ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Poorer movement skills at seven months in children at risk of autism, study finds
• Family meals help children to be less fussy about food
• New drugs should be compared with existing treatments before approval, say experts
• Children who have their adenoids out do not get fewer upper respiratory infections, study finds
• Malaria prevention strategies could substantially cut killer bacterial infections, study suggests
• Fatal fungal infections resist newest class of drugs
• Proceed with caution when setting up financial incentives for general practice doctors
• Virtual reality may help adults recover from stroke
• Micronutrient powders reduce anemia and iron deficiency in infants in low-income countries, review finds
• Pain relief can now be based on solid evidence
• Study examines relationship between critical care training with mechanical ventilation clinical protocols and knowledge about ventilator management
• Demographic, educational factors associated with medical specialty board certification identified in new study
• Medical schools spend small amount of time teaching content related to health of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender patients, survey finds
• Unconscious race and social bias among medical students: Study examines prevalence
• Cognitive changes may predict Alzheimer's disease development more accurately than biomarkers
• Grief reactions subside in most children and teens whose parent dies suddenly, but may persist or increase in some cases
• Adherence to recommended treatment guidelines for acute gastroenteritis appears to differ based on patient volume
• Some hospitalized children exposed to many medications and therapeutic agents, study finds
• Vaccination rates among 11- and 12-year-old children appear to be increasing, though vaccines not always given on schedule
• Study finds association between blood biomarker and risk of death
• Many adverse drug reactions among hospital and emergency care patients are preventable
• One drink a day may be related to good overall health in women when older
• Circadian clocks in a blind fish
• Use of bednets to prevent malaria saves African children's lives
• Major advance in sleeping sickness drug
• Fetal tissue plays pivotal role in formation of insulin-producing cells; Mysterious mesenchyme is key piece of pancreatic puzzle
• Access to health insurance top indicator for better outcomes among undocumented children, study finds
• Peer pressure? It's hardwired into our brains
• Metabolic state of brain cancer stem cells significantly different than the cancer cells they create
• A 'jumping gene's' preferred targets may influence genome evolution
• Protecting adolescent girls from unwanted unprotected sex
• Modeling disparities may help with cervical cancer prevention
• Screening for HPV persistence and cervical cancer risk
• Simulation an effective way to train health-care professionals, research review finds
• BRCA1 gene mutation associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy
• Widespread medical resident burnout and debt, study finds
• Recent trends show recession's effect on US advanced technology exports
• New cellular surprise may help scientists better understand human mitochondrial diseases
• Neurosurgeons use adult stem cells to grow neck vertebrae
• A more progressive tax system makes people happier, 54-nation study finds
• Scientists pinpoint shape-shifting mechanism critical to protein signaling
• Milky Way galaxy might hold thousands of ticking 'time bombs'
• Researchers pioneer novel technique to make plasmonic nanogap arrays
• Diabetes: New drug target that stimulates beta cell growth identified
• 'White-coat effect' elevates greyhounds' blood pressure
• Neonatal and infant feeding disorders program saves infants from dependence on feeding tubes
• New video gaming technology used to detect illness, prevent falls in older adults
• Microbes generate electricity while cleaning up nuclear waste
• Scientists make turfgrass safer for animals, deadly for insects
• Innovation is step toward digital graphene transistors
• Quality problems more likely in offshore drug plants, study suggests
• Volunteering to help others could lead to better health; Reduced mortality risk not seen in people motivated by self-centered reasons
• 99-cent pricing may not be worth the penny, says expert
• FDA clears biomarker test for ovarian cancer
• Researchers create new Urban Network Analysis toolbox
• Loss of key estrogen regulator may lead to metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis
• Innovative nanoparticle purification system uses magnetic fields
• Sharper views of Apollo 12, 14, 17 sites in new images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
• Breakthrough could double wireless capacity with no new towers
• New material shows promise for trapping pollutants

Poorer movement skills at seven months in children at risk of autism, study finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 06:20 PM PDT Researchers report that poorer movement skills detected as early as 7 months old are observed in children at a higher risk of developing autistic spectrum disorder than children in the general population.

Family meals help children to be less fussy about food Posted: 06 Sep 2011 06:20 PM PDT A study has found that eating together as a family may encourage children to be more open to trying new types of food.

New drugs should be compared with existing treatments before approval, say experts Posted: 06 Sep 2011 04:16 PM PDT Manufacturers should have to show how their drugs compare to existing treatments before approval to help ensure that the most beneficial and safest therapies reach patients and that limited healthcare resources are invested wisely, argue experts in a new article.

Children who have their adenoids out do not get fewer upper respiratory infections, study finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 04:16 PM PDT Children who have their adenoids surgically removed do not get fewer upper respiratory tract infections such as sinusitis and colds, new research finds.

Malaria prevention strategies could substantially cut killer bacterial infections, study suggests Posted: 06 Sep 2011 04:16 PM PDT Interventions targeting malaria, such as insecticide-treated bed nets, antimalarial drugs and mosquito control, could substantially reduce cases of bacteraemia, which kill hundreds of thousands of children each year in Africa and worldwide.

Fatal fungal infections resist newest class of drugs Posted: 06 Sep 2011 04:16 PM PDT Fungi that cause severe infections in those with compromised immune systems are resisting the action of the latest group of antifungal drugs. Uncovering their strategies for doing this will lead to more effective treatments, says a scientist.

Proceed with caution when setting up financial incentives for general practice doctors Posted: 06 Sep 2011 04:16 PM PDT There is growing use of financial incentives in many countries to reward primary care practitioners who improve the quality of their services. In a new review, a team of researchers found insufficient evidence to either support or refute the practice. They conclude that policymakers need to proceed with caution before setting up an incentive scheme and think carefully about the way it is designed.

Virtual reality may help adults recover from stroke Posted: 06 Sep 2011 04:16 PM PDT Early results suggest that using virtual reality (VR) human-computer interfaces might help adult stroke patients regain arm function and improve their ability to perform standard tasks, when compared to patients who don't use VR, according to a new review.

Micronutrient powders reduce anemia and iron deficiency in infants in low-income countries, review finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 04:16 PM PDT Adding a powder that contains several vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc and vitamin A, to the semi-solid foods taken by infants and children between six months and two years of age, can reduce their risk of anemia and iron deficiency, according to a new review.

Pain relief can now be based on solid evidence Posted: 06 Sep 2011 04:16 PM PDT A new review of data relating to about 45,000 patients involved in approximately 350 individual studies has provided an evaluation of the effect you can expect to get if you take commonly used painkillers at specific doses. The review also identifies pain killers for which there is only poor or no reliable evidence.

Study examines relationship between critical care training with mechanical ventilation clinical protocols and knowledge about ventilator management Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:55 PM PDT Critical care physicians trained in a high-intensity clinical protocol environment for mechanical ventilation practice had similar test results on examination questions regarding mechanical ventilation management compared to physicians in a low-intensity protocol environment, according to a new study.

Demographic, educational factors associated with medical specialty board certification identified in new study Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:48 PM PDT Certain demographic and educational factors, such as race/ethnicity, age at graduation and level of debt, are associated with the likelihood of a medical school graduate becoming board certified, according to a new study.

Medical schools spend small amount of time teaching content related to health of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender patients, survey finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:45 PM PDT A survey of deans of medical schools in the U.S. and Canada finds that the median (midpoint) amount of time in the medical school curriculum dedicated to topics related to the health care needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients is about 5 hours, although there is wide variation among the schools in quantity, content and perceived quality of instruction, according to a new study.

Unconscious race and social bias among medical students: Study examines prevalence Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:42 PM PDT A majority of first-year medical students at a single medical school who were surveyed regarding race and social class preferences had scores consistent with an unconscious preference towards white people and upper social class, although when presented with various clinical scenarios, these biases were not associated with the students' clinical assessments or decision making, according to a new study.

Cognitive changes may predict Alzheimer's disease development more accurately than biomarkers Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:33 PM PDT Compared with changes in biomarkers, changes in cognitive abilities appear to be stronger predictors of whether an individual with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) will develop Alzheimer's disease, according to a new report.

Grief reactions subside in most children and teens whose parent dies suddenly, but may persist or increase in some cases Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:31 PM PDT When a parent dies suddenly, most children and teens experience grief that fades over time, but some have increased or prolonged grief reactions that may increase the risk of depression and inability to function normally, according to a new report.

Adherence to recommended treatment guidelines for acute gastroenteritis appears to differ based on patient volume Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:29 PM PDT Hospitals that admit more children with acute gastroenteritis appear more likely to follow recommended guidelines for treatment than those that admit fewer children with the condition, according to a new report.

Some hospitalized children exposed to many medications and therapeutic agents, study finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:27 PM PDT Some hospitalized pediatric patients, particularly those with rare conditions, may be exposed to many drugs and therapeutic agents, according to a new report.

Vaccination rates among 11- and 12-year-old children appear to be increasing, though vaccines not always given on schedule Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:25 PM PDT Receipt of recommended vaccinations by 11- and 12-year-old children appears to be increasing, although clinicians often do not administer all indicated vaccines during vaccination visits, according to a new report.

Study finds association between blood biomarker and risk of death Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:16 PM PDT In an analysis of data from two separate study groups, elderly men and women who had higher levels of the protein biomarker cathepsin S in their blood had an increased risk of death, according to a new study. This biomarker might have a relationship with the development of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Many adverse drug reactions among hospital and emergency care patients are preventable Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:15 PM PDT Many cases of adverse drug reactions seen in hospital and emergency care could be prevented, says the first meta-analysis of preventable adverse drug reactions in both out-patients and in-patients.

One drink a day may be related to good overall health in women when older Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:15 PM PDT Women who drink 15 grams or less of alcohol a day (the equivalent of one drink of any alcoholic beverage) at midlife may be healthier when older than women who do not drink at all, who consume more than two drinks a day, or who consume four drinks or more at the one time.

Circadian clocks in a blind fish Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:15 PM PDT Do animals that have evolved underground, completely isolated from the day-night cycle, still "know" what time it is? Does a normal circadian clock persist during evolution under constant darkness? A new study tackles these questions by investigating a species of cavefish which has lived for 2 million years beneath the Somalian desert, finding that it has an unusual circadian clock; it ticks with a period of up to 47 hours, and is completely blind.

Use of bednets to prevent malaria saves African children's lives Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:15 PM PDT In several sub-Saharan African countries, the rapid, widespread implementation of insecticide treated nets (often referred to as ITNs -- which can prevent malaria by protecting those sleeping under them from the bites of night-flying, malaria parasite-carrying mosquitoes) has been accompanied by significant reductions in child deaths, real life findings that reflect the results of clinical trials and support continued efforts to scale-up and maintain ITN coverage in sub-Saharan Africa.

Major advance in sleeping sickness drug Posted: 06 Sep 2011 03:15 PM PDT A new study presents a key advance in developing a safer cure for sleeping sickness. Researchers have created a version of the drug most commonly used to treat sleeping sickness which can be administered orally in pill form.

Fetal tissue plays pivotal role in formation of insulin-producing cells; Mysterious mesenchyme is key piece of pancreatic puzzle Posted: 06 Sep 2011 02:30 PM PDT A somewhat mysterious soft tissue found in the fetus during early development in the womb plays a pivotal role in the formation of mature beta cells the sole source of the body's insulin. The discovery may lead to new ways of addressing Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Access to health insurance top indicator for better outcomes among undocumented children, study finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:43 PM PDT Undocumented children who have access to health insurance are healthier and more engaged in school than those without insurance, according to researchers in California.

Peer pressure? It's hardwired into our brains Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:43 PM PDT A new study explains why people take stupid chances when all of their friends are watching that they would never take by themselves. According to the study, the human brain places more value on winning in a social setting than it does on winning when you're alone.

Metabolic state of brain cancer stem cells significantly different than the cancer cells they create Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:43 PM PDT The metabolic state of glioma stem cells, which give rise to deadly glioblastomas, is significantly different from that of the brain cancer cells to which they give birth, a factor which helps those stem cells avoid treatment and cause recurrence later.

A 'jumping gene's' preferred targets may influence genome evolution Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:16 PM PDT Our genetic blueprint contains numerous entities known as transposons, which have the ability to move from place to place on the chromosomes within a cell. An astounding 50 percent of human DNA comprises both active transposon elements and the decaying remains of former transposons. Every time a plant or animal cell prepares to divide, the chromosome regions richest in transposon-derived sequences are among the last to duplicate. New research provides potential insight into both these enigmas.

Protecting adolescent girls from unwanted unprotected sex Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:16 PM PDT Partner abuse can lead to HIV infection, and black women are most at risk. A new study has found that 46 percent of African-American adolescent girls report that their partner did not use a condom the last time they had sex -- often because of partner abuse.

Modeling disparities may help with cervical cancer prevention Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:16 PM PDT Researchers reported that explicit inclusion of disparities in cost-effectiveness analysis, would allow policy makers to identify strategies that would reduce overall cancer risk, reduce disparities between racial ethnic subgroups, and be cost-effective, according to a new study.

Screening for HPV persistence and cervical cancer risk Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:16 PM PDT Women over the age of thirty who test positive for HPV (Human Papillomavirus) should be re-tested two years later as part of cervical cancer screening, according to a new study.

Simulation an effective way to train health-care professionals, research review finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:16 PM PDT A new analysis has found that simulation-based training is an effective way to teach physicians, nurses, dentists, emergency medical technicians and other health professionals.

BRCA1 gene mutation associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:16 PM PDT Nearly half of breast cancer patients carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation experience a complete pathological response (pCR) -- the disappearance of all evidence of disease from the breast tissue and lymph nodes -- regardless of disease stage after standard neoadjuvent chemotherapy, according to new research.

Widespread medical resident burnout and debt, study finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 01:16 PM PDT Feelings of burnout persist among internal medicine residents despite significant cutbacks in duty hours for doctors-in-training in recent years, a U.S. national study finds.

Recent trends show recession's effect on US advanced technology exports Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:45 PM PDT US exports of advanced technology products (ATP) fared better than other non-advanced technology exports during the recent US recession, says a new report.

New cellular surprise may help scientists better understand human mitochondrial diseases Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:25 PM PDT A surprising new discovery regarding the division of tiny "power plants" within cells known as mitochondria has implications for better understanding a wide variety of human diseases and conditions due to mitochondrial defects.

Neurosurgeons use adult stem cells to grow neck vertebrae Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:25 PM PDT Neurosurgery researchers have used a new, leading-edge stem cell therapy to promote the growth of bone tissue following the removal of cervical discs -- the cushions between the bones in the neck -- to relieve chronic, debilitating pain.

A more progressive tax system makes people happier, 54-nation study finds Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:24 PM PDT The way some people talk, you'd think that a flat tax system -- in which everyone pays at the same rate regardless of income -- would make citizens feel better than more progressive taxation, where wealthier people are taxed at higher rates. Indeed, the United States has been diminishing progressivity of its tax structure for decades. But a new study comparing 54 nations found that flattening the tax risks flattening social wellbeing as well.

Scientists pinpoint shape-shifting mechanism critical to protein signaling Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:24 PM PDT Scientists have shown that changes in a protein's structure can change its signaling function and they have pinpointed the precise regions where those changes take place. The new findings could help provide a much clearer picture of potential drugs that would be both effective and highly specific in their biological actions.

Milky Way galaxy might hold thousands of ticking 'time bombs' Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:24 PM PDT In the Hollywood blockbuster "Speed," a bomb on a bus is rigged to blow up if the bus slows down below 50 miles per hour. The premise -- slow down and you explode -- makes for a great action movie plot, and also happens to have a cosmic equivalent. New research shows that some old stars might be held up by their rapid spins, and when they slow down, they explode as supernovae. Thousands of these "time bombs" could be scattered throughout our Galaxy.

Researchers pioneer novel technique to make plasmonic nanogap arrays Posted: 06 Sep 2011 12:24 PM PDT In the quest to exploit unique properties at the nanoscale, scientists have developed a novel technique for creating uniform arrays of metallic nanostructures. A team of researchers used methods from holographic lithography to demonstrate a new approach for scaling up the fabrication of plasmonic nanogap arrays while simultaneously reducing costs and infrastructure.

Diabetes: New drug target that stimulates beta cell growth identified Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:46 AM PDT One of the holy grails in diabetes research is to discover molecules that stimulate beta cell growth and to find drugs that target these molecules. Now researchers have done both, discovering not only a protein that regulates beta cell growth, but also a chemical compound that stimulates it.

'White-coat effect' elevates greyhounds' blood pressure Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:46 AM PDT The "white-coat effect" is not reserved for only the human patients who see their blood pressure rise in response to the stress of a doctor visit. In a new study, researchers have determined that anxiety associated with being in a veterinary hospital elevates the blood pressure in retired racing greyhounds -- a breed known for having higher-than-average blood pressure in the first place.

Neonatal and infant feeding disorders program saves infants from dependence on feeding tubes Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:46 AM PDT An innovative approach to treating neonatal feeding problems has allowed infants who were struggling to feed orally to be discharged earlier and without feeding tubes, subsequently saving millions of annual health-care charges.

New video gaming technology used to detect illness, prevent falls in older adults Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:46 AM PDT Many older adults lose their independence as their health declines and they are compelled to move into assisted care facilities. Researchers at an independent living community have been using motion-sensing technology to monitor changes in residents' health for several years. Now, researchers have found that two devices commonly used for video gaming and security systems are effective in detecting the early onset of illness and fall risk in seniors.

Microbes generate electricity while cleaning up nuclear waste Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:45 AM PDT Researchers have unraveled the mystery of how microbes generate electricity while cleaning up nuclear waste and other toxic metals. The implications could eventually benefit sites forever changed by nuclear contamination.

Scientists make turfgrass safer for animals, deadly for insects Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT The right combination of compounds produced by a beneficial fungus could lead to grasses that require fewer pesticides and are safer for wildlife and grazing animals, according to scientists.

Innovation is step toward digital graphene transistors Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT Researchers are making progress in creating digital transistors using a material called graphene, potentially sidestepping an obstacle thought to dramatically limit the material's use in computers and consumer electronics.

Quality problems more likely in offshore drug plants, study suggests Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT Drugs produced in offshore manufacturing plants --- even those run by US manufacturers -- pose a greater quality risk than those prepared in the mainland United States, a new study suggests. Researchers found that drugs produced in Puerto Rican plants owned and operated by US pharmaceutical firms were more likely to have quality problems than those produced by the same firm in a matched plant on the United States mainland.

Volunteering to help others could lead to better health; Reduced mortality risk not seen in people motivated by self-centered reasons Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT People who volunteer may live longer than those who don't, as long as their reasons for volunteering are to help others rather than themselves, suggests new research.

99-cent pricing may not be worth the penny, says expert Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT Just-below pricing, or 99-cent endings, is a common marketing tool used to attract customers looking to get bang for their buck. But an expert says that, in some cases, a penny saved doesn't always translate into a penny earned for retailers.

FDA clears biomarker test for ovarian cancer Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT Recent approval by the US Food and Drug Administration clears the path for nationwide use of tools that show the greatest specificity in estimating the risk of ovarian cancer in women with a pelvic mass.

Researchers create new Urban Network Analysis toolbox Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT MIT researchers have created a new Urban Network Analysis (UNA) toolbox that enables urban designers and planners to describe the spatial patterns of cities using mathematical network analysis methods. Such tools can support better informed and more resilient urban design and planning in a context of rapid urbanization.

Loss of key estrogen regulator may lead to metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that the loss of a key protein that regulates estrogen and immune activity in the body could lead to aspects of metabolic syndrome, a combination of conditions that can cause Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and cancer.

Innovative nanoparticle purification system uses magnetic fields Posted: 06 Sep 2011 11:40 AM PDT A team of scientists has invented a new system that uses magnetism to purify hybrid nanoparticles. The system holds the promise of helping to improve drug-delivery systems, drug-targeting technologies, medical-imaging technologies, and electronic information-storage devices.

Sharper views of Apollo 12, 14, 17 sites in new images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Posted: 06 Sep 2011 10:58 AM PDT Researchers overseeing the imaging system on board NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have released the sharpest images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 sites, more clearly showing the paths made when the astronauts explored these areas.

Breakthrough could double wireless capacity with no new towers Posted: 06 Sep 2011 10:40 AM PDT Engineering researchers have made a breakthrough that could allow wireless phone companies to double throughput on their networks without adding a single cell tower. The new "full-duplex" technology allows wireless devices like cell phones and electronic tablets to both "talk" and "listen" to wireless cell towers on the same frequency -- something that requires two frequencies today.

New material shows promise for trapping pollutants Posted: 06 Sep 2011 10:40 AM PDT Water softening techniques are very effective for removing minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which occur as positively-charged ions in "hard" water. But many heavy metals and other inorganic pollutants form negatively-charged ions in water, and existing water treatment processes to remove them are inefficient and expensive. Chemists have now developed a new type of material that can soak up negatively-charged pollutants from water.

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