Health Research: Type 2 diabetes reversed by losing fat from pancreas ♦ Enhanced treatment for hepatitis C could cut prevalence by 80 percent

Type 2 diabetes reversed by losing fat from pancreas Type 2 diabetes is caused by fat accumulating in the pancreas, researchers show. They add that losing less than one gram of that fat through weight loss reverses the diabetes.

Enhanced treatment for hepatitis C could cut prevalence by 80 percent Novel antiviral therapies for hepatitis C could reduce the prevalence of the blood-borne infection by more than 80 percent, according to a new analysis. The finding raises the possibility of greatly reducing, and even eliminating, hepatitis C in the United States if enhanced screening and treatment efforts target high-risk populations.

Metformin does not improve glycemic control for overweight teens with type 1 diabetes In a randomized trial that included overweight and obese adolescents with type 1 diabetes, the addition of metformin to insulin did not improve glycemic control after six months;

Researchers hope to harness human Researchers are learning more about how an ancient “error correction” system in the human genome helps protect the body against HIV, in hopes that their latest discovery may help in the fight against the infection.

DNA repair factor linked to breast cancer may also play a role in Alzheimer’s disease

NIH-funded research suggests deficient DNA repair may lead to dementia.

Scientists reduced levels of BRCA1 in mouse brains and in neurons in a dish to investigate the role of the protein in dementia. Image courtesy of Lennart Mucke, University of California, San Francisco.

Mutant forms of breast cancer factor 1 (BRCA1) are associated with breast and ovarian cancers but according to new findings, in the brain the normal BRCA1 gene product may also be linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The results, published in Nature Communications, suggest that low levels of BRCA1 protein in the brain may contribute to dementia. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

“It’s extremely interesting that one molecule can be critically involved in two apparently opposing conditions: cancer, in which too many cells are born and neurodegenerative disease, in which too many brain cells die off,” said senior author Lennart Mucke, M.D., director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, and the Joseph B. Martin Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience, and professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Mucke and his colleagues suspected that defects in DNA repair mechanisms could contribute to cognitive decline in AD and focused their studies on BRCA1. BRCA1 plays a key role in repairing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), our genetic code. DNA is a double helix structure that is made of two strands and resembles a twisted ladder. Occasionally, one or both of the strands will develop breaks, which are fixed by DNA repair proteins including BRCA1. This process is critical for cell survival because if DNA is not repaired properly, the cell may die.

When Dr. Mucke’s group examined brains of patients who died with Alzheimer’s, they discovered low levels of BRCA1. In addition, the researchers found reductions of BRCA1 in the brains of mouse models of Alzheimer’s. In fact, experimental reduction of BRCA1 levels in brains of healthy mice made their brain cells shrink and become dysfunctional.

Dr. Mucke’s team also investigated the effects of BRCA1 on cognition.  After researchers reduced BRCA1 levels in the brains of healthy mice, the animals developed problems with learning and memory. Mouse models of Alzheimer’s showed even greater declines in learning and memory following reductions of BRCA1. In addition, lowering BRCA1 caused increased DNA damage in the brains of Alzheimer’s mice.

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is accumulation of a protein fragment known as beta-amyloid, which is toxic to brain cells and can lead to neuronal death. Dr. Mucke’s team found that adding amyloid beta to neurons in a dish lowered levels of BRCA1.

According to Dr. Mucke and his colleagues, the findings suggest that accumulation of beta-amyloid lowers levels of BRCA1, which increases DNA damage in brain cells and may contribute to dementia.

“An emerging theme in neurodegeneration research is that normal DNA repair protects against damage that causes neurons to die in dementia and related disorders. This study supports and strengthens that theme by showing that beta-amyloid decreases the levels of the DNA repair gene BRCA1, and at the same time inhibits the ability to form new memories,” said Roderick Corriveau, Ph.D., program director at NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, which provided funding for the study.

“The functions of BRCA1 in the brain remain to be fully elucidated,” said Dr. Mucke, “but our findings suggest that it may play an important role in supporting critical brain functions in both health and disease.”

Further research is necessary to determine whether BRCA1 may be a potential therapeutic target for treating dementia, and whether BRCA1 mutations that lead to cancer also affect brain function.

Health News: 38 SICKENED IN UK E. COLI OUTBREAK ♦ Yeast infection fungus to evade immune system ♦ Insight on fundamental process of DNA repair

38 SICKENED IN UK E. COLI OUTBREAK Health officials in England are tracking an outbreak of E. coli O157 linked to prepackaged salad that has sickened 38 people. The Verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) cases were first identified in early August 2015 by whole genome sequencing. As of Sept. 3, the cluster includes 38 confirmed cases, with one additional probable case and four possible cases for... .

Did grandmas make people pair up? If you are in a special relationship with another person, thank grandma -- not just yours, but all grandmothers since humans evolved. The grandma hypothesis holds that the key to why moms can have next babies sooner is not because of dad bringing home the bacon but because of grandma helping feed the weaned children, the authors explain.

Clever adaptation' allows yeast infection fungus to evade immune system attack Researchers say they have discovered a new way that the most prevalent disease-causing fungus can thwart immune system attacks, adding that the fungus responsible for vaginal yeast infections and the mouth infection thrush, is able to cause a deadly infection once it enters the bloodstream.

Quit-smoking drug not linked to heart disease or depression A highly effective drug that helps smokers to quit does not increase their risk of heart attack and depression as was previously thought, research suggests. Researchers who carried out the study say doctors can prescribe varenicline - also known as Champix™ or ChantixTM - more widely to help people stop smoking.

Insight on fundamental process of DNA repair Scientists have identified a new component of the molecular machinery a cell uses to repair damaged DNA. The discovery adds important knowledge about a fundamental life process that protects from diseases such as cance

Health Research: Diabetes linked to bone health ♦ New drug protects against the deadly effects of nuclear radiation ♦ How DNA 'proofreader' proteins pick and edit their reading material

New drug protects against the deadly effects of nuclear radiation 24 hours after exposure A new breakthrough has been reported in countering the deadly effects of radiation exposure. A single injection of a regenerative peptide was shown to significantly increase survival in mice when given 24 hours after nuclear radiation exposure.

Diabetes linked to bone health A link between diabetes and bone health has been found by researchers. Clinical trials have revealed a startling elevation in fracture risk in diabetic patients.

Improving cardiorespiratory fitness reduces risk of arrhythmia recurrence Obese atrial fibrillation patients have a lower chance of arrhythmia recurrence if they have high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, and risk continues to decline as exercise capacity increases as part of treatment.

Impact of sleep disturbance on recovery in veterans with PTSD and TBI Poor sleep may impact treatment and recovery in veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). A review of extensive research on sleep in TBI and PTSD has found that sleep-focused interventions can improve treatment outcomes in veterans

How DNA 'proofreader' proteins pick and edit their reading material Researchers have discovered how two important proofreader proteins know where to look for errors during DNA replication and how they work together to signal the body's repair mechanism.

Health News: Viagra in alcohol latest food scare in China ♦ CDC: 358 Cyclospora cases in 26 states linked to cilantro ♦ Heating and cooling with light leads to ultrafast DNA diagnostics

Viagra in alcohol latest food scare in China Chinese police are investigating if two distillers added Viagra to their liquor in the country’s latest food-safety scare. The Liuzhou Food and Drug Administration said that it found the Guikun Alcohol Plant and the Deshun Alcohol Plant, both located in the southwest of China, were putting Sildenafil, more commonly known as Viagra, into three of their baijiu products.

CDC: 358 Cyclospora cases in 26 states linked to cilantro According to an update posted Friday, July 31, 2015, as of July 30, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had been notified of 358 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection from 26 states so far this year.

Parents inclined to misjudge child happiness based on personal feelings Parents' estimations of their children's happiness differ significantly from the child's own assessment of their feelings, according to a new study. Research showed parents of 10 and 11-year-olds consistently overestimated their child's happiness, while those with 15 and 16-year-olds were inclined to underestimate

Heating and cooling with light leads to ultrafast DNA diagnostics Researchers used LEDs and a thin film of gold to turbocharge the heating and cooling cycles of the PCR test so results are ready in minutes, not hours. The innovation greatly expands the clinical and research applications of a workhorse lab tool used in forensics, medical diagnostics and more.

Cancer Research:Modified DNA building blocks are cancer's Achilles heel ♦ Targeting bacteria causing ulcers may prevent stomach cancer ♦ Sound waves gently cull circulating tumor cells from blood samples

Targeting bacteria causing ulcers may prevent stomach cancer Eliminating Helicobacter pylori bacterium -- the main cause of stomach ulcers - with a short course of therapy of two commonly used medicines may help to reduce the risk of gastric cancer

Evolution, not just mutation, drives development of cancer A new article argues against the commonly held 'accumulation of mutations' model of oncogenesis in favor of a model that depends on evolutionary pressures acting on populations of cells.

Sound waves gently cull circulating tumor cells from blood samples The capture and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a valuable tool for cancer treatment decisions and therapy monitoring. Researchers are using sound waves to isolate CTCs without physical contact or damage to the cells, assuring that their original characteristics are maintained. The contact-free nature of the method offers the potential for more precise cancer treatment and monitoring.

Common chemicals may act together to increase cancer risk, study finds Common environmental chemicals assumed to be safe at low doses may act separately or together to disrupt human tissues in ways that eventually lead to cancer.

Modified DNA building blocks are cancer's Achilles heel In studying how cells recycle the building blocks of DNA, scientists have discovered a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer. They found that normal cells have highly selective mechanisms to ensure that nucleosides -- the chemical blocks used to make new strands of DNA -- don't carry extra, unwanted chemical changes. But the scientists also found that some types of cancer cells aren't so selective. These cells incorporate chemically modified nucleosides into their DNA, which is toxic to them. The findings indicate that it might be possible to use modified nucleotides for specific killing of cancer cells.

Cancer Research: Parkinson's disease appears associated with many cancer ♦ Supercomputers surprisingly link DNA crosses to cancer ♦ Tubal ligation may improve prognosis of endometrial cancer

Parkinson's disease appears associated with many cancers in Taiwan Parkinson's disease appeared associated with 16 types of cancer in a study in Taiwan, an effort to explain the association in an East Asian population because most prior research has been conducted in Western populations.

Researchers discover mechanism leading to BRAF inhibitor resistance in melanoma patients The development of targeted therapies has significantly improved the survival of melanoma patients over the last decade; however, patients often relapse because many therapies do not kill all of the tumor cells, and the remaining cells adapt to treatment and become resistant. Researchers have discovered a novel mechanism that can lead melanoma cells to develop resistance to drugs that target the protein BRAF.

Supercomputers surprisingly link DNA crosses to cancer DNA naturally folds itself into cross-shaped structures called cruciforms that jut out along the sprawling length of its double helix. DNA cruciforms are abundant; scientists estimate as many as 500,000 cruciform-forming sequences may exist on average in a normal human genome. Supercomputers have now helped scientists find a surprising link between cross-shaped (or cruciform) pieces of DNA and human cancer.

Tubal ligation may improve prognosis of endometrial cancer later in life Endometrial cancer (EC) can spread by several routes, including the lymph system, blood vessels, through the uterine wall, as well as through the fallopian tubes into the peritoneal cavity, but the association of transtubal dissemination of EC with cancer stage, histological type, and mortality is unknown.

Drug Resistance Research: Programming DNA to reverse antibiotic resistance ♦ New target for treating drug-resistant melanoma found ♦ New method may eliminate antibiotic use in livestock ♦

New target for treating drug-resistant melanoma found A new study explains why some melanoma tumors are resistant to BRAF inhibitor treatment. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, killing more than 8,000 people in the U.S. each year. Approximately 50 percent of melanoma tumors are driven by mutations in the BRAF gene, and patients with these tumors are prescribed BRAF inhibitors.

High rates of MRSA transmission found between nursing home residents, health care workers Healthcare workers frequently contaminate their gloves and gowns during everyday care of nursing homes residents with drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA

New method may eliminate antibiotic use in livestock An animal scientist has developed an antibiotic-free method to protect animals raised for food against common infections. The innovation comes as growing public concern about antibiotic resistance has induced McDonald's, Tyson Foods and other industry giants to announce major cuts in antibiotic use in meat production. About 80 percent of antibiotics in the United States are used by farmers, because they both protect against disease and accelerate weight gain in many farm animals.

Programming DNA to reverse antibiotic resistance in bacteria New research introduces a promising new tool to combat the rapid, extensive spread of antibiotic resistance around the world. It nukes antibiotic resistance in selected bacteria, and renders other bacteria more sensitive to antibiotics. The research, if ultimately applied to pathogens on hospital surfaces or medical personnel's hands, could turn the tide on untreatable, often lethal bacterial infections.

New role for zebrafish: larger scale gene function studies

New role for zebra fish: larger scale gene function studies

A relatively new method of targeting specific DNA sequences in zebra fish could dramatically accelerate the discovery of gene function and the identification of disease genes in humans, according to scientists at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health.

NHGRI scientists are homing in on specific genes in zebrafish to help them better understand the function of genes in people.

In a study posted online on June 5, 2015, and to be published in the July 2015 issue of Genome Research, the researchers reported that the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR/Cas9 is six times more effective than other techniques at homing in on target genes and inserting or deleting specific sequences. The study also demonstrated that the CRISPR/Cas9 method can be used in a “multiplexed” fashion – that is, targeting and mutating multiple genes at the same time to determine their functions.

“It was shown about a year ago that CRISPR can knock out a gene quickly,” said Shawn Burgess, Ph.D., a senior investigator with NHGRI’s Translational and Functional Genomics Branch and head of the Developmental Genomics Section. “What we have done is to establish an entire pipeline for knocking out many genes and testing their function quickly in a vertebrate model.” Researchers often try to determine the role of a gene by knocking it out — turning it off or removing it — and watching the potential effects on an organism lacking it.

Such larger scale — termed high-throughput — gene targeting in an animal model could be particularly useful for human genomic research. Only 10 to 20 percent of recognized human genes have been subjected to such rigorous testing, Dr. Burgess said. The functions of many other genes have been inferred based on analyzing proteins or have been identified as possible disease genes, but the functions of those genes have not been confirmed by knocking them out in animal models and seeing what happens.

“This is a way to do that on a more cost-efficient and large scale,” Dr. Burgess said.

“The study of zebrafish has already led to advances in our understanding of cancer and other human diseases,” said NHGRI Director Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D. “We anticipate that the techniques developed by NHGRI researchers will accelerate understanding the biological function of specific genes and the role they play in human genetic diseases.”

The CRISPR/Cas9 method of gene editing is one of the two essential components in the NHGRI team’s high-throughput method. Modeled on a defense mechanism evolved by bacteria against viruses, CRISPR/Cas9 activity was first described in 2012. Since then, its use has spread quickly in genomic research labs in the United States and abroad.

The acronym CRISPR stands for “clustered, regularly inter spaced, short palindromic repeat,” referring to a pattern of DNA sequences that appears frequently in bacterial DNA. Scientists believe the CRISPR sequences reflect evolutionary responses to past viral attacks.

The Cas9 protein is a nuclease, an enzyme that snips a stretch of DNA in two places, in effect cutting out a piece. Bound together, CRISPR/Cas9 becomes a powerful research tool that permits researchers to target and delete a particular sequence or to insert a new sequence into the DNA of animal-model embryos.

The other essential component of the NHGRI team’s method is the zebrafish. The zebrafish and the mouse are the most commonly studied vertebrate laboratory animals whose genomes have been completely sequenced. The zebrafish is better suited to larger scale gene editing because about 70 percent of zebrafish genes appear to have human counterparts and the fish are far less costly to maintain than are mice. They multiply astonishingly quickly; a female may produce as many as 200 eggs at one time. And the embryos are fertilized externally and are transparent, making them readily accessible to researchers.

To demonstrate the feasibility of high throughput editing, the researchers targeted 162 locations in 83 zebrafish genes – about 50 of which are similar to human genes involved in deafness. (Hearing is one of the other interests of Dr. Burgess’s lab.) This produced mutations in 82 of the 83 genes.

In screening embryos by fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (a technology that allows researchers to produce millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence)

and high-throughput DNA sequencing, the researchers determined that overall, mutations were passed on to the next generation in 28 percent of cases. The transmission rate was higher for some genes than for others, but in most cases, screening offspring from parent fish should be enough to spot most mutations, the researchers reported.

The results demonstrated that using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique in zebrafish will make it possible to both generate mutants for all genes in the zebrafish genome and carry out large-scale phenotyping, they noted in the Genome Research paper.

The CRISPR/Cas9 methodology works in mice, too, but it is more costly and takes far longer. Although mice actually reach sexual maturity earlier than zebrafish, they produce far fewer offspring.

Ultimately, Dr. Burgess hopes that his lab will use the new method to knock out about 10 percent of the zebra fish's roughly 25,000 genes, and he would like to see an even broader effort. “We’ve shown that with relatively moderate resources, you can analyze hundreds of genes,” Dr. Burgess said. “On the scale of big science, you could target every gene in the genome with what would be a relatively modest scientific investment in the low tens of millions of dollars.”

Coauthors of the Genome Research paper with Dr. Burgess were: Gaurav Varshney, PhD.D., Wuhong Pei, PhD., Matthew LaFave, PhD., Lisha Xu, M.S., Viviana Gallardo Mendieta, PhD., Blake Carrington, M.S., Kevin Bishop, M.S, Mary Pat Jones, M.S, Ursula Harper, M.S, and Raman Sood, PhD, all of NHGRI; Mingyu Li , PhD, and Wenbiao Chen, PhD, both of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville; Sunny Huang, B.S, formerly of NHGRI, now of the University of Iowa in Iowa City; Jennifer Idol, M.S., formerly of NHGRI, now of the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine; and Johan Ledin, PhD., of Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden.

NIH pilot predictive medicine by studying healthy people’s DNA

A new study by National Institutes of Health researchers has turned traditional genomics research on its head. Instead of trying to find a mutation in the genomic sequence of a person with a genetic disease, they sequenced the genomes of healthy participants, then analyzed the data to find “putative,” or presumed, mutations that would almost certainly lead to a genetic condition.

Out of almost 1,000 volunteers whose genomes were examined, about 100 had genomic variants predicting that they would have a rare disease. Almost half of them indeed had the disease when researchers went back and carefully evaluated them, said Leslie G. Biesecker, M.D., chief of the Medical Genomics and Metabolic Genetics Branch (MGMGB) at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and corresponding author of the study published June 4, 2015, in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

“We were surprised that this many individuals had positive findings in a group of individuals that is basically healthy,” said Jennifer Johnston, Ph.D., lead author and staff scientist with the Clinical Genetics Section of the MGMGB.  The research is part of ClinSeq, a large-scale, NIH research study that explores the fundamental medical, molecular and bioinformatic challenges facing individualized genome sequencing in a clinical research setting.

Once they identified participants with genomic mutations, researchers called them back to the clinic to give them a customized work-up. They called this method of looking at the person after looking at the genomic data “iterative phenotype.” Researchers sifted through more than 100,000 variants per participant – nearly all harmless – and studied only potentially harmful mutations that were found in about 100 of the 951 participants. Of those hundred or so patients, 79 were followed up, and they confirmed that 34 had the specific condition linked to their genetic mutation. These findings indicate that 3 percent or more of the U.S. population may have a genetic condition compared to previous estimates of less than 0.02 percent.

“We achieved about a 50 percent accuracy of predicting disease in people not knowing anything about their health status beforehand,” Dr. Biesecker said. In other words, the researchers changed the odds of these patients having one of these diseases from something like 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 2.

Given this accuracy, Dr. Biesecker is upbeat about the future of genomic medicine. “These results show that you can dramatically improve your predictions based on genome sequence information.”

NHGRI Director Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D, agreed, adding: “Today, we tend to deliver medical care based on the expected response of the average patient, and yet we know that this is far from perfect. Eventually, we want to deliver medical care based on individual genomic differences that enable more precise ways to prevent and treat disease. These findings move us closer to that reality.”

The team also found that having a mutation did not always lead to a condition that looked like a textbook case. Indeed, 20 of 79 of the participants with harmful mutations and an associated physical change didn’t know they might have a genetic condition. Sometimes these physical changes were so mild that the participant had neither sought a diagnosis nor reported them to the research team during enrollment in the study. While it may seem unnecessary to find these mild cases, one key aspect of genomics is that the same mutation can affect family members with different levels of severity.

“A couple of the participants with LDLR (low density lipoprotein receptor) mutations thought they just had garden variety high cholesterol, when in fact they had familial hypercholesterolemia,” said Dr. Biesecker. This led to more aggressive cholesterol screening in other family members, including children as young as eight, because early treatment can delay heart attacks and prolong life.

Researchers found other evidence that genetic conditions are underestimated. That is because, until now, knowledge about genetic conditions has mostly been based on family health history or ill people who walk into a clinic. This has led researchers to study only those who are more severely affected and not those who are mildly affected or not affected at all, which eventually leads to an overestimation of the condition’s severity and an underestimation of its prevalence. The problem (ascertainment bias) has long been known and acknowledged by genetics researchers. They have only recently been able to address it as DNA sequencing costs have plummeted.

At this rate, just above 9 million people, about the population of New Jersey, may be living with some sort of genetic condition. The authors caution that not all healthy people need to have their genomes sequenced, emphasizing that this is a proof-of-concept study that may lead to a better understanding of how these mutations affect health. “We want to add DNA sequencing to the physician’s toolbox,” Dr. Biesecker said. “It is fine to take care of patients once they are sick and that’s appropriate, but wouldn’t it be better to find some patients before they are sick and take care of them?”

Health News:Campylobacter cases linked to raw milk ♦ Zero tolerance for pesticide in baby food ♦ DNA: Expanding code of life with new 'letters'

Several Campylobacter cases linked to raw milk Campylobacter cases have been reported in several children younger than 2. Some of the cases have been linked to drinking unpasteurized, or raw, milk. Bacteria such as E. coli O157, Campylobacter and Salmonella can contaminate milk  

New Zealand group seeks zero tolerance for pesticide in baby food A petition seeking zero tolerance for pesticide residues in baby food was discussed Friday by a committee of the New Zealand parliament, but members reportedly took no action on it. The Safe Food Campaign, which is sponsoring the petition, noted that the European Commission has mandated no detectable pesticide levels.

America's research funding squeeze imperils patient care Constraints in federal funding, compounded by declining clinical revenue, jeopardize more than America's research enterprise. These twin pressures have created a "hostile working environment" that erodes time to conduct research, "discourages innovative high-risk science" and threatens to drive scientists out of the field. And this in turn undermines patient care.

Hallucinations and delusions more common than thought Scientists have found that hearing voices and seeing things (that others cannot) impacts about 5 percent of the general population during their lives.

DNA: Expanding code of life with new 'letters' The DNA encoding all life on Earth is made of four building blocks called nucleotides, commonly known as 'letters,' that line up in pairs and twist into a double helix. Now, two groups of scientists are reporting for the first time that two new nucleotides can do the same thing -- raising the possibility that entirely new proteins could be created for medical uses.

Cancer Research: Nanotechnology identifies brain tumor types ♦ Tumor surroundings are shown to affect progression ♦ Resistant breast cancer mechanism revealed

Nanotechnology identifies brain tumor types through MRI 'virtual biopsy' A tiny drug-delivery system has been invented that can identify cancer cell types in the brain through 'virtual biopsies' and then attack the molecular structure of the disease. The results could be used to deliver nano-scale drugs that can distinguish and fight tumor cells in the brain without resorting to surgery.

How DNA is organized in our cells A critical role for two proteins in chromatin structure has been uncovered by researchers. Their breakthrough helps explain how DNA is organized in our cells. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of what causes certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma.

Therapy-resistant breast cancer mechanism revealed A cluster of defined, non-coding RNAs are mechanistically involved in endocrine therapy resistance in human breast cancer cells. Furthermore, resveratrol, a kind of polyphenol, was found to repress these RNAs and inhibit the proliferative activity of breast cancer cells which had acquired resistance

Two new, very large classes of RNAs found to be linked to cancer biomark Two new classes of RNAs have been identified that are closely associated with a protein known to be a prognostic biomarker for breast cancer and could play a role in progression of prostate cancer.

Tumor surroundings are shown to affect progression of different cancer subtypes Our environment can have a major impact on how we develop, and it turns out it's no different for cancer cells. A team of researchers reports that two different mouse models of breast cancer progressed differently based on characteristics of the tumor microenvironment -- the area of tissue in which the tumor is embedded.

Cancer Research: Organic nanoparticles, more lethal to tumors ♦ Study discovers how pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver ♦ Non-invasive colon cancer screening for African-Americans

Smoking induces early signs of cancer in cheek swabs DNA damage caused by smoking can be detected in cheek swabs. The study provides evidence that smoking induces a general cancer program that is also present in cancers which aren't usually associated with it -- including breast and gynecological cancers.

Study discovers how pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver Investigators has illuminated the precise molecular steps that enable pancreatic cancer to spread to the liver -- the event that makes the most common form of the disease lethal. By understanding this process, their discovery can lead to targeted treatments that delay metastasis, and offer clinicians a new biomarker to test for the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer.

Non-invasive colon cancer screening may be promising for African-Americans, Stool DNA (sDNA) testing, a new non-invasive technology for colon cancer screening, is a promising alternative to colonoscopy for African Americans.  sDNA sensitivity and specificity of advanced lesions and all adenomas (polyps) in African Americans was similar to or exceeded that of other racial group.

Chemo before surgery benefits patients with advanced ovarian cancer Women with advanced ovarian cancer have fewer side effects and tend to have a better quality of life if given chemotherapy before surgery. Delaying surgery also reduced the amount of time spent in the hospital after surgery.

Organic nanoparticles, more lethal to tumors Carbon-based nanoparticles could be used to sensitize cancerous tumours to proton radiotherapy and induce more focused destruction of cancer cells, a new study shows. Radiotherapy used in cancer treatment is a promising treatment method, albeit rather indiscriminate. Indeed, it affects neighboring healthy tissues and tumors alike. Researchers have thus been exploring the possibilities of using various radio-sensitizers; these nanoscale entities focus the destructive effects of radiotherapy more specifically on tumor cells.

Health News: FDA, long list of problems at Blue Bell plants ♦ ’Super-cool' way to deliver drugs ♦ Natural killer cell l maturation discovered

FDA  inspectors report long list of problems at Blue Bell plants Inspection teams from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported numerous problems after recent visits to three production facilities owned and operated by Blue Bell Creameries The company announced that it was recalling all products (ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen desserts) manufactured at all of its plants after receiving positive Listeria...

New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information The surprising discovery and function of a new DNA modification in insects, worms, and algae has been described in a new article

’Super-cool' way to deliver drugs Some substances, when they undergo a process called 'rapid-freezing' or 'supercooling,' remain in liquid form -- even at below-freezing temperatures. A new study is the first to break down the rules governing the complex process of crystallization through rapid-cooling. Its findings may revolutionize the delivery of drugs in the human body, providing a way to 'freeze' the drugs at an optimal time and location in the body.

Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered A new study has identified a regulatory pathway in natural killer cells that inhibits their maturation and homing behavior. Natural killer cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against viruses and cancer. The findings could lead to new strategies for boosting natural-killer cell activity against cancer and viral infections, scientists say.

Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control

People with diabetes who enroll in a health plan tailored to their medical condition are more likely to stick to their medication and actively take charge of their own health care, research into the effectiveness of the Diabetes Health Plan finds.

Researchers develop custom artificial membranes with programmable surfaces Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 PM PDT Researchers have developed artificial membranes with programmable features, enabling studies of cell communication and the molecular basis of disease. The new study demonstrates how researchers can examine the interactions of cell surfaces with other biological molecules, with far ranging applications in medicine, biochemistry and biophysics. Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis, research shows Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT The difference between life and death in the operating room, on the battlefield or during a police shootout often comes down to the ability to adapt to the unexpected. Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to do so, according to a study that for the first time created a laboratory experiment that simulates how sleep loss affects critical aspects of decision making in high-stakes, real-world situations Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid 10 weeks after it was undetectable in blood Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT Researchers are reporting a case study in which viable Ebola virus was present in the eye’s aqueous humor — the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea — 10 weeks after the virus was no longer detectable in the patient’s blood. Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The popularity of bamboo landscaping could increase the spread of hantavirus, researchers say, with the plant's prolific seed production creating a population boom among seed-eating deer mice that carry the disease. The opioid epidemic and its impact on orthopaedic care Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The United States makes up less than five percent of the world's population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply and approximately 99 percent of all hydrocodone -- the most commonly prescribed opioid in the world. Viagra to prevent transmission of the malaria parasite? Posted: 07 May 2015 12:39 PM PDT By increasing the stiffness of erythrocytes infected by the causal agent of malaria, Viagra favors their elimination from the blood circulation and may therefore reduce transmission of the parasite from humans to mosquitoes. This astonishing discovery could lead to a treatment to reduce the spread of malaria within a population Strong statin-diabetes link seen in large study Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT In a study of nearly 26,000 beneficiaries of Tricare, the military health system, those taking statin drugs to control their cholesterol were 87 percent more likely to develop diabetes. The research confirms past findings on the link between the widely prescribed drugs and diabetes risk. But it is among the first to show the connection in a relatively healthy group of people. The study included only people who at baseline were free of heart disease, diabetes, and other severe chronic disease. Light in sight: A step towards a potential therapy for acquired blindness Posted: 07 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT A promising new therapeutic approach for hereditary blindness based on a technology termed 'optogenetics' is to introduce light-sensing proteins into these surviving retinal cells, turning them into 'replacement photoreceptors' and thereby restoring vision. However, several factors limit the feasibility of a clinical optogenetic therapy using traditional light-sensitive proteins, as they require unnaturally high and potentially harmful light intensities and employ a foreign signaling mechanism within the target retinal cells. Chagas disease vaccine shows long-term protection in mice Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and transmitted by insects in Latin America is among the most common tropical diseases, and so far without effective vaccine. A new study now shows that a candidate vaccine can induce long-lasting immunity against the parasite in mice Gene expression is key to understanding differences between individuals and disease susceptibility Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project consortia has now published its results from their first pilot study contributing to a better understanding of genomic variation and give us new clues about disease susceptibility Naturally occurring amino acid could improve oral health Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque, which could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease, researchers have discovered. Potential new painkiller provides longer lasting effects Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Medications have long been used to treat pain caused by injury or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, most are short-term fixes or cause side effects that limit their use. Researchers have discovered a new compound that offers longer lasting painkilling effects, and shows promise as an alternative to current anesthetics New care approach to colorectal operations speeds patients' recovery times Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT Patients undergoing colorectal operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program left the hospital sooner and had significantly lower hospital costs than patients who had the traditional approach to their care, according to a new study, which also found further postoperative improvements after adding an infection prevention protocol Snoring keeping you up at night? Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT In patients with primary snoring or mild OSA, oropharyngeal, or mouth and tongue, exercises significantly reduced the frequency of snoring by 36 percent and total power of snoring by 59 percent, a study concludes. Impact of post-treatment surveillance in head and neck squamous cell cancer Posted: 07 May 2015 08:42 AM PDT Compliance with post-treatment surveillance, income level and the travel distance for follow-up care had effects on survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, according to a report Study links post-acute care hospital costs with lower survival rates Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT Spending on postacute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival, experts say in a new report. Obesity, depression have role in excessive daytime sleepiness Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT Obesity and depression – not only lack of sleep – are underlying causes for regular drowsiness, according to researchers. They say the findings could lead to more personalized sleep medicine for those with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS Photoactive dye could prevent infection during bone-repair surgery Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT A green dye that sticks to bone grafts becomes antimicrobial with the flick of a light switch and could help reduce the risk of infections during bone-reconstruction surgeries, scientists report. In theory, they explain, the dye could be added to the currently used protocols for sterilizing the bone prior to use in surgery. Device created for faster skin biopsies without anesthesia Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT A new device for performing skin biopsies has been created by scientists. With this new tool a skin biopsy can be performed with fewer instruments and the length of the procedure is shortened from thirty minutes to less than five. Neither local anesthesia nor specialized personnel are required. As a result, faster diagnosis of pathologies such as skin cancer is possible Researchers sound out scaffolds for eardrum replacement Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT Tiny, complex scaffolds that mimic the intricate network of collagen fibers that form the human eardrum have been created by an international team of researchers. It is hoped the scaffolds can be used to replace eardrums when they become severely damaged, reducing the need for patients to have their own tissue used in reconstruction surgery. Detecting skin cancer quickly: Full body scanner helps diagnose skin conditions Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT Melanoma is aggressive and life-threatening. If it is not detected early, the prospects of recovery drop. Screening is complicated, though. Together with several project partners, researchers have developed an assistance system that helps dermatologists with diagnosis. Altering genes with the aid of light Posted: 08 May 2015 11:03 AM PDT Scientists have been manipulating genes for a while. Now researchers have found a way to control the process with higher precision, by using light. Master orchestrator of the genome is discovered, stem cell scientists report Posted: 08 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT New research shows how a single growth factor receptor protein programs the entire genome. The study provides evidence that it all begins with a single "master" growth factor receptor that regulates the entire genome. More sex doesn't lead to increased happiness Posted: 08 May 2015 07:58 AM PDT Countless research and self-help books claim that having more sex will lead to increased happiness, based on the common finding that those having more sex are also happier. Scientists now report that simply having more sex did not make couples happier, in part because the increased frequency led to a decline in wanting for and enjoyment of sex. Self-harm, suicide ideation tightly linked in Iraq, Afghanistan veterans Posted: 08 May 2015 06:16 AM PDT Non-suicidal self-injury -- that is, purposefully hurting oneself without conscious suicidal intent -- is relatively common among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and it is a strong risk factor for suicidal behavior, according to research. Search and rescue tool that pinpoints buried victims developed Posted: 08 May 2015 06:14 AM PDT A new locator feature on a search and rescue tool can pinpoint the location of a victim to within about five feet – saving rescuers time and increasing chances for locating survivors. Links between household air pollution, lung infections examined, including pneumonia Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT Scientists have come a step closer to understanding why people exposed to household air pollution (HAP) are at higher risk of lung infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Three billion people worldwide are exposed to HAP from the fuels they burn to cook, light and heat with at home. Frequently, charcoal, wood and food waste are burned and generate high concentrations of smoke particles. This exposure is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, particularly in low and middle income countries where bacterial pneumonia is the biggest cause of infant mortality. This risk is well known, but the reasons are not. Pioneering facial recognition cane for the blind Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT A revolutionary ‘smart’ cane enabling the visually impaired to instantly identify friends and family could be available soon, thanks to students at a British university. The ‘XploR’ mobility cane uses smartphone technology to recognize familiar faces from up to 10 metres away. The cane also features GPS functionality to aid navigation. 'Make like a bat’: Two ears attuned to high frequencies help people find objects using echoes Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT The ability that some people have to use echoes to determine the position of an otherwise silent object, in a similar way to bats and dolphins, requires good high-pitch hearing in both ears, according to new research. This builds on recent research that demonstrated conclusively that some sighted and blind people could use echoes in this way. What wasn't clear until now was how important high-frequency hearing in both ears is. Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to accelerated aging Posted: 08 May 2015 05:23 AM PDT People with PTSD may also be at risk for accelerated aging or premature senescence, research suggests. The researchers noted that there has not been another study that links PTSD, a psychological disorder with no established genetic basis, to a basic biological process such as aging. Malaria's doorway to infect blood cells identified; potential to close it, lock it, throw away the key Posted: 07 May 2015 06:29 PM PDT Scientists have identified a protein on the surface of human red blood cells that serves as an essential entry point for invasion by the malaria parasite. This discovery opens up a promising new avenue for the development of therapies to treat and prevent malaria Genetic changes to basic developmental processes evolve more frequently than thought Posted: 07 May 2015 11:50 AM PDT Newly evolved genes can rapidly assume control over fundamental functions during early embryonic development. The findings suggest that evolutionary changes to the genetics of fundamental biological processes occur more frequently than previously thought.

FDA  inspectors report long list of problems at Blue Bell plants Inspection teams from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported numerous problems after recent visits to three production facilities owned and operated by Blue Bell Creameries The company announced that it was recalling all products (ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen desserts) manufactured at all of its plants after receiving positive Listeria... New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information The surprising discovery and function of a new DNA modification in insects, worms, and algae has been described in a new article ’Super-cool' way to deliver drugs Some substances, when they undergo a process called 'rapid-freezing' or 'supercooling,' remain in liquid form -- even at below-freezing temperatures. A new study is the first to break down the rules governing the complex process of crystallization through rapid-cooling. Its findings may revolutionize the delivery of drugs in the human body, providing a way to 'freeze' the drugs at an optimal time and location in the body. Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered A new study has identified a regulatory pathway in natural killer cells that inhibits their maturation and homing behavior. Natural killer cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against viruses and cancer. The findings could lead to new strategies for boosting natural-killer cell activity against cancer and viral infections, scientists say. Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control People with diabetes who enroll in a health plan tailored to their medical condition are more likely to stick to their medication and actively take charge of their own health care, research into the effectiveness of the Diabetes Health Plan finds. Researchers develop custom artificial membranes with programmable surfaces Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 PM PDT Researchers have developed artificial membranes with programmable features, enabling studies of cell communication and the molecular basis of disease. The new study demonstrates how researchers can examine the interactions of cell surfaces with other biological molecules, with far ranging applications in medicine, biochemistry and biophysics. Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis, research shows Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT The difference between life and death in the operating room, on the battlefield or during a police shootout often comes down to the ability to adapt to the unexpected. Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to do so, according to a study that for the first time created a laboratory experiment that simulates how sleep loss affects critical aspects of decision making in high-stakes, real-world situations Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid 10 weeks after it was undetectable in blood Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT Researchers are reporting a case study in which viable Ebola virus was present in the eye’s aqueous humor — the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea — 10 weeks after the virus was no longer detectable in the patient’s blood. Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The popularity of bamboo landscaping could increase the spread of hantavirus, researchers say, with the plant's prolific seed production creating a population boom among seed-eating deer mice that carry the disease. The opioid epidemic and its impact on orthopaedic care Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The United States makes up less than five percent of the world's population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply and approximately 99 percent of all hydrocodone -- the most commonly prescribed opioid in the world. Viagra to prevent transmission of the malaria parasite? Posted: 07 May 2015 12:39 PM PDT By increasing the stiffness of erythrocytes infected by the causal agent of malaria, Viagra favors their elimination from the blood circulation and may therefore reduce transmission of the parasite from humans to mosquitoes. This astonishing discovery could lead to a treatment to reduce the spread of malaria within a population Strong statin-diabetes link seen in large study Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT In a study of nearly 26,000 beneficiaries of Tricare, the military health system, those taking statin drugs to control their cholesterol were 87 percent more likely to develop diabetes. The research confirms past findings on the link between the widely prescribed drugs and diabetes risk. But it is among the first to show the connection in a relatively healthy group of people. The study included only people who at baseline were free of heart disease, diabetes, and other severe chronic disease. Light in sight: A step towards a potential therapy for acquired blindness Posted: 07 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT A promising new therapeutic approach for hereditary blindness based on a technology termed 'optogenetics' is to introduce light-sensing proteins into these surviving retinal cells, turning them into 'replacement photoreceptors' and thereby restoring vision. However, several factors limit the feasibility of a clinical optogenetic therapy using traditional light-sensitive proteins, as they require unnaturally high and potentially harmful light intensities and employ a foreign signaling mechanism within the target retinal cells. Chagas disease vaccine shows long-term protection in mice Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and transmitted by insects in Latin America is among the most common tropical diseases, and so far without effective vaccine. A new study now shows that a candidate vaccine can induce long-lasting immunity against the parasite in mice Gene expression is key to understanding differences between individuals and disease susceptibility Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project consortia has now published its results from their first pilot study contributing to a better understanding of genomic variation and give us new clues about disease susceptibility Naturally occurring amino acid could improve oral health Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque, which could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease, researchers have discovered. Potential new painkiller provides longer lasting effects Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Medications have long been used to treat pain caused by injury or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, most are short-term fixes or cause side effects that limit their use. Researchers have discovered a new compound that offers longer lasting painkilling effects, and shows promise as an alternative to current anesthetics New care approach to colorectal operations speeds patients' recovery times Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT Patients undergoing colorectal operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program left the hospital sooner and had significantly lower hospital costs than patients who had the traditional approach to their care, according to a new study, which also found further postoperative improvements after adding an infection prevention protocol Snoring keeping you up at night? Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT In patients with primary snoring or mild OSA, oropharyngeal, or mouth and tongue, exercises significantly reduced the frequency of snoring by 36 percent and total power of snoring by 59 percent, a study concludes. Impact of post-treatment surveillance in head and neck squamous cell cancer Posted: 07 May 2015 08:42 AM PDT Compliance with post-treatment surveillance, income level and the travel distance for follow-up care had effects on survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, according to a report Study links post-acute care hospital costs with lower survival rates Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT Spending on postacute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival, experts say in a new report. Obesity, depression have role in excessive daytime sleepiness Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT Obesity and depression – not only lack of sleep – are underlying causes for regular drowsiness, according to researchers. They say the findings could lead to more personalized sleep medicine for those with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS Photoactive dye could prevent infection during bone-repair surgery Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT A green dye that sticks to bone grafts becomes antimicrobial with the flick of a light switch and could help reduce the risk of infections during bone-reconstruction surgeries, scientists report. In theory, they explain, the dye could be added to the currently used protocols for sterilizing the bone prior to use in surgery. Device created for faster skin biopsies without anesthesia Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT A new device for performing skin biopsies has been created by scientists. With this new tool a skin biopsy can be performed with fewer instruments and the length of the procedure is shortened from thirty minutes to less than five. Neither local anesthesia nor specialized personnel are required. As a result, faster diagnosis of pathologies such as skin cancer is possible Researchers sound out scaffolds for eardrum replacement Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT Tiny, complex scaffolds that mimic the intricate network of collagen fibers that form the human eardrum have been created by an international team of researchers. It is hoped the scaffolds can be used to replace eardrums when they become severely damaged, reducing the need for patients to have their own tissue used in reconstruction surgery. Detecting skin cancer quickly: Full body scanner helps diagnose skin conditions Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT Melanoma is aggressive and life-threatening. If it is not detected early, the prospects of recovery drop. Screening is complicated, though. Together with several project partners, researchers have developed an assistance system that helps dermatologists with diagnosis. Altering genes with the aid of light Posted: 08 May 2015 11:03 AM PDT Scientists have been manipulating genes for a while. Now researchers have found a way to control the process with higher precision, by using light. Master orchestrator of the genome is discovered, stem cell scientists report Posted: 08 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT New research shows how a single growth factor receptor protein programs the entire genome. The study provides evidence that it all begins with a single "master" growth factor receptor that regulates the entire genome. More sex doesn't lead to increased happiness Posted: 08 May 2015 07:58 AM PDT Countless research and self-help books claim that having more sex will lead to increased happiness, based on the common finding that those having more sex are also happier. Scientists now report that simply having more sex did not make couples happier, in part because the increased frequency led to a decline in wanting for and enjoyment of sex. Self-harm, suicide ideation tightly linked in Iraq, Afghanistan veterans Posted: 08 May 2015 06:16 AM PDT Non-suicidal self-injury -- that is, purposefully hurting oneself without conscious suicidal intent -- is relatively common among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and it is a strong risk factor for suicidal behavior, according to research. Search and rescue tool that pinpoints buried victims developed Posted: 08 May 2015 06:14 AM PDT A new locator feature on a search and rescue tool can pinpoint the location of a victim to within about five feet – saving rescuers time and increasing chances for locating survivors. Links between household air pollution, lung infections examined, including pneumonia Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT Scientists have come a step closer to understanding why people exposed to household air pollution (HAP) are at higher risk of lung infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Three billion people worldwide are exposed to HAP from the fuels they burn to cook, light and heat with at home. Frequently, charcoal, wood and food waste are burned and generate high concentrations of smoke particles. This exposure is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, particularly in low and middle income countries where bacterial pneumonia is the biggest cause of infant mortality. This risk is well known, but the reasons are not. Pioneering facial recognition cane for the blind Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT A revolutionary ‘smart’ cane enabling the visually impaired to instantly identify friends and family could be available soon, thanks to students at a British university. The ‘XploR’ mobility cane uses smartphone technology to recognize familiar faces from up to 10 metres away. The cane also features GPS functionality to aid navigation. 'Make like a bat’: Two ears attuned to high frequencies help people find objects using echoes Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT The ability that some people have to use echoes to determine the position of an otherwise silent object, in a similar way to bats and dolphins, requires good high-pitch hearing in both ears, according to new research. This builds on recent research that demonstrated conclusively that some sighted and blind people could use echoes in this way. What wasn't clear until now was how important high-frequency hearing in both ears is. Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to accelerated aging Posted: 08 May 2015 05:23 AM PDT People with PTSD may also be at risk for accelerated aging or premature senescence, research suggests. The researchers noted that there has not been another study that links PTSD, a psychological disorder with no established genetic basis, to a basic biological process such as aging. Malaria's doorway to infect blood cells identified; potential to close it, lock it, throw away the key Posted: 07 May 2015 06:29 PM PDT Scientists have identified a protein on the surface of human red blood cells that serves as an essential entry point for invasion by the malaria parasite. This discovery opens up a promising new avenue for the development of therapies to treat and prevent malaria Genetic changes to basic developmental processes evolve more frequently than thought Posted: 07 May 2015 11:50 AM PDT Newly evolved genes can rapidly assume control over fundamental functions during early embryonic development. The findings suggest that evolutionary changes to the genetics of fundamental biological processes occur more frequently than previously thought. FDA  inspectors report long list of problems at Blue Bell plants Inspection teams from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported numerous problems after recent visits to three production facilities owned and operated by Blue Bell Creameries The company announced that it was recalling all products (ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen desserts) manufactured at all of its plants after receiving positive Listeria... New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information The surprising discovery and function of a new DNA modification in insects, worms, and algae has been described in a new article ’Super-cool' way to deliver drugs Some substances, when they undergo a process called 'rapid-freezing' or 'supercooling,' remain in liquid form -- even at below-freezing temperatures. A new study is the first to break down the rules governing the complex process of crystallization through rapid-cooling. Its findings may revolutionize the delivery of drugs in the human body, providing a way to 'freeze' the drugs at an optimal time and location in the body. Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered A new study has identified a regulatory pathway in natural killer cells that inhibits their maturation and homing behavior. Natural killer cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against viruses and cancer. The findings could lead to new strategies for boosting natural-killer cell activity against cancer and viral infections, scientists say. Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control People with diabetes who enroll in a health plan tailored to their medical condition are more likely to stick to their medication and actively take charge of their own health care, research into the effectiveness of the Diabetes Health Plan finds. Researchers develop custom artificial membranes with programmable surfaces Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 PM PDT Researchers have developed artificial membranes with programmable features, enabling studies of cell communication and the molecular basis of disease. The new study demonstrates how researchers can examine the interactions of cell surfaces with other biological molecules, with far ranging applications in medicine, biochemistry and biophysics. Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis, research shows Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT The difference between life and death in the operating room, on the battlefield or during a police shootout often comes down to the ability to adapt to the unexpected. Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to do so, according to a study that for the first time created a laboratory experiment that simulates how sleep loss affects critical aspects of decision making in high-stakes, real-world situations Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid 10 weeks after it was undetectable in blood Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT Researchers are reporting a case study in which viable Ebola virus was present in the eye’s aqueous humor — the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea — 10 weeks after the virus was no longer detectable in the patient’s blood. Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The popularity of bamboo landscaping could increase the spread of hantavirus, researchers say, with the plant's prolific seed production creating a population boom among seed-eating deer mice that carry the disease. The opioid epidemic and its impact on orthopaedic care Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The United States makes up less than five percent of the world's population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply and approximately 99 percent of all hydrocodone -- the most commonly prescribed opioid in the world. Viagra to prevent transmission of the malaria parasite? Posted: 07 May 2015 12:39 PM PDT By increasing the stiffness of erythrocytes infected by the causal agent of malaria, Viagra favors their elimination from the blood circulation and may therefore reduce transmission of the parasite from humans to mosquitoes. This astonishing discovery could lead to a treatment to reduce the spread of malaria within a population Strong statin-diabetes link seen in large study Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT In a study of nearly 26,000 beneficiaries of Tricare, the military health system, those taking statin drugs to control their cholesterol were 87 percent more likely to develop diabetes. The research confirms past findings on the link between the widely prescribed drugs and diabetes risk. But it is among the first to show the connection in a relatively healthy group of people. The study included only people who at baseline were free of heart disease, diabetes, and other severe chronic disease. Light in sight: A step towards a potential therapy for acquired blindness Posted: 07 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT A promising new therapeutic approach for hereditary blindness based on a technology termed 'optogenetics' is to introduce light-sensing proteins into these surviving retinal cells, turning them into 'replacement photoreceptors' and thereby restoring vision. However, several factors limit the feasibility of a clinical optogenetic therapy using traditional light-sensitive proteins, as they require unnaturally high and potentially harmful light intensities and employ a foreign signaling mechanism within the target retinal cells. Chagas disease vaccine shows long-term protection in mice Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and transmitted by insects in Latin America is among the most common tropical diseases, and so far without effective vaccine. A new study now shows that a candidate vaccine can induce long-lasting immunity against the parasite in mice Gene expression is key to understanding differences between individuals and disease susceptibility Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project consortia has now published its results from their first pilot study contributing to a better understanding of genomic variation and give us new clues about disease susceptibility Naturally occurring amino acid could improve oral health Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque, which could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease, researchers have discovered. Potential new painkiller provides longer lasting effects Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Medications have long been used to treat pain caused by injury or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, most are short-term fixes or cause side effects that limit their use. Researchers have discovered a new compound that offers longer lasting painkilling effects, and shows promise as an alternative to current anesthetics New care approach to colorectal operations speeds patients' recovery times Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT Patients undergoing colorectal operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program left the hospital sooner and had significantly lower hospital costs than patients who had the traditional approach to their care, according to a new study, which also found further postoperative improvements after adding an infection prevention protocol Snoring keeping you up at night? Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT In patients with primary snoring or mild OSA, oropharyngeal, or mouth and tongue, exercises significantly reduced the frequency of snoring by 36 percent and total power of snoring by 59 percent, a study concludes. Impact of post-treatment surveillance in head and neck squamous cell cancer Posted: 07 May 2015 08:42 AM PDT Compliance with post-treatment surveillance, income level and the travel distance for follow-up care had effects on survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, according to a report Study links post-acute care hospital costs with lower survival rates Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT Spending on postacute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival, experts say in a new report. Obesity, depression have role in excessive daytime sleepiness Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT Obesity and depression – not only lack of sleep – are underlying causes for regular drowsiness, according to researchers. They say the findings could lead to more personalized sleep medicine for those with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS Photoactive dye could prevent infection during bone-repair surgery Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT A green dye that sticks to bone grafts becomes antimicrobial with the flick of a light switch and could help reduce the risk of infections during bone-reconstruction surgeries, scientists report. In theory, they explain, the dye could be added to the currently used protocols for sterilizing the bone prior to use in surgery. Device created for faster skin biopsies without anesthesia Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT A new device for performing skin biopsies has been created by scientists. With this new tool a skin biopsy can be performed with fewer instruments and the length of the procedure is shortened from thirty minutes to less than five. Neither local anesthesia nor specialized personnel are required. As a result, faster diagnosis of pathologies such as skin cancer is possible Researchers sound out scaffolds for eardrum replacement Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT Tiny, complex scaffolds that mimic the intricate network of collagen fibers that form the human eardrum have been created by an international team of researchers. It is hoped the scaffolds can be used to replace eardrums when they become severely damaged, reducing the need for patients to have their own tissue used in reconstruction surgery. Detecting skin cancer quickly: Full body scanner helps diagnose skin conditions Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT Melanoma is aggressive and life-threatening. If it is not detected early, the prospects of recovery drop. Screening is complicated, though. Together with several project partners, researchers have developed an assistance system that helps dermatologists with diagnosis. Altering genes with the aid of light Posted: 08 May 2015 11:03 AM PDT Scientists have been manipulating genes for a while. Now researchers have found a way to control the process with higher precision, by using light. Master orchestrator of the genome is discovered, stem cell scientists report Posted: 08 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT New research shows how a single growth factor receptor protein programs the entire genome. The study provides evidence that it all begins with a single "master" growth factor receptor that regulates the entire genome. More sex doesn't lead to increased happiness Posted: 08 May 2015 07:58 AM PDT Countless research and self-help books claim that having more sex will lead to increased happiness, based on the common finding that those having more sex are also happier. Scientists now report that simply having more sex did not make couples happier, in part because the increased frequency led to a decline in wanting for and enjoyment of sex. Self-harm, suicide ideation tightly linked in Iraq, Afghanistan veterans Posted: 08 May 2015 06:16 AM PDT Non-suicidal self-injury -- that is, purposefully hurting oneself without conscious suicidal intent -- is relatively common among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and it is a strong risk factor for suicidal behavior, according to research. Search and rescue tool that pinpoints buried victims developed Posted: 08 May 2015 06:14 AM PDT A new locator feature on a search and rescue tool can pinpoint the location of a victim to within about five feet – saving rescuers time and increasing chances for locating survivors. Links between household air pollution, lung infections examined, including pneumonia Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT Scientists have come a step closer to understanding why people exposed to household air pollution (HAP) are at higher risk of lung infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Three billion people worldwide are exposed to HAP from the fuels they burn to cook, light and heat with at home. Frequently, charcoal, wood and food waste are burned and generate high concentrations of smoke particles. This exposure is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, particularly in low and middle income countries where bacterial pneumonia is the biggest cause of infant mortality. This risk is well known, but the reasons are not. Pioneering facial recognition cane for the blind Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT A revolutionary ‘smart’ cane enabling the visually impaired to instantly identify friends and family could be available soon, thanks to students at a British university. The ‘XploR’ mobility cane uses smartphone technology to recognize familiar faces from up to 10 metres away. The cane also features GPS functionality to aid navigation. 'Make like a bat’: Two ears attuned to high frequencies help people find objects using echoes Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT The ability that some people have to use echoes to determine the position of an otherwise silent object, in a similar way to bats and dolphins, requires good high-pitch hearing in both ears, according to new research. This builds on recent research that demonstrated conclusively that some sighted and blind people could use echoes in this way. What wasn't clear until now was how important high-frequency hearing in both ears is. Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to accelerated aging Posted: 08 May 2015 05:23 AM PDT People with PTSD may also be at risk for accelerated aging or premature senescence, research suggests. The researchers noted that there has not been another study that links PTSD, a psychological disorder with no established genetic basis, to a basic biological process such as aging. Malaria's doorway to infect blood cells identified; potential to close it, lock it, throw away the key Posted: 07 May 2015 06:29 PM PDT Scientists have identified a protein on the surface of human red blood cells that serves as an essential entry point for invasion by the malaria parasite. This discovery opens up a promising new avenue for the development of therapies to treat and prevent malaria Genetic changes to basic developmental processes evolve more frequently than thought Posted: 07 May 2015 11:50 AM PDT Newly evolved genes can rapidly assume control over fundamental functions during early embryonic development. The findings suggest that evolutionary changes to the genetics of fundamental biological processes occur more frequently than previously thought. FDA  inspectors report long list of problems at Blue Bell plants Inspection teams from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported numerous problems after recent visits to three production facilities owned and operated by Blue Bell Creameries The company announced that it was recalling all products (ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen desserts) manufactured at all of its plants after receiving positive Listeria... New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information The surprising discovery and function of a new DNA modification in insects, worms, and algae has been described in a new article ’Super-cool' way to deliver drugs Some substances, when they undergo a process called 'rapid-freezing' or 'supercooling,' remain in liquid form -- even at below-freezing temperatures. A new study is the first to break down the rules governing the complex process of crystallization through rapid-cooling. Its findings may revolutionize the delivery of drugs in the human body, providing a way to 'freeze' the drugs at an optimal time and location in the body. Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered A new study has identified a regulatory pathway in natural killer cells that inhibits their maturation and homing behavior. Natural killer cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against viruses and cancer. The findings could lead to new strategies for boosting natural-killer cell activity against cancer and viral infections, scientists say. Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control People with diabetes who enroll in a health plan tailored to their medical condition are more likely to stick to their medication and actively take charge of their own health care, research into the effectiveness of the Diabetes Health Plan finds. Researchers develop custom artificial membranes with programmable surfaces Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 PM PDT Researchers have developed artificial membranes with programmable features, enabling studies of cell communication and the molecular basis of disease. The new study demonstrates how researchers can examine the interactions of cell surfaces with other biological molecules, with far ranging applications in medicine, biochemistry and biophysics. Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis, research shows Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT The difference between life and death in the operating room, on the battlefield or during a police shootout often comes down to the ability to adapt to the unexpected. Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to do so, according to a study that for the first time created a laboratory experiment that simulates how sleep loss affects critical aspects of decision making in high-stakes, real-world situations Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid 10 weeks after it was undetectable in blood Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT Researchers are reporting a case study in which viable Ebola virus was present in the eye’s aqueous humor — the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea — 10 weeks after the virus was no longer detectable in the patient’s blood. Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The popularity of bamboo landscaping could increase the spread of hantavirus, researchers say, with the plant's prolific seed production creating a population boom among seed-eating deer mice that carry the disease. The opioid epidemic and its impact on orthopaedic care Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The United States makes up less than five percent of the world's population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply and approximately 99 percent of all hydrocodone -- the most commonly prescribed opioid in the world. Viagra to prevent transmission of the malaria parasite? Posted: 07 May 2015 12:39 PM PDT By increasing the stiffness of erythrocytes infected by the causal agent of malaria, Viagra favors their elimination from the blood circulation and may therefore reduce transmission of the parasite from humans to mosquitoes. This astonishing discovery could lead to a treatment to reduce the spread of malaria within a population Strong statin-diabetes link seen in large study Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT In a study of nearly 26,000 beneficiaries of Tricare, the military health system, those taking statin drugs to control their cholesterol were 87 percent more likely to develop diabetes. The research confirms past findings on the link between the widely prescribed drugs and diabetes risk. But it is among the first to show the connection in a relatively healthy group of people. The study included only people who at baseline were free of heart disease, diabetes, and other severe chronic disease. Light in sight: A step towards a potential therapy for acquired blindness Posted: 07 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT A promising new therapeutic approach for hereditary blindness based on a technology termed 'optogenetics' is to introduce light-sensing proteins into these surviving retinal cells, turning them into 'replacement photoreceptors' and thereby restoring vision. However, several factors limit the feasibility of a clinical optogenetic therapy using traditional light-sensitive proteins, as they require unnaturally high and potentially harmful light intensities and employ a foreign signaling mechanism within the target retinal cells. Chagas disease vaccine shows long-term protection in mice Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and transmitted by insects in Latin America is among the most common tropical diseases, and so far without effective vaccine. A new study now shows that a candidate vaccine can induce long-lasting immunity against the parasite in mice Gene expression is key to understanding differences between individuals and disease susceptibility Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project consortia has now published its results from their first pilot study contributing to a better understanding of genomic variation and give us new clues about disease susceptibility Naturally occurring amino acid could improve oral health Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque, which could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease, researchers have discovered. Potential new painkiller provides longer lasting effects Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Medications have long been used to treat pain caused by injury or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, most are short-term fixes or cause side effects that limit their use. Researchers have discovered a new compound that offers longer lasting painkilling effects, and shows promise as an alternative to current anesthetics New care approach to colorectal operations speeds patients' recovery times Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT Patients undergoing colorectal operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program left the hospital sooner and had significantly lower hospital costs than patients who had the traditional approach to their care, according to a new study, which also found further postoperative improvements after adding an infection prevention protocol Snoring keeping you up at night? Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT In patients with primary snoring or mild OSA, oropharyngeal, or mouth and tongue, exercises significantly reduced the frequency of snoring by 36 percent and total power of snoring by 59 percent, a study concludes. Impact of post-treatment surveillance in head and neck squamous cell cancer Posted: 07 May 2015 08:42 AM PDT Compliance with post-treatment surveillance, income level and the travel distance for follow-up care had effects on survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, according to a report Study links post-acute care hospital costs with lower survival rates Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT Spending on postacute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival, experts say in a new report. Obesity, depression have role in excessive daytime sleepiness Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT Obesity and depression – not only lack of sleep – are underlying causes for regular drowsiness, according to researchers. They say the findings could lead to more personalized sleep medicine for those with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS Photoactive dye could prevent infection during bone-repair surgery Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT A green dye that sticks to bone grafts becomes antimicrobial with the flick of a light switch and could help reduce the risk of infections during bone-reconstruction surgeries, scientists report. In theory, they explain, the dye could be added to the currently used protocols for sterilizing the bone prior to use in surgery. Device created for faster skin biopsies without anesthesia Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT A new device for performing skin biopsies has been created by scientists. With this new tool a skin biopsy can be performed with fewer instruments and the length of the procedure is shortened from thirty minutes to less than five. Neither local anesthesia nor specialized personnel are required. As a result, faster diagnosis of pathologies such as skin cancer is possible Researchers sound out scaffolds for eardrum replacement Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT Tiny, complex scaffolds that mimic the intricate network of collagen fibers that form the human eardrum have been created by an international team of researchers. It is hoped the scaffolds can be used to replace eardrums when they become severely damaged, reducing the need for patients to have their own tissue used in reconstruction surgery. Detecting skin cancer quickly: Full body scanner helps diagnose skin conditions Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT Melanoma is aggressive and life-threatening. If it is not detected early, the prospects of recovery drop. Screening is complicated, though. Together with several project partners, researchers have developed an assistance system that helps dermatologists with diagnosis. Altering genes with the aid of light Posted: 08 May 2015 11:03 AM PDT Scientists have been manipulating genes for a while. Now researchers have found a way to control the process with higher precision, by using light. Master orchestrator of the genome is discovered, stem cell scientists report Posted: 08 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT New research shows how a single growth factor receptor protein programs the entire genome. The study provides evidence that it all begins with a single "master" growth factor receptor that regulates the entire genome. More sex doesn't lead to increased happiness Posted: 08 May 2015 07:58 AM PDT Countless research and self-help books claim that having more sex will lead to increased happiness, based on the common finding that those having more sex are also happier. Scientists now report that simply having more sex did not make couples happier, in part because the increased frequency led to a decline in wanting for and enjoyment of sex. Self-harm, suicide ideation tightly linked in Iraq, Afghanistan veterans Posted: 08 May 2015 06:16 AM PDT Non-suicidal self-injury -- that is, purposefully hurting oneself without conscious suicidal intent -- is relatively common among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and it is a strong risk factor for suicidal behavior, according to research. Search and rescue tool that pinpoints buried victims developed Posted: 08 May 2015 06:14 AM PDT A new locator feature on a search and rescue tool can pinpoint the location of a victim to within about five feet – saving rescuers time and increasing chances for locating survivors. Links between household air pollution, lung infections examined, including pneumonia Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT Scientists have come a step closer to understanding why people exposed to household air pollution (HAP) are at higher risk of lung infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Three billion people worldwide are exposed to HAP from the fuels they burn to cook, light and heat with at home. Frequently, charcoal, wood and food waste are burned and generate high concentrations of smoke particles. This exposure is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, particularly in low and middle income countries where bacterial pneumonia is the biggest cause of infant mortality. This risk is well known, but the reasons are not. Pioneering facial recognition cane for the blind Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT A revolutionary ‘smart’ cane enabling the visually impaired to instantly identify friends and family could be available soon, thanks to students at a British university. The ‘XploR’ mobility cane uses smartphone technology to recognize familiar faces from up to 10 metres away. The cane also features GPS functionality to aid navigation. 'Make like a bat’: Two ears attuned to high frequencies help people find objects using echoes Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT The ability that some people have to use echoes to determine the position of an otherwise silent object, in a similar way to bats and dolphins, requires good high-pitch hearing in both ears, according to new research. This builds on recent research that demonstrated conclusively that some sighted and blind people could use echoes in this way. What wasn't clear until now was how important high-frequency hearing in both ears is. Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to accelerated aging Posted: 08 May 2015 05:23 AM PDT People with PTSD may also be at risk for accelerated aging or premature senescence, research suggests. The researchers noted that there has not been another study that links PTSD, a psychological disorder with no established genetic basis, to a basic biological process such as aging. Malaria's doorway to infect blood cells identified; potential to close it, lock it, throw away the key Posted: 07 May 2015 06:29 PM PDT Scientists have identified a protein on the surface of human red blood cells that serves as an essential entry point for invasion by the malaria parasite. This discovery opens up a promising new avenue for the development of therapies to treat and prevent malaria Genetic changes to basic developmental processes evolve more frequently than thought Posted: 07 May 2015 11:50 AM PDT Newly evolved genes can rapidly assume control over fundamental functions during early embryonic development. The findings suggest that evolutionary changes to the genetics of fundamental biological processes occur more frequently than previously thought. FDA  inspectors report long list of problems at Blue Bell plants Inspection teams from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported numerous problems after recent visits to three production facilities owned and operated by Blue Bell Creameries The company announced that it was recalling all products (ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen desserts) manufactured at all of its plants after receiving positive Listeria... New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information The surprising discovery and function of a new DNA modification in insects, worms, and algae has been described in a new article ’Super-cool' way to deliver drugs Some substances, when they undergo a process called 'rapid-freezing' or 'supercooling,' remain in liquid form -- even at below-freezing temperatures. A new study is the first to break down the rules governing the complex process of crystallization through rapid-cooling. Its findings may revolutionize the delivery of drugs in the human body, providing a way to 'freeze' the drugs at an optimal time and location in the body. Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered A new study has identified a regulatory pathway in natural killer cells that inhibits their maturation and homing behavior. Natural killer cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against viruses and cancer. The findings could lead to new strategies for boosting natural-killer cell activity against cancer and viral infections, scientists say. Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control People with diabetes who enroll in a health plan tailored to their medical condition are more likely to stick to their medication and actively take charge of their own health care, research into the effectiveness of the Diabetes Health Plan finds. Researchers develop custom artificial membranes with programmable surfaces Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 PM PDT Researchers have developed artificial membranes with programmable features, enabling studies of cell communication and the molecular basis of disease. The new study demonstrates how researchers can examine the interactions of cell surfaces with other biological molecules, with far ranging applications in medicine, biochemistry and biophysics. Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis, research shows Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT The difference between life and death in the operating room, on the battlefield or during a police shootout often comes down to the ability to adapt to the unexpected. Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to do so, according to a study that for the first time created a laboratory experiment that simulates how sleep loss affects critical aspects of decision making in high-stakes, real-world situations Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid 10 weeks after it was undetectable in blood Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT Researchers are reporting a case study in which viable Ebola virus was present in the eye’s aqueous humor — the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea — 10 weeks after the virus was no longer detectable in the patient’s blood. Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The popularity of bamboo landscaping could increase the spread of hantavirus, researchers say, with the plant's prolific seed production creating a population boom among seed-eating deer mice that carry the disease. The opioid epidemic and its impact on orthopaedic care Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The United States makes up less than five percent of the world's population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply and approximately 99 percent of all hydrocodone -- the most commonly prescribed opioid in the world. Viagra to prevent transmission of the malaria parasite? Posted: 07 May 2015 12:39 PM PDT By increasing the stiffness of erythrocytes infected by the causal agent of malaria, Viagra favors their elimination from the blood circulation and may therefore reduce transmission of the parasite from humans to mosquitoes. This astonishing discovery could lead to a treatment to reduce the spread of malaria within a population Strong statin-diabetes link seen in large study Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT In a study of nearly 26,000 beneficiaries of Tricare, the military health system, those taking statin drugs to control their cholesterol were 87 percent more likely to develop diabetes. The research confirms past findings on the link between the widely prescribed drugs and diabetes risk. But it is among the first to show the connection in a relatively healthy group of people. The study included only people who at baseline were free of heart disease, diabetes, and other severe chronic disease. Light in sight: A step towards a potential therapy for acquired blindness Posted: 07 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT A promising new therapeutic approach for hereditary blindness based on a technology termed 'optogenetics' is to introduce light-sensing proteins into these surviving retinal cells, turning them into 'replacement photoreceptors' and thereby restoring vision. However, several factors limit the feasibility of a clinical optogenetic therapy using traditional light-sensitive proteins, as they require unnaturally high and potentially harmful light intensities and employ a foreign signaling mechanism within the target retinal cells. Chagas disease vaccine shows long-term protection in mice Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and transmitted by insects in Latin America is among the most common tropical diseases, and so far without effective vaccine. A new study now shows that a candidate vaccine can induce long-lasting immunity against the parasite in mice Gene expression is key to understanding differences between individuals and disease susceptibility Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project consortia has now published its results from their first pilot study contributing to a better understanding of genomic variation and give us new clues about disease susceptibility Naturally occurring amino acid could improve oral health Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque, which could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease, researchers have discovered. Potential new painkiller provides longer lasting effects Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Medications have long been used to treat pain caused by injury or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, most are short-term fixes or cause side effects that limit their use. Researchers have discovered a new compound that offers longer lasting painkilling effects, and shows promise as an alternative to current anesthetics New care approach to colorectal operations speeds patients' recovery times Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT Patients undergoing colorectal operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program left the hospital sooner and had significantly lower hospital costs than patients who had the traditional approach to their care, according to a new study, which also found further postoperative improvements after adding an infection prevention protocol Snoring keeping you up at night? Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT In patients with primary snoring or mild OSA, oropharyngeal, or mouth and tongue, exercises significantly reduced the frequency of snoring by 36 percent and total power of snoring by 59 percent, a study concludes. Impact of post-treatment surveillance in head and neck squamous cell cancer Posted: 07 May 2015 08:42 AM PDT Compliance with post-treatment surveillance, income level and the travel distance for follow-up care had effects on survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, according to a report Study links post-acute care hospital costs with lower survival rates Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT Spending on postacute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival, experts say in a new report. Obesity, depression have role in excessive daytime sleepiness Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT Obesity and depression – not only lack of sleep – are underlying causes for regular drowsiness, according to researchers. They say the findings could lead to more personalized sleep medicine for those with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS Photoactive dye could prevent infection during bone-repair surgery Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT A green dye that sticks to bone grafts becomes antimicrobial with the flick of a light switch and could help reduce the risk of infections during bone-reconstruction surgeries, scientists report. In theory, they explain, the dye could be added to the currently used protocols for sterilizing the bone prior to use in surgery. Device created for faster skin biopsies without anesthesia Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT A new device for performing skin biopsies has been created by scientists. With this new tool a skin biopsy can be performed with fewer instruments and the length of the procedure is shortened from thirty minutes to less than five. Neither local anesthesia nor specialized personnel are required. As a result, faster diagnosis of pathologies such as skin cancer is possible Researchers sound out scaffolds for eardrum replacement Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT Tiny, complex scaffolds that mimic the intricate network of collagen fibers that form the human eardrum have been created by an international team of researchers. It is hoped the scaffolds can be used to replace eardrums when they become severely damaged, reducing the need for patients to have their own tissue used in reconstruction surgery. Detecting skin cancer quickly: Full body scanner helps diagnose skin conditions Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT Melanoma is aggressive and life-threatening. If it is not detected early, the prospects of recovery drop. Screening is complicated, though. Together with several project partners, researchers have developed an assistance system that helps dermatologists with diagnosis. Altering genes with the aid of light Posted: 08 May 2015 11:03 AM PDT Scientists have been manipulating genes for a while. Now researchers have found a way to control the process with higher precision, by using light. Master orchestrator of the genome is discovered, stem cell scientists report Posted: 08 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT New research shows how a single growth factor receptor protein programs the entire genome. The study provides evidence that it all begins with a single "master" growth factor receptor that regulates the entire genome. More sex doesn't lead to increased happiness Posted: 08 May 2015 07:58 AM PDT Countless research and self-help books claim that having more sex will lead to increased happiness, based on the common finding that those having more sex are also happier. Scientists now report that simply having more sex did not make couples happier, in part because the increased frequency led to a decline in wanting for and enjoyment of sex. Self-harm, suicide ideation tightly linked in Iraq, Afghanistan veterans Posted: 08 May 2015 06:16 AM PDT Non-suicidal self-injury -- that is, purposefully hurting oneself without conscious suicidal intent -- is relatively common among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and it is a strong risk factor for suicidal behavior, according to research. Search and rescue tool that pinpoints buried victims developed Posted: 08 May 2015 06:14 AM PDT A new locator feature on a search and rescue tool can pinpoint the location of a victim to within about five feet – saving rescuers time and increasing chances for locating survivors. Links between household air pollution, lung infections examined, including pneumonia Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT Scientists have come a step closer to understanding why people exposed to household air pollution (HAP) are at higher risk of lung infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Three billion people worldwide are exposed to HAP from the fuels they burn to cook, light and heat with at home. Frequently, charcoal, wood and food waste are burned and generate high concentrations of smoke particles. This exposure is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, particularly in low and middle income countries where bacterial pneumonia is the biggest cause of infant mortality. This risk is well known, but the reasons are not. Pioneering facial recognition cane for the blind Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT A revolutionary ‘smart’ cane enabling the visually impaired to instantly identify friends and family could be available soon, thanks to students at a British university. The ‘XploR’ mobility cane uses smartphone technology to recognize familiar faces from up to 10 metres away. The cane also features GPS functionality to aid navigation. 'Make like a bat’: Two ears attuned to high frequencies help people find objects using echoes Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT The ability that some people have to use echoes to determine the position of an otherwise silent object, in a similar way to bats and dolphins, requires good high-pitch hearing in both ears, according to new research. This builds on recent research that demonstrated conclusively that some sighted and blind people could use echoes in this way. What wasn't clear until now was how important high-frequency hearing in both ears is. Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to accelerated aging Posted: 08 May 2015 05:23 AM PDT People with PTSD may also be at risk for accelerated aging or premature senescence, research suggests. The researchers noted that there has not been another study that links PTSD, a psychological disorder with no established genetic basis, to a basic biological process such as aging. Malaria's doorway to infect blood cells identified; potential to close it, lock it, throw away the key Posted: 07 May 2015 06:29 PM PDT Scientists have identified a protein on the surface of human red blood cells that serves as an essential entry point for invasion by the malaria parasite. This discovery opens up a promising new avenue for the development of therapies to treat and prevent malaria Genetic changes to basic developmental processes evolve more frequently than thought Posted: 07 May 2015 11:50 AM PDT Newly evolved genes can rapidly assume control over fundamental functions during early embryonic development. The findings suggest that evolutionary changes to the genetics of fundamental biological processes occur more frequently than previously thought. FDA  inspectors report long list of problems at Blue Bell plants Inspection teams from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported numerous problems after recent visits to three production facilities owned and operated by Blue Bell Creameries The company announced that it was recalling all products (ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen desserts) manufactured at all of its plants after receiving positive Listeria... New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information The surprising discovery and function of a new DNA modification in insects, worms, and algae has been described in a new article ’Super-cool' way to deliver drugs Some substances, when they undergo a process called 'rapid-freezing' or 'supercooling,' remain in liquid form -- even at below-freezing temperatures. A new study is the first to break down the rules governing the complex process of crystallization through rapid-cooling. Its findings may revolutionize the delivery of drugs in the human body, providing a way to 'freeze' the drugs at an optimal time and location in the body. Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered A new study has identified a regulatory pathway in natural killer cells that inhibits their maturation and homing behavior. Natural killer cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against viruses and cancer. The findings could lead to new strategies for boosting natural-killer cell activity against cancer and viral infections, scientists say. Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control People with diabetes who enroll in a health plan tailored to their medical condition are more likely to stick to their medication and actively take charge of their own health care, research into the effectiveness of the Diabetes Health Plan finds. Researchers develop custom artificial membranes with programmable surfaces Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 PM PDT Researchers have developed artificial membranes with programmable features, enabling studies of cell communication and the molecular basis of disease. The new study demonstrates how researchers can examine the interactions of cell surfaces with other biological molecules, with far ranging applications in medicine, biochemistry and biophysics. Sleep loss impedes decision making in crisis, research shows Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT The difference between life and death in the operating room, on the battlefield or during a police shootout often comes down to the ability to adapt to the unexpected. Sleep deprivation may make it difficult to do so, according to a study that for the first time created a laboratory experiment that simulates how sleep loss affects critical aspects of decision making in high-stakes, real-world situations Ebola virus in patient’s eye fluid 10 weeks after it was undetectable in blood Posted: 07 May 2015 01:54 PM PDT Researchers are reporting a case study in which viable Ebola virus was present in the eye’s aqueous humor — the clear fluid in the front of the eye, between the lens and the cornea — 10 weeks after the virus was no longer detectable in the patient’s blood. Ecologist warns of bamboo fueling spread of hantavirus Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The popularity of bamboo landscaping could increase the spread of hantavirus, researchers say, with the plant's prolific seed production creating a population boom among seed-eating deer mice that carry the disease. The opioid epidemic and its impact on orthopaedic care Posted: 07 May 2015 12:41 PM PDT The United States makes up less than five percent of the world's population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply and approximately 99 percent of all hydrocodone -- the most commonly prescribed opioid in the world. Viagra to prevent transmission of the malaria parasite? Posted: 07 May 2015 12:39 PM PDT By increasing the stiffness of erythrocytes infected by the causal agent of malaria, Viagra favors their elimination from the blood circulation and may therefore reduce transmission of the parasite from humans to mosquitoes. This astonishing discovery could lead to a treatment to reduce the spread of malaria within a population Strong statin-diabetes link seen in large study Posted: 07 May 2015 11:53 AM PDT In a study of nearly 26,000 beneficiaries of Tricare, the military health system, those taking statin drugs to control their cholesterol were 87 percent more likely to develop diabetes. The research confirms past findings on the link between the widely prescribed drugs and diabetes risk. But it is among the first to show the connection in a relatively healthy group of people. The study included only people who at baseline were free of heart disease, diabetes, and other severe chronic disease. Light in sight: A step towards a potential therapy for acquired blindness Posted: 07 May 2015 11:52 AM PDT A promising new therapeutic approach for hereditary blindness based on a technology termed 'optogenetics' is to introduce light-sensing proteins into these surviving retinal cells, turning them into 'replacement photoreceptors' and thereby restoring vision. However, several factors limit the feasibility of a clinical optogenetic therapy using traditional light-sensitive proteins, as they require unnaturally high and potentially harmful light intensities and employ a foreign signaling mechanism within the target retinal cells. Chagas disease vaccine shows long-term protection in mice Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT Chagas disease, caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and transmitted by insects in Latin America is among the most common tropical diseases, and so far without effective vaccine. A new study now shows that a candidate vaccine can induce long-lasting immunity against the parasite in mice Gene expression is key to understanding differences between individuals and disease susceptibility Posted: 07 May 2015 11:51 AM PDT The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project consortia has now published its results from their first pilot study contributing to a better understanding of genomic variation and give us new clues about disease susceptibility Naturally occurring amino acid could improve oral health Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Arginine, a common amino acid found naturally in foods, breaks down dental plaque, which could help millions of people avoid cavities and gum disease, researchers have discovered. Potential new painkiller provides longer lasting effects Posted: 07 May 2015 10:59 AM PDT Medications have long been used to treat pain caused by injury or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, most are short-term fixes or cause side effects that limit their use. Researchers have discovered a new compound that offers longer lasting painkilling effects, and shows promise as an alternative to current anesthetics New care approach to colorectal operations speeds patients' recovery times Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT Patients undergoing colorectal operations who participated in an enhanced recovery program left the hospital sooner and had significantly lower hospital costs than patients who had the traditional approach to their care, according to a new study, which also found further postoperative improvements after adding an infection prevention protocol Snoring keeping you up at night? Posted: 07 May 2015 09:29 AM PDT In patients with primary snoring or mild OSA, oropharyngeal, or mouth and tongue, exercises significantly reduced the frequency of snoring by 36 percent and total power of snoring by 59 percent, a study concludes. Impact of post-treatment surveillance in head and neck squamous cell cancer Posted: 07 May 2015 08:42 AM PDT Compliance with post-treatment surveillance, income level and the travel distance for follow-up care had effects on survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, according to a report Study links post-acute care hospital costs with lower survival rates Posted: 07 May 2015 08:40 AM PDT Spending on postacute care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provides a key signal of inefficiency in the health care system, leading to higher spending and lower patient survival, experts say in a new report. Obesity, depression have role in excessive daytime sleepiness Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT Obesity and depression – not only lack of sleep – are underlying causes for regular drowsiness, according to researchers. They say the findings could lead to more personalized sleep medicine for those with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS Photoactive dye could prevent infection during bone-repair surgery Posted: 07 May 2015 06:31 AM PDT A green dye that sticks to bone grafts becomes antimicrobial with the flick of a light switch and could help reduce the risk of infections during bone-reconstruction surgeries, scientists report. In theory, they explain, the dye could be added to the currently used protocols for sterilizing the bone prior to use in surgery. Device created for faster skin biopsies without anesthesia Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT A new device for performing skin biopsies has been created by scientists. With this new tool a skin biopsy can be performed with fewer instruments and the length of the procedure is shortened from thirty minutes to less than five. Neither local anesthesia nor specialized personnel are required. As a result, faster diagnosis of pathologies such as skin cancer is possible Researchers sound out scaffolds for eardrum replacement Posted: 07 May 2015 05:24 AM PDT Tiny, complex scaffolds that mimic the intricate network of collagen fibers that form the human eardrum have been created by an international team of researchers. It is hoped the scaffolds can be used to replace eardrums when they become severely damaged, reducing the need for patients to have their own tissue used in reconstruction surgery. Detecting skin cancer quickly: Full body scanner helps diagnose skin conditions Posted: 07 May 2015 05:19 AM PDT Melanoma is aggressive and life-threatening. If it is not detected early, the prospects of recovery drop. Screening is complicated, though. Together with several project partners, researchers have developed an assistance system that helps dermatologists with diagnosis. Altering genes with the aid of light Posted: 08 May 2015 11:03 AM PDT Scientists have been manipulating genes for a while. Now researchers have found a way to control the process with higher precision, by using light. Master orchestrator of the genome is discovered, stem cell scientists report Posted: 08 May 2015 08:05 AM PDT New research shows how a single growth factor receptor protein programs the entire genome. The study provides evidence that it all begins with a single "master" growth factor receptor that regulates the entire genome. More sex doesn't lead to increased happiness Posted: 08 May 2015 07:58 AM PDT Countless research and self-help books claim that having more sex will lead to increased happiness, based on the common finding that those having more sex are also happier. Scientists now report that simply having more sex did not make couples happier, in part because the increased frequency led to a decline in wanting for and enjoyment of sex. Self-harm, suicide ideation tightly linked in Iraq, Afghanistan veterans Posted: 08 May 2015 06:16 AM PDT Non-suicidal self-injury -- that is, purposefully hurting oneself without conscious suicidal intent -- is relatively common among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and it is a strong risk factor for suicidal behavior, according to research. Search and rescue tool that pinpoints buried victims developed Posted: 08 May 2015 06:14 AM PDT A new locator feature on a search and rescue tool can pinpoint the location of a victim to within about five feet – saving rescuers time and increasing chances for locating survivors. Links between household air pollution, lung infections examined, including pneumonia Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT Scientists have come a step closer to understanding why people exposed to household air pollution (HAP) are at higher risk of lung infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Three billion people worldwide are exposed to HAP from the fuels they burn to cook, light and heat with at home. Frequently, charcoal, wood and food waste are burned and generate high concentrations of smoke particles. This exposure is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, particularly in low and middle income countries where bacterial pneumonia is the biggest cause of infant mortality. This risk is well known, but the reasons are not. Pioneering facial recognition cane for the blind Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT A revolutionary ‘smart’ cane enabling the visually impaired to instantly identify friends and family could be available soon, thanks to students at a British university. The ‘XploR’ mobility cane uses smartphone technology to recognize familiar faces from up to 10 metres away. The cane also features GPS functionality to aid navigation. 'Make like a bat’: Two ears attuned to high frequencies help people find objects using echoes Posted: 08 May 2015 05:26 AM PDT The ability that some people have to use echoes to determine the position of an otherwise silent object, in a similar way to bats and dolphins, requires good high-pitch hearing in both ears, according to new research. This builds on recent research that demonstrated conclusively that some sighted and blind people could use echoes in this way. What wasn't clear until now was how important high-frequency hearing in both ears is. Post-traumatic stress disorder linked to accelerated aging Posted: 08 May 2015 05:23 AM PDT People with PTSD may also be at risk for accelerated aging or premature senescence, research suggests. The researchers noted that there has not been another study that links PTSD, a psychological disorder with no established genetic basis, to a basic biological process such as aging. Malaria's doorway to infect blood cells identified; potential to close it, lock it, throw away the key Posted: 07 May 2015 06:29 PM PDT Scientists have identified a protein on the surface of human red blood cells that serves as an essential entry point for invasion by the malaria parasite. This discovery opens up a promising new avenue for the development of therapies to treat and prevent malaria Genetic changes to basic developmental processes evolve more frequently than thought Posted: 07 May 2015 11:50 AM PDT Newly evolved genes can rapidly assume control over fundamental functions during early embryonic development. The findings suggest that evolutionary changes to the genetics of fundamental biological processes occur more frequently than previously thought. FDA  inspectors report long list of problems at Blue Bell plants Inspection teams from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported numerous problems after recent visits to three production facilities owned and operated by Blue Bell Creameries The company announced that it was recalling all products (ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen desserts) manufactured at all of its plants after receiving positive Listeria... New form of DNA modification may carry inheritable information The surprising discovery and function of a new DNA modification in insects, worms, and algae has been described in a new article ’Super-cool' way to deliver drugs Some substances, when they undergo a process called 'rapid-freezing' or 'supercooling,' remain in liquid form -- even at below-freezing temperatures. A new study is the first to break down the rules governing the complex process of crystallization through rapid-cooling. Its findings may revolutionize the delivery of drugs in the human body, providing a way to 'freeze' the drugs at an optimal time and location in the body. Negative regulator of natural killer cell maturation discovered A new study has identified a regulatory pathway in natural killer cells that inhibits their maturation and homing behavior. Natural killer cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against viruses and cancer. The findings could lead to new strategies for boosting natural-killer cell activity against cancer and viral infections, scientists say. Employers and workers can join forces to keep diabetes under control People with diabetes who enroll in a health plan tailored to their medical condition are more likely to stick to their medication and actively take charge of their own health care, research into the effectiveness of the Diabetes Health Plan finds.