| Prescription drug benefit doesn't save money for Medicare Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:21 PM PDT For years, the Medicare prescription drug benefit Part D has been credited with positively impacting national trends in health outcomes and medical services. But a recent study challenges that assumption and suggests that the U.S. Congressional Budget Office's adopted a new costing method based on assumed cost-savings may be "premature."  |
| Eye's motion detection sensors identified Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:07 PM PDT Studying mice, scientists have identified a neural circuit in the retina that carries signals enabling the eye to detect movement. The finding could help in efforts to build artificial retinas for people who have suffered vision loss.  |
| FDA takes step to remove artificial trans fats in processed foods Posted: 16 Jun 2015 01:02 PM PDT Based on a thorough review of the scientific evidence, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized its determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not "generally recognized as safe" or GRAS for use in human food. Food manufacturers will have three years to remove PHOs from products.  |
| Longevity hormone is lower in stressed, depressed women Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:59 PM PDT Women under chronic stress have significantly lower levels of klotho, a hormone that regulates aging and enhances cognition, researchers have found in a study comparing mothers of children on the autism spectrum to low-stress controls.  |
| Public divided on heart benefits from alcohol consumption Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:59 PM PDT In one of the first published studies using data from the Health eHeart Study, researchers have found that people are divided on the cardiovascular benefits of alcohol consumption. And, those who do perceive alcohol as 'heart healthy' drink substantially more than their counterparts.  |
| Study uncovers same-sex couples' opinions about marriage, cohabitation Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:58 PM PDT A new survey outlines six prominent reasons why same-sex couples feel marriage is an important step in their relationship. The survey found that many same-sex couples view living together as significant because it symbolizes and solidifies their commitment to their relationship, possibly because marriage has never been an option. The researchers say this view differs from previous national research on different sex couples, for whom cohabitation signifies less commitment than marriage.  |
| Research on diversity among nitrogen-fixing plants Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:55 PM PDT New research focuses on a question that has intrigued scientists for decades -- are plants able to regulate their relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria?  |
| Drug trials in pet dogs with cancer may speed advances in human oncology Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:55 PM PDT Pet dogs may be humans' best friends in a new arena of life: cancer treatment, says a veterinary clinical medicine. Physiological similarities between dogs and humans, and conserved genetics between some dog and human cancers, can allow pet dogs to serve as useful models for studying new cancer drugs.  |
| Black holes are not ruthless killers, but instead benign hologram generators Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:50 PM PDT New research in theoretical physics shows that black holes aren't the ruthless killers we've made them out to be, but instead benign--if imperfect--hologram generators. The world could have been captured by a black hole, and we wouldn't even notice, according to a new theoretical perspective.  |
| Human cell models accelerate research into brown fat Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:50 PM PDT A team of researchers has created cell lines of human brown and white fat precursor cells that will help investigators to pick apart the factors that drive the development and activity of each type of cell.  |
| Instagram behavior for teens different than adults Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:50 PM PDT While some may argue that life on social media is a never-ending popularity contest, teens and adults may use online apps for very different purposes. Researchers have found that teens are leveraging social media as a conversation space and an outlet for self-expression to a greater extent than adults, and are also more focused on posting photos that attract attention.  |
| A third of the world's biggest groundwater basins are in distress Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:50 PM PDT Two new studies show that civilization is rapidly draining some of its largest groundwater basins, yet there is little to no accurate data about how much water remains in them.  |
| Unravelling the mysteries of carbonic acid Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT Researchers report the first detailed characterization of the hydration structure of carbonic dioxide gas as it dissolves in water to form carbonic acid. Though carbonic acid exists for only a fraction of a second, it imparts a lasting impact on Earth's atmosphere and geology, and on the human body.  |
| Vehicle direction, not driver biometrics, best way to detect drowsiness Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT Drowsy drivers take a heavy toll on the nation's highways, so finding a reliable way to test for fatigue to mitigate its potential damage could have a significant impact on highway safety. Researchers have determined that a reliable, less intrusive way to detect fatigue or drowsiness in a driver is to monitor vehicle behavior rather than the biometrics of the person behind the wheel.  |
| For those over 50, finding a job can get old Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:16 AM PDT In examining the US government's 2014 Displaced Worker Survey, the researchers discovered that someone 50 years or older is likely to be unemployed 5.8 weeks longer than someone between the ages of 30-49, and 10.6 weeks longer than individuals ages 20-29. The study also found the odds of being re-employed decrease by 2.6 percent for each one-year increase in age.  |
| Hormone fluctuations disrupt sleep of perimenopausal women Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:15 AM PDT Women in the early phases of menopause are more likely to have trouble sleeping during certain points in the menstrual cycle, according to a new study. During perimenopause -- the earliest stage of the menopausal transition -- women may have irregular menstrual cycles due to the body's fluctuating hormone levels. Symptoms such as sleep disturbances and hot flashes typically begin three to five years prior to the onset of menopause, when a woman is in her 40s.  |
| Maternal stress alters offspring gut, brain through vaginal microbiome Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:15 AM PDT The neonate is exposed to the maternal vaginal microbiota during birth, providing the primary source for normal gut colonization, host immune maturation, and metabolism. These early interactions between the host and microbiota occur during a critical window of neurodevelopment, suggesting early life as an important period of cross talk between the developing gut and brain. Changes in the vaginal microbiome are associated with effects on offspring gut microbiota and on the developing brain, according to a new study.  |
| Prenatal DDT exposure tied to nearly four-fold increase in breast cancer risk Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:15 AM PDT Women who were exposed to higher levels of the pesticide DDT in utero were nearly four times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer as adults than women who were exposed to lower levels before birth, according to a new study.  |
| Tracking the viral parasites cruising our waterways Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT Humans aren't the only ones who like to cruise along the waterways -- viruses do too. For the first time, a map of fecal viruses traveling our global waterways has been created using modeling methods to aid in assessing water quality worldwide.  |
| Can personal devices interfere with hospital care? Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT New research helps define a clear rule of thumb for how close health-care workers with their Wi-Fi devices can be to electronic medical equipment. The bottom line: keep your wireless device further than arm's length from medical equipment and the risk of interference is very small.  |
| Toxic algal blooms behind Klamath River dams create health risks far downstream Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT Toxic algal blooms in reservoirs on the Klamath River can travel more than 180 miles downriver in a few days, survive passage through hydroelectric turbines and create unsafe water conditions on lower parts of the river in northern California. They can accumulate to concentrations that can pose health risks to people, pets and wildlife, and improved monitoring and public health outreach is needed to address this issue, researchers say.  |
| Researchers identify new stem cell population important in the growth of colon cancer Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT A previously unknown, long-lived radiation-resistant stem cell population in the colon has been identified by researchers. Most importantly, they also found that these stem cells can give rise to colonic tumors and sustain their growth. The findings will significantly change the way we study and treat colon cancer, the investigators say.  |
| Returning killer T cells back to barracks could improve vaccines Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:39 AM PDT Just as militaries need to have trained, experienced soldiers ready for future wars, making sure that the immune system has enough battle-ready T cells on hand is important for fast-acting, more effective vaccines, according to researchers.  |
| Helicobacter pylori infection leaves a fingerprint in gastric cancer Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:38 AM PDT Several bacterial infections are now suspected to play a role in the development of cancer but for none is the link so conclusively proven as for H. pylori, which can induce chronic gastritis and ulcer disease, and ultimately lead to the development of cancer. After an infection with Helicobacter pylori, gene activity in the gastric cells resembles the activity of cancer cells, scientists report.  |
| SCOPE program developed to engage communities in preventing childhood obesity Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:38 AM PDT A multidisciplinary group of Canadian researchers has developed a participatory action research program to help address healthy body weight in children. The SCOPE program promotes 'Live 5-2-1-0', which encourages children to enjoy five or more fruits per day; to power down -- no more than two hours of screen time per day; to play actively for at least 1 hour per day; and to choose healthy foods -- zero sugar-sweetened beverages.  |
| Next-generation sampling: Pairing genomics with large-scale herbarium sampling Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:37 AM PDT Rapid advances in sequencing technology are expanding our understanding of biodiversity and evolution in complex plant groups, but access to samples remains a problem. Herbarium material provides a readily accessible solution, but to date has had limited use. Researchers have developed a genomic data set for Solidago using only herbarium material. Called 'next-generation sampling,' this innovative sampling strategy could transform how scientists obtain data sets for species-rich plant groups.  |
| Scientists find methane in Mars meteorites Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:37 AM PDT Scientists have discovered traces of methane in Martian meteorites, a possible clue in the search for life on the Red Planet.  |
| Dengue mosquitoes hitch rides on Amazon river boats Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:37 AM PDT The urban mosquito that carries the dengue fever virus is expanding its range by hitching rides on river boats connecting the Amazonian town of Iquitos, Peru, with rural areas.  |
| In cricket sex songs, males feel the caloric burn, study finds Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:37 AM PDT Male tree crickets may be a hunk of burning love when they're belting out their different mating songs, but they're all burning the same amount of calories no matter how they do it, a study finds.  |
| Renewable energy from evaporating water Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:36 AM PDT Scientists report the development of two novel devices that derive power directly from evaporation -- a floating, piston-driven engine that generates electricity causing a light to flash, and a rotary engine that drives a miniature car.  |
| World spends more than $200 billion to make countries healthier Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:36 AM PDT The world invested more than $200 billion to improve health in lower-income countries over the past 15 years, a study concludes. Global health financing increased significantly after 2000, when the United Nations established the Millennium Development Goals, which included a strong focus on health. This trend in funding has only recently started to change, authors say.  |
| Completing care processes for blood poisoning more quickly Posted: 16 Jun 2015 09:31 AM PDT New guidelines recommend that a patient suffering from blood poisoning receive a series of care processes known as the sepsis resuscitation bundle within six hours of diagnosis. About half the time that doesn't happen. Simulations suggest that improvements in six areas may improve the sepsis resuscitation bundle compliance rate by 21 percent.  |
| New insights into the regulation of disease-associated genes Posted: 16 Jun 2015 08:45 AM PDT New insights have been gained into the regulation of disease-associated genes. Researchers used a new technique that enables them to observe gene regulation at the level of protein production. They could thus capture more individual gene regulations than with traditional methods that only capture gene expression and transcription.  |
| Vagrant bachelors could save rare bird Posted: 16 Jun 2015 08:45 AM PDT A study has revealed the importance of single males in small, threatened populations. Results from a study of endangered New Zealand hihi birds shows that bachelor males who don't hold breeding territories, known as 'floaters,' could help maintain genetic diversity and decrease the likelihood of inbreeding by sneakily fathering chicks.  |
| Attention to angry faces can predict future depression Posted: 16 Jun 2015 08:42 AM PDT Up to 80 percent of individuals with a past history of depression will get depressed again in the future. However, little is known about the specific factors that put these people at risk. New research suggests that it may be due to the things you pay attention to in your life.  |
| Early behavior problems may be linked to 'aging' biomarkers in preschoolers Posted: 16 Jun 2015 08:42 AM PDT Preschoolers with oppositional defiant behavior are more likely to have shorter telomeres, a hallmark of cellular aging, which in adults is associated with increased risk for chronic diseases and conditions like diabetes, obesity and cancer.  |
| Surprisingly few 'busy bees' make global crops grow Posted: 16 Jun 2015 08:40 AM PDT Surprisingly few bee species are responsible for pollinating the planet's crops, a major international study finds. Only two percent of wild bee species pollinate 80 percent of bee-pollinated crops worldwide, the researchers suggest.  |
| 'Unprecedented' earthquake evidence in Africa discovered Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:24 AM PDT Researchers found evidence of fluidization (where soil behaves like quicksand) and upward displacement of material unprecedented in a continental setting, raising questions of how resilient the rapidly growing cities of the region would be in a major shake.  |
| Starfish have a surprising talent for squeezing foreign bodies out through the skin Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:23 AM PDT Starfish have strange talents. Two biology students have revealed that starfish are able to squeeze foreign bodies along the length of their body cavities and out through their arm tips. This newly discovered talent gives insight into how certain animals are able to quickly heal themselves.  |
| Scientists use molecular 'lock and key' for potential control of GMOs Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:23 AM PDT Researchers have developed a way to put bacteria under a molecular lock and key as a way to contain its accidental spread. The method involves a series of genetic mutations that render the microbe inactive unless the right molecule is added to enable its viability.  |
| Complex, large-scale genome analysis made easier Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:23 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new approach to studying the effect of multiple genetic variations on different traits. The new algorithm makes it possible to perform genetic analysis of up to 500,000 individuals -- and many traits -- at the same time.  |
| Quantum theory: Einstein saves the quantum cat Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:23 AM PDT Einstein's theory of time and space will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. Even today it captures the imagination of scientists. Scientists have now discovered that this world-famous theory can explain yet another puzzling phenomenon: the transition from quantum behavior to our classical, everyday world.  |
| Tailored ocean management strategies needed to avoid depletion of fish stocks Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:21 AM PDT A more tailored approach to ocean management is required in the North Atlantic if the permanent loss of an increasingly valuable commercial fish stock is to be avoided, reveals new research.  |
| Increasing regulation of care services is making the sector less attractive for workers Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:20 AM PDT Over 1.5 million people currently work in the care sector in the UK and as the population ages, the demands for care and employees will increase. However, the health and social care sector has experienced challenges in recent years as a result of austerity measures in the public sector which has had implications for the pay and pensions of those working in the sector. With growing demands and fewer resources, the issue of workforce planning has become increasingly critical.  |
| Newly discovered self-repair mechanism Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Self-repair is extremely important for living things. Get a cut on your finger and your skin can make new cells to heal the wound; lose your tail -- if you are a particular kind of lizard -- and tissue regeneration may produce a new one. Now, researchers have discovered a previously unknown self-repair mechanism -- the reorganization of existing anatomy to regain symmetry -- in a certain species of jellyfish.  |
| Physiological responses reveal our political affiliations Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Political partisanship is rooted in affective, physiological processes that cause partisans to toe the party line on policies and issues, regardless of policy content, new research shows  |
| Night driving restriction reduces young driver crashes Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Restricting teenagers from driving unsupervised at night, and introducing strict penalties and other licensing requirements, could reduce crashes significantly, according to research. The study shows that driving laws that eliminate or deter unsupervised night driving by people younger than 18 achieve substantial reductions in car crashes.  |
| Protein discovery fuels redesign of mosquito-based malaria vaccine Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT A promising type of vaccine designed to eradicate malaria by blocking parasite transmission could be a step closer, as a result of experts uncovering new information about the targeted protein.  |
| Extreme exercise linked to blood poisoning Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Extreme exercise can cause intestinal bacteria to leak into the bloodstream, leading to blood poisoning, new research shows. To reach this conclusion, experts monitored people participating in a range of extreme endurance events, including 24-hour ultra-marathons and multi-stage ultra-marathons, run on consecutive days.  |
| Key to quick battery charging time Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Researchers have discovered the structure and transport properties of the 'intermediate state' in lithium-ion batteries -- key to understanding the mechanisms of charge and discharge in rechargeable batteries. These findings may help accelerate battery reaction speed and significantly shorten battery charging time.  |
| Sediment makes it harder for baby Nemo to breathe easy Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that suspended sediment damages fish gills and can increase the rate of disease in fish.  |
| Structural data reveals new mechanism behind protein transport Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:35 AM PDT In order for newly-produced secretory or membrane proteins to find their final destination, the proteins have signal-sequences connected to themselves as a form of address tag. Furthermore, they use a particle guiding them to the cell membrane. In a new study, researchers show how this particle recognizes these address tags and thus makes it possible for the proteins to be directed to the cell membrane.  |
| Softly does it to solve our nuclear waste problem Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:34 AM PDT Driven by the need to find ways of separating, recycling and reducing nuclear waste, chemists are developing our understanding of how uranium interacts with elements from around the periodic table to potentially help improve the selective extraction of spent uranium in nuclear waste clean-up.  |
| Fruit flies 'push the limit' and lead researchers to an unexpected discovery Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:34 AM PDT They're pesky and annoying when they get into your fruit, but Drosophila melanogaster, more affectionately known as the "fruit fly," have led researchers to an unexpected discovery involving drowning and comas.  |
| Not-so-guilty pleasure: Viewing cat videos boosts energy, positive emotions Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:33 AM PDT If you get a warm, fuzzy feeling after watching cute cat videos online, the effect may be more profound than you think, according to research. The Internet phenomenon of watching cat videos, from Lil Bub to Grumpy Cat, does more than simply entertain; it boosts viewers' energy and positive emotions and decreases negative feelings, investigators say.  |
| Lack of sleep affects long-term health Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT Maintaining a good night's sleep is important for our future health, partly because of how it affects lifestyle factors. Previous population based studies have not provided sufficient information on the timing of changes in both sleep and lifestyle to tease out cause and effect relations of this highly intertwined relationship.  |
| Rate of ectopic pregnancy following IVF has almost halved in past 12 years Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT The risk of ectopic pregnancy following fertility treatment with assisted reproduction (ART) is small but significantly higher than found in natural conceptions. Now, a nationwide population-based analysis of all ART pregnancies achieved in the UK between 2000 and 2012 has found that the rate of ectopic pregnancy following IVF and ICSI progressively decreased throughout these 12 years, almost halving from an overall rate of 20 to 12 cases per thousand.  |
| IVF in women over 38: The doctor's dilemma Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT It is a biological fact that female fertility declines with age -- in assisted conception as in natural. Indeed, findings from a 12-year study showed that in her own one clinic cumulative live birth rates following IVF declined from 23.6 percent in women aged 38-39 years to 1.3 percent in those aged 44 and over.  |
| Minor obstetric and gynecologic procedure linked to increased risk of preterm delivery Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT Dilatation and curettage (D&C) is one of the most common minor surgical procedures in obstetrics and gynecology, used mainly for miscarriage or terminations. Today, use of the 15-minute procedure is declining in favor of less invasive medical methods, but it still remains common in O&G. Although D&C is generally considered safe and easy to perform, it is associated with some serious (if rare) side effects, including perforations to the cervix and uterus, infection, and bleeding. Now, an analysis 21 cohort studies which included almost 2 million women has found that a D&C performed in cases of miscarriage or induced abortion increases the chance of preterm birth (under 37 weeks) in a subsequent pregnancy by 29%, and of very preterm birth (under 32 weeks) by 69%.  |
| Couples needing sperm donation favor the same donor for all conceptions Posted: 16 Jun 2015 04:23 AM PDT Despite a prevalence of anonymous sperm donation in European countries, the use of the same sperm donor for subsequent conceptions is of paramount importance to those couples needing sperm donation to have children.  |
