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Science News for October 4, 2009


Hoarseness predominates in vocal health issues for inner city children

Researchers found that 66% of inner city pediatric voice clinic patients presented with hoarseness, while 77% had vocal nodules. This suggests a significant prevalence of vocal health issues in this population, highlighting the importance of laryngeal examination in all pediatric patients with vocal nodules.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 4, 2009

Radiofrequency energy technique as effective as tonsillectomy surgery

A new research method using radiofrequency energy shows promise in treating symptoms of tonsillar hypertrophy in children, offering a safer alternative to traditional tonsillectomy surgery. The technique resulted in significant improvements in over 91% of the children who underwent treatment.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 4, 2009
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis have increased incidence of other chronic illnesses

Research found a higher incidence of chronic rhinosinusitis among patients with other chronic diseases, particularly asthma. The study suggests that some chronic diseases may share common mechanisms of how they arise or progress, highlighting the need for further investigation into the relationship between CRS and other conditions.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 4, 2009

Designing drugs and their antidotes together improves patient care

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have engineered a way to design drugs and their antidotes together, improving patient care. The new approach allows for the creation of universal antidotes for aptamers, which can reverse the action of any aptamer drug, regardless of sequence, shape, or target.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalNature Medicine·DateOct 4, 2009

New type of genetic change identified in inherited cancer

A new type of genetic change, a second copy of an entire gene, has been identified as a cause of familial chordoma, a devastating and rare form of cancer. The T (Brachyury) gene duplication was found in patients with the disease, but its exact mechanism is unknown.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalNature Genetics·DateOct 4, 2009

Cosmetic eyelid surgery can boost quality of life for patients

A retrospective questionnaire survey of 26 adult patients undergoing blepharoplasty found a positive impact on quality of life. The procedure improved patients' self-esteem and appearance, with most undergoing surgery to feel better about their look.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 4, 2009
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Brazilians judge facial beauty differently than North Americans

A study of health professionals and citizens in Brazil found that the low position of the nasal root is considered most beautiful, followed by regular positioning. The research highlights the importance of understanding regional beauty standards for facial plastic surgery.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 4, 2009

Addition of whole-brain radiation therapy to standard radiosurgery results in worse learning and memory function for patients with brain tumors

Patients with brain tumors treated with WBRT plus SRS experience significant decline in learning and memory function compared to those receiving SRS alone. The study concludes that SRS alone combined with close clinical monitoring is the preferred treatment strategy for patients newly diagnosed with one to three brain metastases.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateOct 4, 2009
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Minimally invasive procedure effective for treating snoring

Researchers found radiofrequency ablation to be effective in reducing primary snoring symptoms, with a significant improvement after two treatment sessions. The procedure showed low postoperative complication rates and high patient satisfaction rates, offering a minimally invasive option for treating snoring.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 4, 2009

Understanding a cell's split personality aids synthetic circuits

Researchers at Duke University discovered that some bacteria exhibit bistability, allowing individual cells to respond differently to external commands. This phenomenon enhances the efficiency of synthetic circuits, which could produce proteins, chemicals, or deliver targeted drugs.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateOct 4, 2009

Many patients with sleep apnea also suffer from GI tract conditions

Research reveals that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients often have additional gastrointestinal (GI) tract conditions. A study of 42 adult OSA patients found pathological GI findings in 83.3% of cases, with hiatus hernia being the most common condition.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 4, 2009

Team finds a better way to watch bacteria swim

Scientists have created a new approach to studying bacterial swimming, using optical traps, microfluidic chambers and fluorescence to track Escherichia coli movement. The method allows researchers to trap bacteria and modify their environment without hindering movement, providing insights into the mechanics of bacterial swimming.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Methods·DateOct 4, 2009
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Photodynamic therapy effective for certain head and neck cancers

A study presented at the AAO-HNSF Annual Meeting found that photodynamic therapy is effective in treating certain types of head and neck cancers. The treatment, which combines medications with a specific light therapy, can achieve organ preservation and cancer cure for superficially spread but not deeply infiltrated cancers.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 4, 2009

Graphite mimics iron's magnetism

Researchers found that graphite exhibits permanent magnetic behavior due to interlayer coupling of grain boundary regions, forming 2D networks. This discovery opens up new possibilities for spintronics and biosensor applications in carbon-based materials.

SourceEindhoven University of Technology·JournalNature Physics·DateOct 4, 2009

Global death toll: 1 million premature babies every year

The new White Paper reveals an estimated 13 million babies worldwide were born preterm in 2005, with one million deaths attributed to preterm birth. Premature births face serious lifelong health risks and contribute significantly to global healthcare costs.

SourceMarch of Dimes Foundation·DateOct 4, 2009

UNC study pinpoints gene controlling number of brain cells

A UNC study found that the GSK-3 gene plays a crucial role in regulating the balance between neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Deleting this gene led to an overabundance of proliferating stem cells, resulting in fewer mature neurons. This discovery has implications for treating neuropsychiatric disorders.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 4, 2009
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.