Watching the dance of nano-particles

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:31 AM PDT

Life in the nano lane is fast and just got faster in terms of knowledge of fundamental mechanisms working at the nanoscale -- where processes are driven by a dance of particles such as atoms and ions one-billionth of a meter in size.

One hour of driving a day = 2.3kg more weight and 1.5cm wider waist, study reveals

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

The convenience of car travel has a significant impact on public health, say researchers. And men are more likely than women to put on weight due to time spent behind the wheel, their new report outlines.

Computer simulations shed light on the Milky Way's missing red giants

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

Simulations investigate the possibility that red giants at the center of our galaxy were dimmed after they were stripped of 10s of percent of their mass millions of years ago during repeated collisions with an accretion disk.

New types of blood cancer discovered in children

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

Through a detailed study of leukemia cells from more than 200 children, a research group has discovered two new types of childhood leukemia. Using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS), the researchers were able to study the genome of cancer cells, which is how they discovered the new types of cancer.

How did ignoring people for our smartphones become the norm?

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

It's common now to see people snubbing social companions to concentrate on their smartphone. But what causes this behavior -- known as 'phubbing' -- and how did it come to be regarded as normal?

Deer make collision-free escapes thanks to inbuilt 'compasses'

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

Why do deer in a group, when startled, suddenly bolt away together and never collide with each other? It's because these deer have an inner compass that allows them to follow a certain direction in order to make their escape.

Nordic countries: Highest in gender equality and intimate partner violence against women

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

The Nordic countries are the most gender equal nations in the world, but at the same time, they also have a disproportionately high rate of intimate partner violence against women. This is perplexing because logically violence against women would be expected to drop as women gained equal status in a society. A new study explores this contradictory situation, which has been labeled the 'Nordic paradox.'

You are not as anonymous as you think online

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

You may not be anonymous as you think you are online; reveals a new study. Your browsing behavior can indicate your personality and provide a unique digital signature which can identify you, sometimes after just 30-minutes of browsing.

Study uncovers clue to deciphering schizophrenia

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

The brains of healthy relatives of people with schizophrenia may hold a clue to better understand - and ultimately treat - the devastating illness, finds new research.

Spintronics development gets boost with new findings into ferromagnetism in Mn-doped GaAs

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

A research group has succeeded in finding the origin and the mechanism of ferromagnetism in Mn-doped GaAs. The discovery is significant as it will accelerate the development of the spintronic element.

Anorexia nervosa: Pleasure at getting thin more than fear of getting fat

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

Anorexia nervosa might not be explained by fear of gaining weight, but by the pleasure of losing it, say researchers, adding that the phenomenon might be genetically influenced. The work challenges the notion of fear of weight gain in anorexia patients.

New high-capability solid-state electron microscope detector enables novel studies of materials

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:35 AM PDT

Scientists developed and demonstrated a new type of imaging electron detector. It records an image frame in 1/1000 of a second, and can detect from 1 to 1,000,000 electrons per pixel. This is 1000 times the intensity range and 100 times the speed of conventional electron microscope image sensors.

Towards building next-generation batteries using a pigment electrode

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:34 AM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated calcium ion batteries (CIBs) using pigment electrodes such as Prussian blue and its analogues. The CIBs showed excellent cyclability of discharge and charge in a calcium-based organic electrolyte. This is thought to derive from strong atomic bonds in Prussian blue structures, which possess movable pathways for large-sized ions in three dimensions. Such unique structures have excellent potential for application in newly designed batteries.

Biological clock gets a time stamp

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:34 AM PDT

Researchers have identified the molecular pathways involved in the aging of human eggs. This research could eventually lead to treatments to correct age-related damage and improve fertility in women age 40 and older.

Chemical 'sponges' designed to soak up toxic cancer-fighting drugs after targeting tumors

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:34 AM PDT

Researchers are creating materials for a cancer treatment system that can limit the side effects of chemotherapy drugs by quickly removing them from the body after use.

Benefits to timing chemotherapy to body's 'awake' time

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:33 AM PDT

Not a morning person? Neither are your kidneys. Research suggests there may be benefits to timing chemotherapy in cancer patients to the time of day the body is 'most awake.'

New method detects 83% of immature citrus; helping cut costs

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:43 AM PDT

By detecting green, immature citrus more accurately and efficiently, growers can plan when and where to apply nutrients when fruit is growing and estimate their yield and profit before harvest.

Origami ninja star inspires new battery that runs on a few drops of dirty water

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:43 AM PDT

A new disposable battery that folds like an origami ninja star could power biosensors and other small devices for use in challenging field conditions. The microbial fuel cell runs on the bacteria available in a few drops of dirty water.

Bleachwatch program needs volunteers to monitor corals in Florida Keys

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:43 AM PDT

With coral bleaching prevalent worldwide -- and recently breaking records off Australia -- U.S. scientists are eager to learn how their home reefs will weather the summer heat. Marine researchers are seeking volunteers to monitor for heat-driven bleaching in the Florida Keys, home to the largest coral reef system along the continental U.S.

Bacteria hairs make excellent electrical wires

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:43 AM PDT

Scientists found that the electronic arrangement and small molecular separation distances in electrically insulating, hair-like filaments on the surface of Geobacter bacteria give the structures an electrical conductivity comparable to that of copper.

Mediterranean diet high in healthy fat does not lead to weight gain, according to randomized trial

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:40 AM PDT

Eating a non-calorie restricted Mediterranean diet high in vegetable fats such as olive oil or nuts does not lead to significant weight gain compared to a low-fat diet, according to a large randomized trial. The study suggests that current health guidelines that recommend a low-fat, low-calorie diet create unnecessary fear of healthy fats present in a Mediterranean diet, which have known health benefits.

Surprises about antibiotic resistance uncovered

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:40 AM PDT

It's thought that antibiotic resistance is associated with a fitness cost, meaning that bacteria that develop antibiotic resistance must sacrifice something in order to do so. Because of this, proper use of antibiotics should result in susceptible strains eventually replacing resistant ones.< According to recent research, though, it appears that this paradigm might not be as solid as previously thought. In fact, antibiotic-resistant strains might also be fitter and more virulent, which may have profound impacts on the control and treatment of bacterial infections.

Fukushima radioactivity diluted in the Pacific makes tracing ocean currents possible

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:40 AM PDT

Very little is known about ocean currents and generally about dynamics in the oceans. But radioactivity released into the Pacific by the Fukushima nuclear accident, which was quickly diluted to harmless levels, has allowed scientists to trace the ocean's currents.

Opioids regulate spermatozoon formation, research shows

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:39 AM PDT

Infertility has become a major medical and social problem worldwide and many of the cases are due to male infertility. Yet the molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis are only now beginning to emerge. A piece of research has, for the first time, described the presence of opioids in the cells involved in the formation of spermatozoa.

Scientists identify protein which boosts rice yield by fifty percent

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:37 AM PDT

A research team has developed rice crops with an improved ability to manage their own pH levels, enabling them to take up significantly more nitrogen, iron and phosphorous from soil and increase yield by up to 54 percent. 

Clinical trial opens new avenues for pharmacological therapy in Down's syndrome

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT

The results of the phase 2 study suggest that participants who had received the treatment had better scores in the visual memory recognition and inhibition tasks, and improvement in adaptive behavior than those in the control group. Though not a cure, this is the first time that a treatment has shown some effectiveness in this syndrome, and it opens the door to new research geared towards treating what was believed to be orphan of treatment.

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News

ScienceDaily: Health & Medicine News


You could be paying more for less effective medicine

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:02 PM PDT

A new study suggests that weak drug regulation and misleading marketing can lead doctors to prescribe more expensive, riskier, and less beneficial drugs.

Autism with intellectual disability linked to mother's immune dysfunction during pregnancy

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Pregnant women with higher levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, proteins that control communication between cells of the immune system, may be at significantly greater risk of having a child with autism combined with intellectual disability, researchers have found.

Antipsychotic meds for foster care, other poor children: Still quality challenges

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Significant quality challenges persist in antipsychotic medication use for children in foster care and other Medicaid-insured children, according to a new study. While overall prescribing rates for children in foster care and other Medicaid-insured children have leveled since the mid-2000s, some important guideline-recommended practices are frequently not followed.

Predicting advanced prostate cancer outcomes with NaF-PET/CT

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

A recent pilot study found that sodium fluoride (Na-F-18) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (NaF-PET/CT) accurately detects bone metastases in patients with advanced prostate cancer, and follow-up scans over time correlate clearly with clinical outcomes and patient survival.

New molecular toolkit for the de-novo design of bioactive agents

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Scientists take a new approach to the production of bioactive natural substances: Using synthetic biotechnology methodologies they have developed a biochemical strategy to synthesize medical agents by a templated enzyme design process. First products, a precursor of the anti-cancer medicament Taxol, anti-inflammatory substances and omega-3 fatty acids prove the successfulness of their strategy.

Long-term marijuana use changes brain's reward circuit

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated that long-term marijuana users had more activity in the brain's reward processes when presented with cannabis cues than with natural reward cues.

Maternal weight gain between pregnancies is linked to complications and adverse outcomes

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

Weight gain between pregnancies is linked to pregnancy complications and adverse neonatal outcomes in second born children, according to a new study.

A third of young children in low- and middle-income countries are failing to meet basic milestones

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 12:12 PM PDT

An estimated 32.9 percent of all 3- and 4-yerr-old children living in low- and middle-income countries scored poorly on either their cognitive or socioemotional development, according to a new study.

'Missing tooth' hydrogels handle hard-to-deliver drugs

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 11:04 AM PDT

A 'missing tooth' peptide may be an efficient way to deliver insoluble drugs to precise locations in the body, report scientists.

Anti-epileptic drug linked to birth defects when taken with other drugs

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:09 AM PDT

In an analysis of pregnancies in Australia from 1999 to 2014 in which women were taking anti-epileptic drugs, fetal malformation rates fell over time in pregnancies where only one drug was taken, but rates increased in pregnancies where multiple drugs were taken.

Natural killer cells have a memory

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:09 AM PDT

Researchers have decoded a new mechanism of how the immune system can specifically attack pigmented cells of the skin. It was previously believed that so-called natural killer cells did not have an immunological memory for the body's own tissues. However, the scientists have now been able to show that these special immune cells can indeed "remember" pigmented cells when they come into more frequent contact with a specific contact allergen. These results may provide new insights into the development of the skin-depigmenting disease vitiligo but may also offer new options for the treatment of malignant melanoma.

Scientists use modelling to show the role of metabolism and signaling in cancer metastasis

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

Researchers have built a model to investigate the metastasis of cancer by examining the metabolism of breast epithelial cells and look at the role of signaling. This research may contribute to the development of cell specific anti-cancer interventions.

Ebola map may help prepare for future outbreaks

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

To be prepared for new Ebola virus disease cases, it is fundamental to start by identifying the range of the virus and the regions that are more favorable for its propagation.

Two in five formerly depressed adults are happy, flourishing

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 09:08 AM PDT

Approximately two in five adults (39 percent) who have experienced major depression are able to achieve complete mental health. Researchers consider complete mental health as occurring when people achieve almost daily happiness or life satisfaction, positive social and psychological well-being, and are also free of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and substance abuse for at least one full year.

Study questions cancer link with bone growth factor for spinal surgery

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

Adding to previous evidence, a study based on a statewide cancer database shows no increase in cancer risk in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery with the bone-promoting growth factor recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP).

Prevalence of obesity in U.S. increases among women, but not men

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

The prevalence of obesity in 2013- 2014 was 35 percent among men and 40 percent among women, and between 2005 and 2014, there was an increase in prevalence among women, but not men, according to an American study.

Anesthesia is safe in the young, study finds

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:32 AM PDT

A single exposure to general anesthesia poses no cognitive risk to healthy children under age three, a critical time in brain development, according to a multicenter study.

One hour of driving a day = 2.3kg more weight and 1.5cm wider waist, study reveals

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

The convenience of car travel has a significant impact on public health, say researchers. And men are more likely than women to put on weight due to time spent behind the wheel, their new report outlines.

New types of blood cancer discovered in children

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

Through a detailed study of leukemia cells from more than 200 children, a research group has discovered two new types of childhood leukemia. Using next-generation sequencing technology (NGS), the researchers were able to study the genome of cancer cells, which is how they discovered the new types of cancer.

Nordic countries: Highest in gender equality and intimate partner violence against women

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:30 AM PDT

The Nordic countries are the most gender equal nations in the world, but at the same time, they also have a disproportionately high rate of intimate partner violence against women. This is perplexing because logically violence against women would be expected to drop as women gained equal status in a society. A new study explores this contradictory situation, which has been labeled the 'Nordic paradox.'

Study uncovers clue to deciphering schizophrenia

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

The brains of healthy relatives of people with schizophrenia may hold a clue to better understand - and ultimately treat - the devastating illness, finds new research.

Anorexia nervosa: Pleasure at getting thin more than fear of getting fat

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 08:28 AM PDT

Anorexia nervosa might not be explained by fear of gaining weight, but by the pleasure of losing it, say researchers, adding that the phenomenon might be genetically influenced. The work challenges the notion of fear of weight gain in anorexia patients.

Biological clock gets a time stamp

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:34 AM PDT

Researchers have identified the molecular pathways involved in the aging of human eggs. This research could eventually lead to treatments to correct age-related damage and improve fertility in women age 40 and older.

Chemical 'sponges' designed to soak up toxic cancer-fighting drugs after targeting tumors

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:34 AM PDT

Researchers are creating materials for a cancer treatment system that can limit the side effects of chemotherapy drugs by quickly removing them from the body after use.

Benefits to timing chemotherapy to body's 'awake' time

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 07:33 AM PDT

Not a morning person? Neither are your kidneys. Research suggests there may be benefits to timing chemotherapy in cancer patients to the time of day the body is 'most awake.'

Mediterranean diet high in healthy fat does not lead to weight gain, according to randomized trial

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:40 AM PDT

Eating a non-calorie restricted Mediterranean diet high in vegetable fats such as olive oil or nuts does not lead to significant weight gain compared to a low-fat diet, according to a large randomized trial. The study suggests that current health guidelines that recommend a low-fat, low-calorie diet create unnecessary fear of healthy fats present in a Mediterranean diet, which have known health benefits.

Surprises about antibiotic resistance uncovered

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:40 AM PDT

It's thought that antibiotic resistance is associated with a fitness cost, meaning that bacteria that develop antibiotic resistance must sacrifice something in order to do so. Because of this, proper use of antibiotics should result in susceptible strains eventually replacing resistant ones.< According to recent research, though, it appears that this paradigm might not be as solid as previously thought. In fact, antibiotic-resistant strains might also be fitter and more virulent, which may have profound impacts on the control and treatment of bacterial infections.

Opioids regulate spermatozoon formation, research shows

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:39 AM PDT

Infertility has become a major medical and social problem worldwide and many of the cases are due to male infertility. Yet the molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis are only now beginning to emerge. A piece of research has, for the first time, described the presence of opioids in the cells involved in the formation of spermatozoa.

Clinical trial opens new avenues for pharmacological therapy in Down's syndrome

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT

The results of the phase 2 study suggest that participants who had received the treatment had better scores in the visual memory recognition and inhibition tasks, and improvement in adaptive behavior than those in the control group. Though not a cure, this is the first time that a treatment has shown some effectiveness in this syndrome, and it opens the door to new research geared towards treating what was believed to be orphan of treatment.

Unexpected function of small nucleolar RNAs explains cause of some diseases

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered unexpected functions of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) that explain the cause of some diseases. They found that snoRNAs not only modify ribosomes, but can also regulate alternative splicing. Through this second function, they regulate protein function and inhibit the generation of wrong protein variants. Thus, upon the loss of snoRNAs the formation of wrong protein variants can no longer be prevented, leading to diseases like Prader-Willi syndrome and several cancers, report scientists.

Early detection, smaller cancer among benefits of skin cancer screening at PCP visits

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 06:35 AM PDT

Skin cancer screenings performed by primary care physicians (PCPs) during routine office visits improve the detection of potentially deadly melanomas and find them in earlier stages, according to new research.

Rehydrating with soda on a hot day may worsen dehydration

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:13 AM PDT

Repeated heat-related dehydration has been associated with increased risk of chronic kidney damage in mice. A new study in rats reports that drinking soft drinks to rehydrate worsened dehydration and kidney injury.

Angina drug could inform a new strategy to fight cryptococcosis

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:13 AM PDT

A drug, more commonly used in the treatment of angina, could be the focus of a new strategy in fighting the fatal fungal infection cryptococcosis, report scientists.

Some asian-americans are predisposed to want more carbs, fast food

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:13 AM PDT

Rice anyone? How about a bowl of ramen noodles? Researchers have found that some Asian-Americans are more likely to hunger for carbohydrates and unhealthy foods than other Asian-Americans — and the reason appears to be genetic.

Is there a good way to deliver bad news? Psychologists examine layoff interviews

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:11 AM PDT

'Jones, you're fired!' or 'Mr Jones, I'm afraid I've got some bad news: Unfortunately, we're going to have to let you go. Please, take a seat and I'll explain the situation to you.' As in so many areas of life, it's not so much what you say, but the way that you say it that counts – even if you have to tell someone that they are being laid off. If a manager adopts an aggressive tone, the employee is far more likely to react to the bad news in a confrontational manner than in cases in which the manager takes time to explain the situation and the underlying causes.

Stem cells from umbilical cord blood may help treat eczema

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:09 AM PDT

A new study suggests that treatment with stem cells from umbilical cord blood might be an effective therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe eczema, or atopic dermatitis. For the clinical trial, 34 patients were randomly assigned to receive a low dose or high dose of the cells subcutaneously. Fifty five percent of patients who received the high dose showed a 50% reduction in what's known as the Eczema Area and Severity Index score at week 12.

What makes a small worm a popular model

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:09 AM PDT

Researchers have compiled all metabolic pathways of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans described so far and have presented a comprehensive metabolic model in a new article. The model, called "ElegCyc", covers about 2,000 metabolic processes and is available to research groups all over the world.

Are my cosmetics a health risk?

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:09 AM PDT

Are the chemicals in my baby's plastic bottle harmful? Can cosmetics cause cancer? Which pesticides are safe? The aim of scientific research is to answer questions like these, but what happens when two or more studies produce conflicting results? Lessons from the field of medicine could help provide clearer answers to questions about chemical safety, say researchers.

Chernobyl radiation could be linked to rising number of thyroid cancers in Belgian children

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:06 AM PDT

Exposure to radioactive fallout from the April 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident in Belgium may have increased the incidence of thyroid cancer in those exposed as children.

Triggers for migraine attacks determined for individual patients

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:06 AM PDT

Migraine is the third commonest disorder in the world and ranks sixth among more than 300 diseases when it comes to the burden it represents. The study compared individual case analyses with the overall analysis for the entire study population. The surprising, but at the same time practical, finding: from the population of 326 patients who kept a detailed diary for 90 days, it was possible to identify possible migraine triggers in 87% of sufferers by performing personalized analyses.

What happens when parents comment their daughter's weight?

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:04 AM PDT

The less you comment on your daughter's weight, the less likely she is to be dissatisfied with her weight as an adult, according to a new study.

New approach to MRI imaging links saturated fats to breast cancer in postmenopausal women

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:03 AM PDT

High saturated fats in breast tissue may be an indicator of cancer in postmenopausal women, a study shows. These findings, researchers say, may one day lead to greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind breast cancer development and the role of fat as a factor in breast cancer diagnosis and progression.

Swapping sick for healthy brain cells slows Huntington's disease

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:03 AM PDT

Researchers have successfully reduced the symptoms and slowed the progression of Huntington's disease in mice using healthy human brain cells. The findings could ultimately point to a new method to treat the disease.

Window into the 'gut's brain'

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 05:03 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a system that allows real-time optical and electrical observations of the gut's nervous system in a live animal. The system will allow researchers to study how this 'second brain' reacts to different drugs, neurotransmitters or diseases.

Spiders put the bite on irritable bowel syndrome pain

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:04 PM PDT

Spiders have helped researchers discover a new target for irritable bowel syndrome pain. The international research team used spider venom to identify a specific protein involved in transmitting mechanical pain, which is the type of pain experienced by patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

New approach to chemical synthesis

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:04 PM PDT

Chemists have devised a new way to synthesize communesins -- fungal compounds with anti-cancer potential. These compounds have shown particular promise against leukemia cells but may be able to kill other cancer cells as well.

Methotrexate exposure impacts cognitive processes cancer survivors need to multitask

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:01 PM PDT

New research reports that higher blood concentrations of methotrexate during cancer treatment are associated with brain changes and impaired executive function in survivors of pediatric leukemia.

Targeting B-cell malignancies with ?-specific T cells can lead to complete clinical responses

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:01 PM PDT

Targeting the light chain expressed by malignant B cells killed tumor cells while sparing normal B cells expressing the other type of light chain, report researchers at conclusion of a recent study.

Blood test to personalize depression treatment for the first time

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT

Scientists have developed a blood test that accurately and reliably predicts whether depressed patients will respond to common antidepressants, which could herald a new era of personalized treatment for people with depression.

Combo immunotherapy for advanced melanoma: Two therapies may be better than one

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT

A new metastatic melanoma study suggests that a combination of two immunotherapies may be better than one. One treatment uses a patient's own T cells modified in the lab to more powerfully recognize and attack tumors; the other treatment, a 'checkpoint inhibitor,' releases the brakes on the body's natural immune system.

Obesity, gestational diabetes in mothers linked to early onset of puberty in daughters

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT

Daughters of overweight mothers who develop gestational diabetes are significantly more likely to experience an earlier onset of one sign of puberty, according to new research.

Larger wine glasses may lead people to drink more

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 05:00 PM PDT

Selling wine in larger wine glasses may encourage people to drink more, even when the amount of wine remains the same, suggests new research, where researchers found that increasing the size of wine glasses led to an almost 10 percent increase in wine sales.

Distinguishing deadly staph bacteria from harmless strains

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 12:52 PM PDT

To better understand the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and develop more effective treatments, researchers examined the Staph "pan-genome" — the genomes of 64 different strains that differ in where they live, the types of hosts they infect and their antibiotic resistance profiles. This effort places all Staph genes into one of two categories: the core genome or the dispensable genome.

Ultralow-dose CT may substitute for standard-dose CT in some COPD patients, study concludes

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 12:49 PM PDT

A new retrospective study that reviewed the CT data of 50 emphysema patients found that ultralow-dose CT (ULDCT) can substitute for standard-dose CT (SDCT) in disease quantification if both iterative reconstruction (IR) and filtered back projection are used.

Hard times, hard love: Rise of intimate partner violence during Great Recession

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 12:49 PM PDT

Financial strain has long been one of the leading causes of family discord, but a recent study suggests that simply living through major economic recessions increases a mother's chance of suffering from domestic violence.

Scientists develop protein with potential to modify brain function, memory in mice and fish

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 11:28 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a protein that can hasten the degradation of synaptic proteins. The GFE3 protein may help researchers map the brain's connections and better understand how inhibitory synapses modulate brain function, report researchers.