| New treatment options, better hope of preventing vision loss from diabetes Posted: 19 Nov 2015 01:31 PM PST This National Diabetes Month, there is some good news for people with eye complications from diabetes. A network of researchers has found that the drug Lucentis (ranibizumab) can be highly effective for treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can occur as a complication of diabetes. The researchers say this is the first major advance in therapy in 40 years. |
| Microscopy captures real-time view of evolving fuel cell catalysts Posted: 19 Nov 2015 01:26 PM PST Atomic-level imaging of catalysts could help manufacturers lower the cost and improve the performance of emission-free fuel cell technologies. |
| Children born to women after bariatric surgery at higher risk of obesity, diabetes Posted: 19 Nov 2015 01:26 PM PST Weight-loss surgery can boost fertility in women and reduce the risk of pregnancy complications that commonly occur in obese women. However, a new study in rats suggests that weight-loss surgery alters mothers' hormone and chemical balance, which harms offspring during gestation and later in life. |
| Nanocarriers may carry new hope for brain cancer therapy Posted: 19 Nov 2015 01:10 PM PST A new family of nanocarriers, called '3HM,' has been developed and meets all the size and stability requirements for effectively delivering therapeutic drugs to the brain for the treatment of a deadly form of cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme. |
| Number of high-skilled Mexican entrepreneurs migrating to US has increased Posted: 19 Nov 2015 01:10 PM PST The number of high-skilled Mexican entrepreneurs migrating to the United States has increased in recent years, but the trend is not solely in response to organized crime activity in Mexico, according to a new research. |
| Parasitic worms affect human reproduction Posted: 19 Nov 2015 01:10 PM PST Anthropologists study the Tsimane people of Bolivia to determine how parasitism affects female fertility. |
| New camouflage mechanism fish use in the open ocean Posted: 19 Nov 2015 01:05 PM PST Fish have a remarkable way to hide from their predators using camouflage techniques. A new study shows that fish scales have evolved to not only reflect light, but to also scramble polarization. Researchers identified the tissue structure that fish evolved to do this, which could be an analog to develop new materials to help hide objects in the water. |
| Danish cannabis is stronger than ever Posted: 19 Nov 2015 11:23 AM PST The concentration of the euphoriant THC in cannabis has tripled in the space of 20 years in Denmark. The reason may be a systematic processing of the cannabis plants, some of which are being grown in skunk farms in Denmark. Cannabis of such high quality can lead to a greater risk of harm and adverse side effects. This is in particular a problem for the large group of young people who smoke it several times a month. |
| Microbiome technology may help combat certain infections Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:41 AM PST Two patent applications were filed for nutrient based compositions utilizing an innovative microbiome technology that may help combat certain infections. |
| Yin and yang of serotonin neurons in mood regulation Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:40 AM PST Low levels of serotonin in the brain are known to play a role in depression and anxiety, and it is customary to treat these disorders with medications that increase the amount of this neurotransmitter. However, a new study suggests that this approach may be too simple. It appears that neighboring serotonin-producing brainstem regions exert different and sometimes opposing effects on behavior. |
| Piping plovers losing breeding habitat to wetland drainage Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:40 AM PST Piping plovers, a federally threatened species of shorebirds, are likely losing wetland breeding habitat in the Great Plains as a result of wetland drainage, climate change or both. |
| Sequencing algae's genome may aid biofuel production Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:39 AM PST The complete genetic makeup of a species of ecologically important algae, which may aid in biofuel production, has been sequenced by scientists. This is only the second time that researchers have sequenced the genome of one of these ecologically important and plentiful algae, known as haptophytes. |
| Ethical issues analyzed regarding social media, healthcare Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:39 AM PST Social media has become ingrained into almost every area of our life, but should you really be Facebook friends with your doctor? A new article uses five case studies to highlight possible ethical and legal issues that arise with the use of social media in health care. The cases address topics such as posting work-related photos on Facebook, tweeting personal or political opinions, and Googling patients and prospective candidates for jobs. |
| 'Rat vision' may give humans best sight of all Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:39 AM PST Humans have the best of all possible visual worlds because our full stereo vision combines with primitive visual pathways to quickly spot danger, a study has discovered. |
| Control of blood vessel formation Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:39 AM PST Scientists have elucidated the control of cellular movement during blood vessel formation. Their findings show that cellular motion occurs not in only the direction toward the tip of the blood vessels, but in a dynamically changing manner. |
| Brainstem 'stop neurons' make us halt when we walk Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:32 AM PST A population of 'stop cells' in the brainstem is essential for the ability of mice to stop their locomotion, according to a new study. Researchers report a brainstem pathway specifically dedicated to enforce locomotor arrest; its selective activation stops locomotion, while its silencing favors it. |
| Bacterial protein can help convert stem cells into neurons Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:32 AM PST As the recipe book for turning stem cells into other types of cells keeps growing larger, the search for the perfect, therapeutically relevant blend of differentiation factors is revealing some interesting biology. A new study, for example, found that a protein in E. coli bacteria combined with small molecules can act synergistically to push pluripotent cells into functional neurons. |
| How weight-loss surgery reduces sugar cravings Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:32 AM PST Weight loss surgery curbs the sweet tooth by acting on the brain's reward system, according to a new study. The researchers found that gastrointestinal bypass surgery, which is used to treat morbid obesity and diabetes, reduced sugar-seeking behavior in mice by reducing the release of a reward chemical called dopamine in the brain. The findings suggest that positive outcomes are more likely if sugary foods seem less rewarding after surgery. |
| 'Healthy' foods differ by individual Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:32 AM PST Ever wonder why that diet didn't work? An new study tracking the blood sugar levels of 800 people over a week suggests that even if we all ate the same meal, how it's metabolized would differ from one person to another. The findings demonstrate the power of personalized nutrition in helping people identify which foods can help or hinder their health goals. |
| Running prevents postnatal side effects of epilepsy drugs in mice Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:32 AM PST The simple act of running may be sufficient to prevent long-term cognitive impairments caused by prenatal exposure to antiepileptic drugs, according to a study. The findings revealed that prenatal exposure to a commonly used antiepileptic drug called valproic acid inhibited the birth of new neurons in the brains of adult mice and impaired their performance on learning and memory tasks. |
| Infants with blind parents pay less attention to eyes Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:32 AM PST For parents of young children, there are few milestones more memorable than that first word. But people communicate an awful lot to each other without ever saying anything at all. So, how do infants learn to communicate with the people around them nonverbally, through eye contact? Researchers have some new insight into this silent form of communication from an unlikely source: the sighted children of blind parents. |
| New model to study, find ways to target rare tumor Posted: 19 Nov 2015 10:32 AM PST Angiosarcoma or lymphangiosarcoma, a rare malignant tumor of the blood or lymphatic vessels, has no cure, say cancer researchers. However, through recent study, a team has found a new target that could lead to therapies for this rare type of tumor. |
| In dying cells, research team finds potential way to control cholesterol levels Posted: 19 Nov 2015 09:26 AM PST A discovery about how the body deals with the cholesterol contained within its dying cells has suggested an exciting new approach to control people's cholesterol levels – and thus their risk of developing heart disease. |
| Can a website keep suicidal thoughts away? Study in stressed young doctors suggests so Posted: 19 Nov 2015 09:26 AM PST If you think your life is stressful, try being a new doctor. Their first year especially is a time of stress, sleeplessness and self-doubt – and four times the usual rate of suicidal thoughts. But a new study shows that a free web-based tool to support their mental health may cut that rate in half. |
| How exercise may energize brain cell function: Animal study Posted: 19 Nov 2015 09:26 AM PST As we age or develop neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, our brain cells may not produce sufficient energy to remain fully functional. Researchers have discovered that an enzyme called SIRT3 that is located in mitochondria — the cell's powerhouse — may protect mice brains against the kinds of stresses believed to contribute to energy loss. Furthermore, mice that ran on a wheel increased their levels of this protective enzyme. |
| Architecture of Protein Complex Hints at Its Foundational Function in Chromosome Segregation Posted: 19 Nov 2015 09:26 AM PST The organization of a protein complex that is critical during chromosome segregation has been revealed by researchers. Without the foundation it supplies, the link between chromosome and kinetochore would fail, as would chromosome segregation and cell division. |
| Youth violence undermines social and economic development in poorest corners of the world Posted: 19 Nov 2015 09:23 AM PST Youth violence undermines social and economic development, especially in the poorest corners of the world, according to new research. However, increased government spending on education may be the key to facilitate policy efforts to protect youth. |
| Intelligent gel attacks cancer Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:38 AM PST A new injectable "biogel" is effective in delivering anti-cancer agents directly into cancerous tumours and killing them. This technology has already been successfully tested in the laboratory. If it works in patients, the therapy could one day revolutionize treatment for many forms of cancer. |
| Marine animals use new form of secret light communication Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:35 AM PST A new form of secret light communication used by marine animals has been discovered by scientists. The findings may have applications in satellite remote sensing, biomedical imaging, cancer detection, and computer data storage. |
| Stormy space weather puts equatorial regions' power at risk Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:35 AM PST Stormy space weather sweeping across the equator is threatening vital power grids in regions long considered safe from such events, ground-breaking new research reveals. |
| Improving fitness may counteract brain atrophy in older adults, study shows Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:34 AM PST Older adults that improved their fitness through a moderate intensity exercise program increased the thickness of their brain's cortex, the outer layer of the brain that typically atrophies with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study. These effects were found in both healthy older adults and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, an early stage of Alzheimer's disease. |
| New method to calculate lifetime energy requirements of cells, genes Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:27 AM PST In a recently published paper, Indiana University biologists have calculated the lifetime energy requirements of multiple types of cells, as well as the energy required to replicate and express the genes within these cells. |
| Cool, dim dwarf star is magnetic powerhouse Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:27 AM PST Astronomers have discovered that a dim, cool dwarf star is generating a surprisingly powerful magnetic field. |
| Novel proteins linked to Huntington's disease identified Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:27 AM PST A new discovery about Huntington's disease has been made by researchers, showing that the gene that causes the fatal disorder makes an unexpected 'cocktail' of mutant proteins that accumulate in the brain. |
| Details from the inner life of a tooth Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:27 AM PST Both in materials science and in biomedical research it is important to be able to view minute nanostructures. Scientists have developed a new computed tomography method based on scattering of X-rays. With this technique they can visualize nanostructures in objects measuring just a few millimeters, for example the precise 3-D structure of collagen fibers in a piece of human tooth. |
| 'Good' and 'bad' bacteria in the fight against citrus greening disease Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:27 AM PST Beneficial bacteria inside the Asian citrus psyllid, which spreads the pathogen believed to cause citrus greening disease, may be playing a role in Florida's devastating outbreak, report scientists. |
| Growing sweet on tomatoes Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:24 AM PST A new method to produce sweeter, well-growing tomatoes has been developed by researchers. The scientists used a bioinformatics search tool to find nucleotide sequences in the tomato genome similar to a known tobacco gene sequence that can be repressed by sucrose. |
| Visual test to quickly check brain function quality developed by scientists Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:24 AM PST A simple technique to measure an individual's visual processing speed -- the speed at which an individual can comprehend visual information -- has been developed in order to identify whether or not they may have cognitive issues. The recent study focuses on using a simple test of visual flicker to evaluate an individual's level of executive cognitive abilities. |
| Smoking hits all-time low, but not for these three groups Posted: 19 Nov 2015 08:24 AM PST A first-of-its-kind program targets groups with highest tobacco rates and matches smokers with counselors in their demographic to help them quit, say experts from one of American's largest nonprofit quitline. |
| Ancient fossil forest unearthed in Arctic Norway Posted: 19 Nov 2015 07:35 AM PST Ancient fossil forests have beenunearthed in Arctic Norway, thought to be partly responsible for one of the most dramatic shifts in the Earth's climate in the past 400 million years. |
| Preventing famine with mobile phones Posted: 19 Nov 2015 07:33 AM PST With a mobile data collection app and satellite data, scientists will be able to predict whether a certain region is vulnerable to food shortages and malnutrition, say experts. By scanning Earth's surface with microwave beams, researchers can measure the water content in soil. Comparing these measurements with extensive data sets obtained over the last few decades, it is possible to calculate whether the soil is sufficiently moist or whether there is danger of droughts. The method has now been tested in the Central African Republic. |
| Hummingbirds rely on raw power, not physique, to outmaneuver rivals Posted: 19 Nov 2015 07:33 AM PST Brute strength is surprisingly important to the ability of hummingbirds to outmaneuver rivals for nectar and evade predators, according to new research. An intensive study of 20 Anna's hummingbirds, Calypte anna, has revealed that birds with the highest muscle capacity are able to accelerate faster and make more demanding, complex turns. |
| New approach to help bones heal faster and better Posted: 19 Nov 2015 07:32 AM PST A new type of drug is being developed that may help bones heal faster and better. Using bone samples from people undergoing hip replacement surgery, the researchers were able to show that the drug - a protein that activates a molecular pathway called the 'Wnt' pathway - causes stem cells found within bones to divide and to turn into more bone cells The Wnt pathway is found throughout the animal kingdom - from sponges to humans - and it plays a fundamental role in animal development and disease. It is involved in controlling the growth of stem cells, which are 'master cells' that help restore tissues after injury. |
| New insights in the search for treatments for neurological diseases Posted: 19 Nov 2015 06:57 AM PST The fine details of a mechanism that provides more insight in the communication between neurons has been revealed by a team of scientists. The research has clarified how damaged synapses -- the connection points between neurons -- are repaired to keep communication between neurons at an optimal level. Disturbances in these mechanisms are believed to play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, ALS or Parkinson's disease. |
| How a raisin can predict a toddler's future academic ability Posted: 19 Nov 2015 06:57 AM PST A simple test using a raisin can predict how well a toddler will perform academically at age eight, according to new research. |
| Can natural remedies jeopardize cardiovascular health? Posted: 19 Nov 2015 06:57 AM PST Physicians report on the case of a woman who presented with aconitine-induced cardiovascular symptoms. Their report warns that the use of this natural ingredient may lead to severe poisoning. |
| More than half of 'children' misperceive or reject parents' political party affiliations Posted: 19 Nov 2015 06:57 AM PST More than half of all 'children' in the US either misperceive or reject their parents' political party affiliations, suggests a new study that relies on data from two family-based surveys that contain self-reported measures of party identification for both parents and children, children's perceptions of their parents' party affiliations, and measures of the parent-child relationship. |
| Urine-derived stem cells predict patient response to cholesterol-lowering drugs Posted: 19 Nov 2015 06:57 AM PST High blood cholesterol is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. To identify new strategies to combat high cholesterol in genetically predisposed individuals, new preclinical models that mimic the underlying pathophysiology are needed. Researchers have now shown that cells derived from patient urine samples can be reprogrammed to rapidly generate patient-specific models of hypercholesterolemia. These models provide a tool to accurately predict patient response to cholesterol-lowering drugs. |
| Possible new mechanism for aspirin's role in cancer prevention Posted: 19 Nov 2015 06:57 AM PST A new technique called metabolite profiling has been used by scientists to identify a biochemical pathway previously unknown to be regulated by aspirin. Specifically, the researchers found that aspirin substantially decreases the level of a chemical called 2-hydroxyglutarate in the blood of healthy volunteers and in two colorectal cancer cell lines. |
| Quantum spin could create unstoppable, one-dimensional electron waves Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:42 PM PST Scientists have proposed a solution to the subatomic stoppage of electron flow due to defects in materials: a novel way to create a more robust electron wave by binding together the electron's direction of movement and its spin. |
| Obesity spells problems for trauma patients Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:05 PM PST A link between obesity and a higher risk for surgery in orthopaedic trauma patients has been uncovered by new research. In addition, researchers found that patients with obesity had longer hospital stays and greater treatment costs. |
| Sound deprivation leads to irreversible hearing loss Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:05 PM PST Sound deprivation in adult mice causes irreversible damage to the inner ear. The findings suggest that chronic conductive hearing loss, such as that caused by recurrent ear infections, leads to permanent hearing impairment if it remains untreated. |
| New way to monitor vital signs Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:05 PM PST Doctors may one day be able to monitor patients' vital signs by having them swallow an ingestible electronic device that measures heart rate and breathing rate from within the gastrointestinal tract, report scientists. |
| Functional vocal cord tissue grown in lab Posted: 18 Nov 2015 03:04 PM PST Scientists have succeeded in growing functional vocal cord tissue in the laboratory, a major step toward restoring a voice to people who have lost their vocal cords to cancer surgery or other injuries. Experts from several disciplines were able to bioengineer vocal cord tissue able to transmit sound. About 20 million Americans suffer from voice impairments, and many have damage to the vocal cord mucosae, the specialized tissues that vibrate as air moves over them, giving rise to voice. |
