ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Reducing the number of heart attack deaths at major sporting venues
• Chillingham cattle cowed by climate change
• Deadly amphibian disease found in the last disease-free region of central America
• Ten-fold increase in open access scientific publishing during the last decade
• Under pressure, sodium, hydrogen could undergo a metamorphosis, emerging as superconductor
• Researchers discover Sonic Hedgehog protein’s mechanism of action
• Polyp miss rates high for colonoscopies done after poor bowel preparation
• New light shed on how blood clots form
• Studies evaluate criteria for detecting potentially inappropriate medications in older hospitalized patients
• Article outlines principles for a conservative approach to prescribing medication
• Study estimates potential for ranibizumab to prevent blindness from age-related macular degeneration
• Expenditures for glaucoma medications appear to have increased
• Dietary changes appear to affect levels of biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease
• Type 2 diabetes associated with increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular problems, but metabolic syndrome is not
• Cardiac resynchronization therapy: Pacemaker implantation for heart failure does not benefit nearly half of the patients, analysis finds
• Brain scan identifies patterns of plaques and tangles in adults with Down syndrome
• More genetic diseases linked to potentially fixable gene-splicing problems
• Income disparity makes people unhappy
• Package tracking system takes social media to new heights
• Brain state affects memory recall
• How prehistoric Native Americans of Cahokia made copper artifacts
• Heart attack death rates linked to ambulance diversion
• Dengue virus circulating between monkeys and mosquitoes could emerge to cause human outbreaks
• Key component in lethal lung cancer complication identified
• 'Networking' turns up flu viruses with close ties to pandemic of 2009
• The energy debate: Coal vs. nuclear
• Undernourishment in pregnant, lactating females found key to next generation's disease
• NASA spacecraft captures video of asteroid approach
• Fathers still matter to kids who have moved out
• Blocking common gateway to inflammation suppresses cancer
• Federal welfare programs can have negative effects on children's cognitive scores
• Brain structure adapts to environmental change
• Daily acts of sexism go unnoticed by men, women
• Promising new target for stifling the growth and spread of cancer
• Genetic factor controls health-harming inflammation in obese: Trigger holds promise for treating diabetes, other chronic illnesses
• Sniffing out a new source of stem cells
• New clues about aging: Genetic splicing mechanism triggers both premature aging syndrome and normal cellular aging
• Decoding chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Glowing 'Cornell Dots': Potential cancer diagnostic tool set for human trials
• Safe prescribing information for children in Canada often hard to find
• Health data can help address alcohol-related harm in youth
• High rates of injection drug use in urban Aboriginal youth signal need for prevention programs
• Aurora A kinase may contribute to kidney disease
• Wives' sleep problems have negative impact on marital interactions, study finds
• Faster computer graphics: Digitally mimicking photographic blur caused by moving objects
• Guidelines for ventilator use help premature infants breathe easier
• Simple analysis of breathing sounds while awake can detect obstructive sleep apnea
• Preteens surrounded by smokers get hooked on nicotine, study suggests
• Final 3-year results from the landmark HORIZONS-AMI trial
• Cancer survivors in U.S. spend more on health care, researchers find
• Tool developed to predict violence and aggression in children and teens
• One in five heart-attack deaths could be prevented with new drug, findings show
• Trio of studies reveals attitudes of women, obstetricians and family physicians on use of technology in childbirth
• New guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroid
• Novel device quantifies the efficacy of oral appliance therapy for snoring and sleep apnea
• Combination therapy reduces pauses in breathing caused by OSA, study suggests
• New software 'hearing dummies' pave the way for tailor-made hearing aids
• Tiny marine animals found to share 'diver's weight belt' technique with whales
• Drinking, cannabis use and psychological distress increase in Ontario, Canada, survey finds
• Sleep apnea may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Reducing the number of heart attack deaths at major sporting venues Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:12 PM PDT New recommendations define minimum standards of cardiovascular medical expertise, available equipment, and emergency planning for stadiums and mass participation events.

Chillingham cattle cowed by climate change Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:12 PM PDT Spring flowers are opening sooner and songbirds breeding earlier in the year, but scientists know little about how climate change is affecting phenology -- the timing of key biological events -- in UK mammals. Now, a new study on Northumberland's iconic Chillingham cattle shows climate change is altering when these animals breed, and fewer calves are surviving as a result.

Deadly amphibian disease found in the last disease-free region of central America Posted: 13 Jun 2011 02:47 PM PDT Scientists have confirmed that chytridiomycosis, a rapidly spreading amphibian disease, has reached a site near Panama's Darien region. This was the last area in the entire mountainous neotropics to be free of the disease.

Ten-fold increase in open access scientific publishing during the last decade Posted: 13 Jun 2011 02:47 PM PDT A new study reports on the rapid growth of open access scientific publishing since the start of the World Wide Web.

Under pressure, sodium, hydrogen could undergo a metamorphosis, emerging as superconductor Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:22 PM PDT In the search for superconductors, finding ways to compress hydrogen into a metal has been a point of focus ever since scientists predicted many years ago that electricity would flow, uninhibited, through such a material.

Researchers discover Sonic Hedgehog protein’s mechanism of action Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:22 PM PDT Scientists have discovered a new requirement for the proper functioning of the Sonic Hedgehog protein. Sonic Hedgehog belongs to a family of proteins that gives cells the information needed for the embryo to develop properly. It plays a critical role in the development of many of the body's organs, such as the central nervous system. Malfunctions of these proteins are associated with many diseases including cancer.

Polyp miss rates high for colonoscopies done after poor bowel preparation Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:22 PM PDT A new study reports that colonoscopies done with suboptimal bowel preparation are associated with relatively high adenoma (precancerous polyp) miss rates, suggesting that suboptimal bowel preparation substantially decreases colonoscopy effectiveness and may mandate an early follow-up examination. In this study, in the context of suboptimal bowel preparation, of all adenomas identified, 42 percent were discovered only during a repeat colonoscopy, which was necessitated by an inadequate preparation during the first colonoscopy.

New light shed on how blood clots form Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:21 PM PDT Scientists have discovered new elements of the blood clot-formation process. The findings could lead to better drugs for preventing heart attacks and other clot-related conditions.

Studies evaluate criteria for detecting potentially inappropriate medications in older hospitalized patients Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:21 PM PDT Using the Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) criteria was associated with identification of adverse drug events in older patients, according to a new study.

Article outlines principles for a conservative approach to prescribing medication Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:21 PM PDT A shift toward more conservative medication-prescribing practices would serve patients better, according to a review article.

Study estimates potential for ranibizumab to prevent blindness from age-related macular degeneration Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:21 PM PDT A computer modeling study suggests that administering the drug ranibizumab is associated with reducing the magnitude of legal blindness and visual impairment caused by age-related macular degeneration in non-Hispanic white individuals, according to a new study.

Expenditures for glaucoma medications appear to have increased Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:20 PM PDT In recent years, spending for glaucoma medications has increased, especially for women, persons who have only public health insurance and those with less than a high school education, according to a new study.

Dietary changes appear to affect levels of biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:20 PM PDT Following a low-saturated fat and low-glycemic index diet appears to modulate the risk of developing dementia that proceeds to Alzheimer's disease (AD), although making a switch to this dietary pattern may not protect those already experiencing cognitive difficulty, according to a new study.

Type 2 diabetes associated with increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular problems, but metabolic syndrome is not Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:20 PM PDT Among patients who have had an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), type 2 diabetes was associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke or cardiovascular events, but metabolic syndrome was not, according to a new study.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy: Pacemaker implantation for heart failure does not benefit nearly half of the patients, analysis finds Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:20 PM PDT A new meta-analysis study shows that three-lead cardiac pacemakers implanted in those with heart failure fail to help up to 40 percent of patients with such devices.

Brain scan identifies patterns of plaques and tangles in adults with Down syndrome Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:20 PM PDT In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers used a unique brain scan to assess the levels of plaques and tangles -- the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease -- in adults with Down syndrome. The finding may offer an additional clinical tool to help diagnose dementia in adults with Down syndrome. Adults with this disorder develop Alzheimer's-like plaque and tangle deposits early, often before the age of 40.

More genetic diseases linked to potentially fixable gene-splicing problems Posted: 13 Jun 2011 01:20 PM PDT Many more hereditary diseases than previously thought may be caused, at least in part, by errors in pre-mRNA splicing, according to a new computer analysis. That could be good news because research suggests it may be possible to fix bad splicing.

Income disparity makes people unhappy Posted: 13 Jun 2011 12:17 PM PDT Many economists and sociologists have warned of the social dangers of a wide gap between the richest and everyone else.

Package tracking system takes social media to new heights Posted: 13 Jun 2011 12:17 PM PDT What has made the Internet such a success could help change the way high-dollar and hazardous packages are tracked, according to researchers.

Brain state affects memory recall Posted: 13 Jun 2011 12:17 PM PDT Lost your keys? Your brain might be in a better state to recall where you put them at some times than at others, according to new research.

How prehistoric Native Americans of Cahokia made copper artifacts Posted: 13 Jun 2011 12:17 PM PDT Researchers ditched many of their high-tech tools and turned to large stones, fire and some old-fashioned elbow grease to recreate techniques used by Native American coppersmiths who lived more than 600 years ago.

Heart attack death rates linked to ambulance diversion Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:23 AM PDT Heart attack patients die at a higher rate when their nearest emergency room is so overtaxed that the ambulance transporting them is dispatched to another hospital, according to a new study.

Dengue virus circulating between monkeys and mosquitoes could emerge to cause human outbreaks Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:22 AM PDT Sylvatic dengue continues to flourish in Southeast Asia and West Africa, cycling between non-human primates and the mosquitoes that feed on them. Since the 1970s, the virus has received little scientific attention -- a situation that badly needs to be remedied, according to experts.

Key component in lethal lung cancer complication identified Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:22 AM PDT A protein previously thought not to exist in adult human lungs not only is present in normal and cancerous lung tissue, scientists have found, but it also has a major role in the development of a lethal complication of some lung cancers. The protein, called the calcium-sensing receptor, sits on the surface of lung cancer cells that make up tumors known as squamous-cell carcinomas, according to new research.

'Networking' turns up flu viruses with close ties to pandemic of 2009 Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:22 AM PDT Scientists using new mathematical and computational techniques have identified six influenza A viruses that have particularly close genetic relationships to the H1N1 "swine" flu virus that swept through the United States beginning in the spring of 2009. That virus eventually killed almost 18,000 people worldwide. Biological studies focused on these strains of influenza virus could shed light on how the 2009 pandemic strain of influenza emerged, aiding in efforts to forestall another pandemic, the researchers say.

The energy debate: Coal vs. nuclear Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:22 AM PDT A new study of consumers' attitudes toward coal and nuclear energy sources finds that factors other than global warming and the potential for nuclear power plant accidents figure into consumers' preferences. These factors include ecological degradation for coal and waste management, fuel transport and uranium mining for nuclear.

Undernourishment in pregnant, lactating females found key to next generation's disease Posted: 13 Jun 2011 11:22 AM PDT A study in primates establishes the critical role that undernourishment in mothers-to-be and lactating females has in creating Type 2 diabetes in offspring.

NASA spacecraft captures video of asteroid approach Posted: 13 Jun 2011 10:56 AM PDT Scientists working with NASA's Dawn spacecraft have created a new video showing the giant asteroid Vesta as the spacecraft approaches this unexplored world in the main asteroid belt.

Fathers still matter to kids who have moved out Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Dads who blend love, high expectations and respect for the child's autonomy stood out in a new analysis of fathers of young adults. These dads enjoy a closer relationship with their children, and the children demonstrate higher levels of kindness and self-worth.

Blocking common gateway to inflammation suppresses cancer Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT There is an intimate and complex relationship between inflammation and cancer; and it is well established that tumors secrete many different chemicals that attract host cells which drive inflammation and help to support tumor growth. Now, a new study identifies a single protein that is required for trafficking of immune cells involved in inflammation. The research opens up new avenues for therapeutics that can indirectly suppress malignancy by disrupting the inflammatory response.

Federal welfare programs can have negative effects on children's cognitive scores Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Requirements for some welfare programs can create stress on families, which can have a negative effect on young children, new research shows.

Brain structure adapts to environmental change Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Researchers have found that under stressful conditions, neural stem cells in the adult hippocampus can produce not only neurons, but also new stem cells. The brain stockpiles the neural stem cells, which later may produce neurons when conditions become favorable. This response to environmental conditions represents a novel form of brain plasticity. Knowledge of how neural stem cells produce neurons could lead to potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Daily acts of sexism go unnoticed by men, women Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Nearly everyone can recognize the stereotypical scene of construction workers catcalling women as being sexist, but both men and women tend to overlook the more subtle daily acts of sexism they encounter, according to a recent study.

Promising new target for stifling the growth and spread of cancer Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Cancer and chronic inflammation are partners in peril, with the latter increasing the likelihood that malignant tumors will develop, grow and spread. Researchers say they've identified a tumor inflammation trigger that is common to most, if not all, cancers. And using existing inhibitory drugs, the scientists were able to dramatically decrease primary tumor growth in animal studies and, more importantly, halt tumor progression and metastasis.

Genetic factor controls health-harming inflammation in obese: Trigger holds promise for treating diabetes, other chronic illnesses Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:25 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a genetic factor that can regulate obesity-induced inflammation that contributes to chronic health problems.

Sniffing out a new source of stem cells Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT New research in mice suggests that adult stem cells from immune system tissue in the smell-sensing region of the human nose (human olfactory ecto--mesenchymal stem cells [OE-MSCs]) could provide a source of cells to treat brain disorders in which nerve cells are lost or irreparably damaged.

New clues about aging: Genetic splicing mechanism triggers both premature aging syndrome and normal cellular aging Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new pathway that sets the clock for programmed aging in normal cells. The study provides insights about the interaction between a toxic protein called progerin and telomeres, which cap the ends of chromosomes like aglets, the plastic tips that bind the ends of shoelaces.

Decoding chronic lymphocytic leukemia Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT Researchers have identified new gene mutations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia -- a disease often associated with lack of response to chemotherapy and poor overall survival.

Glowing 'Cornell Dots': Potential cancer diagnostic tool set for human trials Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first clinical trial in humans of a new technology: Cornell Dots, brightly glowing nanoparticles that can light up cancer cells in PET-optical imaging.

Safe prescribing information for children in Canada often hard to find Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT Accurate, safe prescribing information for children is often unavailable to doctors in Canada because pharmaceutical companies will not disclose information to Health Canada, according to experts in a new editorial.

Health data can help address alcohol-related harm in youth Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT Administrative information can be useful for surveillance and understanding of alcohol-related harm in young people, according to Canadian experts.

High rates of injection drug use in urban Aboriginal youth signal need for prevention programs Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT A new study indicates high rates of injection drug use in urban Canadian Aboriginal youth, particularly in women, and points to the need for culturally specific prevention programs, according to a new article.

Aurora A kinase may contribute to kidney disease Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT The Aurora A kinase may contribute to polycystic kidney disease (PKD) by inactivating a key calcium channel in kidney cells, according to a new study.

Wives' sleep problems have negative impact on marital interactions, study finds Posted: 13 Jun 2011 09:19 AM PDT The quality of interactions among married couples is affected by wives' inability to fall asleep at night, but not by husbands' sleep problems, suggests new research.

Faster computer graphics: Digitally mimicking photographic blur caused by moving objects Posted: 13 Jun 2011 08:38 AM PDT Researchers have developed new techniques for computing blur much more efficiently. The result could be more convincing video games and frames of digital video that take minutes rather than hours to render.

Guidelines for ventilator use help premature infants breathe easier Posted: 13 Jun 2011 08:31 AM PDT Guidelines that reduce the use of mechanical ventilation with premature infants in favor of a gentler form of respiratory support can profoundly affect those children's outcomes while reducing the cost of care, according to new research.

Simple analysis of breathing sounds while awake can detect obstructive sleep apnea Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:42 AM PDT The analysis of breathing sounds while awake may be a fast, simple and accurate screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea, new research suggests.

Preteens surrounded by smokers get hooked on nicotine, study suggests Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT Exposure to secondhand smoke can create symptoms of nicotine dependence in non-smoking preteens, according to a new study. The study also found that tweens who repeatedly observe a parent, sibling, friend or neighbor consuming cigarettes are more likely to light up themselves as adolescents.

Final 3-year results from the landmark HORIZONS-AMI trial Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:39 AM PDT Data from the landmark HORIZONS-AMI clinical trial demonstrated that the administration of the anticoagulant medication bivalirudin enhanced survival compared to the use of heparin plus a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor in heart attack patients undergoing angioplasty after 3 years. Use of a drug-eluting stent (paclitaxel) was also shown to be more effective than a bare-metal stent, with equivalent safety.

Cancer survivors in U.S. spend more on health care, researchers find Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT Approximately 12 million people in the United States are cancer survivors. On average, their medical care costs $4,000 to $5,000 more annually than the care of people who have never had cancer, according to researchers.

Tool developed to predict violence and aggression in children and teens Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT Researchers have developed a tool to rapidly assess the risk of aggressive and violent behavior by children and adolescents hospitalized on psychiatric units. Ultimately, they hope to use the questionnaire to improve treatment and prevention of aggressive behavior in schools and in the community.

One in five heart-attack deaths could be prevented with new drug, findings show Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT New findings from the UK show that one in five deaths in the year following a heart attack could be prevented if a new drug, ticagrelor, was used instead of the standard treatment, clopidogrel.

Trio of studies reveals attitudes of women, obstetricians and family physicians on use of technology in childbirth Posted: 13 Jun 2011 07:38 AM PDT Three new studies by researchers in Canada are providing the closest look yet at the attitudes of women and their caregivers around the use of birth technology, and together reveal ongoing misperceptions among caregivers around the safety of vaginal births.

New guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroid Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:40 AM PDT New clinical guidelines developed by an expert panel that include 100 evidence-based recommendations for optimal care of patients with hyperthyroidism and other causes of thyrotoxicosis are presented in the current issue of the journal Thyroid.

Novel device quantifies the efficacy of oral appliance therapy for snoring and sleep apnea Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:40 AM PDT New research quantified the efficacy of mandibular advancement splints using a self-administered, at-home device to monitor snoring and sleep-disordered breathing.

Combination therapy reduces pauses in breathing caused by OSA, study suggests Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:40 AM PDT The apnea-hypopnea index in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea was more improved by a combination treatment of a mandibular advancement splint and positive airway pressure therapy than by continuous positive airway pressure therapy alone, according to new research.

New software 'hearing dummies' pave the way for tailor-made hearing aids Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:35 AM PDT New software "hearing dummies" are part of cutting-edge research that promises to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of hearing impairments. The work could also be used in the long-term to develop a radical new type of hearing aid that can be customized using the hearing dummy to meet the different needs of individual patients. If the procedures gain clinical acceptance, a device could reach the market within four years.

Tiny marine animals found to share 'diver's weight belt' technique with whales Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:35 AM PDT A deep-sea mystery has been solved with the discovery that copepods -- tiny 3-millimeter-long marine animals eaten by herring, cod and mackerel -- use the same buoyancy control as whales.

Drinking, cannabis use and psychological distress increase in Ontario, Canada, survey finds Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:35 AM PDT The latest survey of Ontario adults shows increasing rates of daily drinking and cannabis use and high levels of psychological distress.

Sleep apnea may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes Posted: 13 Jun 2011 06:35 AM PDT Women with severe sleep apnea had the highest incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes according to the results of a new study. This increased prevalence was principally driven by a higher incidence of gestational diabetes and early preterm birth. The authors noted that sleep apnea has been associated with heart disease, metabolic syndrome and mortality in non-pregnant populations. However, few studies have examined the relationship between sleep apnea in pregnancy and adverse obstetrical outcomes. The analysis involved 150 women.