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• Ductal carcinoma in situ treatments evolve over 20 years, but cancer death rates vary little
• When should pediatric residents consult supervisors on issues that come up after hours?
• Magnet hospitals better patient experiences may positively enhance reimbursement
• Scientists pave way for diamonds to trace early cancers
• Adoption of streamlined breast cancer treatment has stagnated, study finds
• Electronics get a power boost with the addition of simple material
• Controllable protein gates deliver on-demand permeability in artificial nanovesicles
• Relationship between carnivorous plants and fire
• Could ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ happen?
• Cell cytoplasm: Floppy but fast
• Unexpected information about Earth's climate history from Yellow River sediment
• Greenland's ice sheet plumbing system revealed
• Researchers gauge heritability of childhood-onset autoimmune diseases
• Sea turtles face plastic pollution peril
• On soft ground? Tread lightly to stay fast
• Dying at home leads to more peace, less grief, but requires wider support
• Immune gene prevents Parkinson's disease, dementia
• Low awareness of DVLA safe driving guidelines among hospital doctors
• Common gene variant linked to chromosome errors, early pregnancy loss
• Smoking set to kill one in three young men in China
• Certain blood markers may indicate early signs of kidney disease
• Adult high blood pressure risk identifiable in childhood
• Molecular characteristics of mammalian melanopsins for non-visual photoreception
• Presenting options to patients: Menu approach good for patients, physicians
• Older tobacco users pay more for health insurance under Affordable Care Act
• New adipogenic cocktail that produces functional adipocytes from mesechymal stromal cells
• Study sheds light on protecting transgender individuals from suicide
• In the sex lives of male worms in the lab, one gene makes a big difference
• A long look back at fishes' extendable jaws

Ductal carcinoma in situ treatments evolve over 20 years, but cancer death rates vary little Posted: 09 Oct 2015 07:22 AM PDT Treatment patterns for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have shifted since the 1990s, with more U.S. women opting for lumpectomy in combination with radiation rather than single-breast mastectomy, according to a study. But the researchers also found an increased tendency for women to seek removal of both breasts, despite their analysis that cancer survival rates remained similar regardless of the form of treatment.

When should pediatric residents consult supervisors on issues that come up after hours? Posted: 09 Oct 2015 07:20 AM PDT While resident physicians responsible for the care of hospital patients are always able to call a supervising senior physician for advice on handling situations that may come up, which situations require immediate consultation and which can wait until the next day can sometimes be unclear. A new study finds significant discrepancies between pediatric residents and supervising physicians regarding when supervisors should be called to help with specific after-hours situations.

Magnet hospitals better patient experiences may positively enhance reimbursement Posted: 09 Oct 2015 07:20 AM PDT A new study shows that Magnet hospitals nationally accredited for nursing excellence have higher patient ratings of care than other hospitals. The study suggests that hospitals seeking to improve patient satisfaction, and qualify for new financial incentives, would be well advised to consider investing in nursing excellence.

Scientists pave way for diamonds to trace early cancers Posted: 09 Oct 2015 07:20 AM PDT Physicists have devised a way to use diamonds to identify cancerous tumors before they become life threatening. Their findings reveal how a nanoscale, synthetic version of the precious gem can light up early-stage cancers in non-toxic, non-invasive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.

Adoption of streamlined breast cancer treatment has stagnated, study finds Posted: 09 Oct 2015 07:20 AM PDT It was hoped that the development of accelerated partial breast irradiation would increase the number of early-stage breast cancer patients getting radiation treatment. A new study, however, has found that adoption of the technique has stagnated -- and many women still aren't getting the radiation treatment that could save their lives.

Electronics get a power boost with the addition of simple material Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:34 AM PDT Materials scientist have just discovered a way to give the workhorse transistor a big boost, using a new technique to incorporate vanadium oxide, one of a family of materials called functional oxides, into the device.

Controllable protein gates deliver on-demand permeability in artificial nanovesicles Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:33 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in building protein gates for artificial nano-vesicles that become transparent only under specific conditions. The gate responds to certain pH values, triggering a reaction and releasing active agents at the desired location.

Relationship between carnivorous plants and fire Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:32 AM PDT Researchers describe the ecological peculiarities of Drosophyllum lusitanicum, a plant which feeds on insects it has attracted by producing a sweet smell.

Could ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ happen? Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:32 AM PDT A researcher has produced a scientific study of the climate scenario featured in the disaster movie 'The Day After Tomorrow'. In the 2004 film, climate warming caused an abrupt collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), leading to catastrophic events such as tornadoes destroying Los Angeles, New York being flooded and the northern hemisphere freezing. Although the scientific credibility of the film drew criticism from climate scientists, the scenario of an abrupt collapse of the AMOC, as a consequence of anthropogenic greenhouse warming, was never assessed with a state-of-the-art climate model.Now scientists have found that, for a period of 20 years, the earth will cool instead of warm if global warming and a collapse of the AMOC occur simultaneously.

Cell cytoplasm: Floppy but fast Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:32 AM PDT Inside cells, communication between the nucleus, which harbors our precious genetic material, and the cytoplasm is mediated by the constant exchange of thousands of signaling molecules and proteins. Until now, it was unknown how this protein traffic can be so fast and yet precise enough to prevent the passage of unwanted molecules. Through a combination of computer simulations and various experimental techniques, researchers have now solved this puzzle: A very flexible and disordered protein can bind to its receptor within billionths of a second.

Unexpected information about Earth's climate history from Yellow River sediment Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:30 AM PDT By meticulously examining sediments in China's Yellow River, a Swedish-Chinese research group are showing that the history of tectonic and climate evolution on Earth may need to be rewritten.

Greenland's ice sheet plumbing system revealed Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:30 AM PDT Pioneering new research sheds light on the impact of climate change on subglacial lakes found under the Greenland ice sheet. A team of experts has studied the water flow paths from one such subglacial lake, which drained beneath the ice sheet in 2011.

Researchers gauge heritability of childhood-onset autoimmune diseases Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:30 AM PDT Scientists have calculated more precise measurements of heritability -- the influence of underlying genes -- in nine autoimmune diseases that begin in childhood. The research may strengthen researchers' abilities to better predict a child's risk for associated autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, collectively affect one in 12 persons in the Western hemisphere.

Sea turtles face plastic pollution peril Posted: 09 Oct 2015 05:30 AM PDT A new global review that set out to investigate the hazards of marine plastic pollution has warned that all seven species of marine turtles can ingest or become entangled in the discarded debris that currently litters the oceans.

On soft ground? Tread lightly to stay fast Posted: 09 Oct 2015 12:25 AM PDT Soft steps and large feet can allow animals and robots to maintain high speeds on very loose soil and sand. These findings offer a new insight into how animals respond to different terrain, and how robots can learn from them.

Dying at home leads to more peace, less grief, but requires wider support Posted: 09 Oct 2015 12:25 AM PDT Dying at home could be beneficial for terminally ill cancer patients and their relatives, according to research. The study shows that, according to questionnaires completed by their relatives, those who die at home experience more peace and a similar amount of pain compared to those who die in hospital, and their relatives also experience less grief. However, this requires discussion of preferences, access to a comprehensive home care package and facilitation of family caregiving.

Immune gene prevents Parkinson's disease, dementia Posted: 09 Oct 2015 12:24 AM PDT An estimated seven to ten million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease (PD). More than half of PD patients develop progressive disease showing signs of dementia similar to Alzheimer's disease. A research team has discovered that non-inheritable PD may be caused by functional changes in the immune regulating gene Interferon-beta. Treatment with Interferon-beta-gene therapy successfully prevented neuronal death and disease effects in an experimental model of PD.

Low awareness of DVLA safe driving guidelines among hospital doctors Posted: 08 Oct 2015 04:10 PM PDT New research concludes that medically disqualified patients may wrongly assume themselves fit to drive on discharge from hospital because of inadequate knowledge among doctors of DVLA guidelines relating to commonly occurring medical conditions.

Common gene variant linked to chromosome errors, early pregnancy loss Posted: 08 Oct 2015 04:10 PM PDT Researchers have identified a common genetic variant strongly associated with chromosome gains and losses during the early stages of human embryonic development. These errors in cell division, which are almost always fatal to the embryo, are thought to be a major cause of early pregnancy loss in humans and contribute to failure of in vitro fertilization treatments.

Smoking set to kill one in three young men in China Posted: 08 Oct 2015 04:10 PM PDT One in three of all the young men in China will eventually be killed by tobacco, unless a substantial proportion stop smoking, according to new research. The researchers conducted two large, nationally representative studies 15 years apart, tracking the health consequences of smoking in a large group of people in China. The first study took place in the 1990s, and involved a quarter of a million men. The second study is ongoing, and involved half a million men and women.

Certain blood markers may indicate early signs of kidney disease Posted: 08 Oct 2015 02:36 PM PDT Newly discovered blood markers may lead to improved and earlier diagnoses of kidney disease, according to a study. The findings could help clinicians monitor patients' kidney health.

Adult high blood pressure risk identifiable in childhood Posted: 08 Oct 2015 02:35 PM PDT Groups of people at risk of having high blood pressure and other related health issues by age 38 can be identified in childhood, new research suggests. The findings are the latest to emerge from the internationally renowned Dunedin Study, which has tracked more than a 1000 people born in Dunedin in 1972-73 from birth to the present.

Molecular characteristics of mammalian melanopsins for non-visual photoreception Posted: 08 Oct 2015 02:35 PM PDT A mammalian photoreceptive protein melanopsin spontaneously releases the chromophore retinal, say researchers. The property would be important to regulate non-visual photoreception in mammals.

Presenting options to patients: Menu approach good for patients, physicians Posted: 08 Oct 2015 02:35 PM PDT Presenting and discussing a menu of treatment options is good for both the patient and the physician according to a new article.

Older tobacco users pay more for health insurance under Affordable Care Act Posted: 08 Oct 2015 02:35 PM PDT A new study finds tobacco users would pay more for a health insurance plan from the Affordable Care Act exchanges than non-tobacco users in nearly every county of the 37 states that used healthcare.gov to sell their plans in 2015.

New adipogenic cocktail that produces functional adipocytes from mesechymal stromal cells Posted: 08 Oct 2015 12:29 PM PDT Multipotent mesechymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been recognized as a source of adipocytes both in vivo and in vitro. It is reported that, simultaneous activation of canonical signaling pathways by dexamethasone through the glucocorticoid receptor and CCAAT-enchancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) and rosiglitazone through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma), is sufficient for inducing adipogenic differentiation from MSCs, producing functional adipocytes.

Study sheds light on protecting transgender individuals from suicide Posted: 08 Oct 2015 12:29 PM PDT The likelihood of a transgender person attempting suicide is very high, often because of the prejudice, transphobia and other stressors. A new study examined factors that may protect transgender adults from attempting suicide. Its conclusions also inform medical and mental health professionals who work with transgender clients.

In the sex lives of male worms in the lab, one gene makes a big difference Posted: 08 Oct 2015 11:16 AM PDT For tiny nematode worms of the species Caenorhabditis elegans -- males are rare and all but irrelevant in nature. That's because the vast majority of C. elegans individuals are self-fertilizing hermaphrodites. In the laboratory environment, males of the species do turn up with some regularity, and now researchers have discovered natural variation in a single gene produces males with excretory pores that attract the sexual attentions of other males.

A long look back at fishes' extendable jaws Posted: 08 Oct 2015 11:16 AM PDT When it comes to catching elusive prey, many fishes rely on a special trick: protruding jaws that quickly extend their reach to snap up that next meal. Now, researchers have found a clever way to trace the evolution of jaw protrusion in fishes over many millions of years.

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