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Science News for October 21, 2013


Bugs not gay, just confused

Research at Tel Aviv University suggests that homosexual behavior in insects and spiders is often a case of mistaken identity. In most cases, males mistake other males for females due to lack of time and energy to inspect their mates' gender. This behavior lacks potential benefits like procreation and can be costly.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateOct 21, 2013

Fatal cholesterol disease overlooked and untreated

A new consensus report highlights massive underdiagnosis and undertreatment of hereditary high blood cholesterol in virtually all countries, with the exception of Netherlands and Norway. Easy to diagnose through a blood test and family history, the condition can be treated with statins and a low-cholesterol diet.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·DateOct 21, 2013

Contact lens discomfort: What is it, why does it occur and how can it be treated?

A global consensus has been reached on contact lens discomfort (CLD), with the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) workshop report outlining key factors contributing to its generation. The findings suggest that CLD affects up to half of all contact lens wearers and highlight the need for innovative research in this field.

SourceAssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·DateOct 21, 2013

Health news stories on local television news broadcasts are too short, MU researcher says

Researchers found that local TV health news stories are typically under 30 seconds long, which can lead to a lack of understanding about complex health topics. The study also revealed that gain-framed messages tend to promote positive behavior change, but loss-framed messages may be more effective for certain types of health information.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalHealth Communication·DateOct 21, 2013

Study examines endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts

The study found that endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage with a combination of a nasocystic drain and transmural stents is more effective than drainage with stents alone in patients with pancreatic pseudocysts containing viscous solid debris. The procedure resulted in lower stent occlusion rates and better clinical outcomes compared ...

SourceAmerican Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy·JournalGastrointestinal Endoscopy·DateOct 21, 2013

Hair regeneration method is first to induce new human hair growth

Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have devised a novel hair restoration method that can generate new human hair growth, potentially expanding the use of hair transplantation to women and younger patients. The approach uses dermal papilla cells from patient donations to induce hair follicle growth in tissue culture.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2013

Risk of Amazon rainforest dieback is higher than IPCC projects

A new study suggests the southern portion of the Amazon rainforest is at a much higher risk of dieback due to stronger seasonal drying, which could lead to large volumes of carbon dioxide release and disrupt biodiversity. The researchers found that global warming is the most likely explanation for the lengthening dry season.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2013

Seeing in the dark

Scientists studied Yangtze finless porpoise hearing using medical technology to understand impact of constant shipping and construction on their critical sense of hearing. The research revealed variations in hearing sensitivity among different species, with implications for effective management strategies.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateOct 21, 2013

Study of decline of malaria in the US could affect approach to malaria epidemic abroad, UT Arlington researcher says

Researchers challenge prevailing argument that farm movement led to US malaria decline in the 1930s. Instead, targeted public health interventions and infrastructure development played a crucial role. The study's findings have significant implications for eradicating malaria in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateOct 21, 2013

Parental perceptions are preventing HPV vaccination success

Many parents believe the HPV vaccine is unnecessary or unsafe, which poses a barrier to its success. Experts argue that clinicians must engage with parents and address their concerns through open conversations and science-based information. Social media may also play a role in future HPV vaccination programs.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalExpert Review of Clinical Immunology·DateOct 21, 2013

Do sunny climates reduce ADHD?

A recent study in Biological Psychiatry suggests a possible link between sunny climates and reduced ADHD prevalence rates. The research found that regions with high sunlight intensity tend to have lower ADHD rates, even after controlling for other known risk factors.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateOct 21, 2013

Large prospective study finds long-term obesity is associated with poorer pancreatic cancer survival

A large prospective study found that patients with a body mass index in the obese range live on average two to three months less after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis compared to healthy-weight patients. Obesity is associated with poorer pancreatic cancer survival rates, even after adjusting for age and disease stage.

SourceAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateOct 21, 2013

Targeting cancer's sweet tooth

Cancer cells use a process called the Warburg effect to extract energy from glucose, allowing them to sustain growth while retaining building blocks for molecules. Researchers identify a novel pathway involving mTORC2 that enables cancer cells to resist targeted therapies and develop new treatments.

SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalCell Metabolism·DateOct 21, 2013

Economic assessment of mountain pine beetle timber salvage

A recent study assesses the economic viability of salvaging standing timber killed by mountain pine beetles in western US states. While some regions like Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, and South Dakota can generate positive net revenues from salvage, others like Colorado and Wyoming face losses due to saturated markets.

SourceUSDA Forest Service ‑ Southern Research Station·JournalWestern Journal of Applied Forestry·DateOct 21, 2013

Light as medicine?

Researchers at UWM have discovered that near-infrared (NIR) and blue light can repair tissue in dramatically different ways, but both act on the same enzyme in the cell's energy supply center: the mitochondria. NIR light has been shown to improve MS symptoms in rodent models, while blue light kills bacteria that cause infection.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin - Milwaukee·JournalPhotomedicine and Laser Surgery·DateOct 21, 2013

Single mutation gives virus new target

A team of scientists discovered that a single amino acid change in the human BK polyomavirus enables it to bind to a different sugar on host cell surfaces. This mutation allows the virus to potentially adapt to new species by changing its binding target preference.

SourceBrown University·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateOct 21, 2013

Recommendations for clinical trial accrual published in Journal of Oncology Practice

The article discusses new recommendations for overcoming issues related to cancer clinical trial accrual. Strategies include involving patient advocates and improving communication with patients, developing evidence-based training initiatives for providers, and promoting accrual through leadership best practices at the site level.

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalJournal of Oncology Practice·DateOct 21, 2013

West African bats -- no safe haven for malaria parasites

Researchers discovered four genera of haemosporidian parasites in West African bats, closely related to the malaria pathogen Plasmodium. The study highlights the complex relationship between bats and pathogens, with potential implications for understanding human malaria evolution and developing new vaccines.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2013

Grazers and pollinators shape plant evolution

Researchers studied bird's eye primrose populations in alvar grasslands on Öland Island to investigate how grazing and pollinators impact plant characteristics. Grazing pressure and pollination intensity determine the reproductive success of short vs. tall morphs, leading to changes in genetic composition over time.

SourceUppsala University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2013

Poorly camouflaged insects can kick off a cascade of ecological impacts, new CU-Boulder study finds

A CU-Boulder study finds that poorly camouflaged insects can affect their broader ecological community when the appearance of the bug is mismatched with the plant it's living on. This can lead to a cascade of ecological impacts, including increased predation by birds and a subsequent decrease in arthropod populations.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 21, 2013

Tuberculosis and the social lives of badgers

A study by Nicola Weber and colleagues found that TB-infected badgers are less likely to spread the disease within their own groups but more likely to facilitate spread across a network. Vaccination may be a more effective strategy for controlling TB in badger populations, maintaining social structure intact.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 21, 2013

Moderate to vigorous exercise boosts teens' academic performance

Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that regular moderate to vigorous exercise improves teens' academic performance, with girls doing better in science. The study, which tracked over 5000 children aged 11-16, showed a dose-response effect between exercise intensity and test results.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateOct 21, 2013

Study identifies safe delivery system for tricky yet potent anti-cancer cancer compound

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine have discovered a way to effectively deliver staurosporine, a powerful anti-cancer compound, to mouse tumors without harming healthy tissue. The new liposomal delivery system increases the efficiency of drug-loading by over 70% and shows potent results in suppressing tumors.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalInternational Journal of Nanomedicine·DateOct 21, 2013

New drug reduces negative memory

Researchers at the University of Basel have identified a new compound that reduces aversive memory, a trait central to anxiety disorders like PTSD. The compound, a known antihistamine, was found to significantly reduce memory recall of negative pictures but not neutral or positive ones.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2013

Embargoed news from Oct. 22, 2013 Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet

The American College of Physicians recommends against routine screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in asymptomatic adults without risk factors. In contrast, patients with hypertension and stage 1-3 CKD should be treated with ACE inhibitors or ARBs to manage elevated low-density lipoprotein levels. The evidence review suggests tha...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateOct 21, 2013

Harvard researchers, pharma experts offer recommendations to expand access to clinical trial data

A new report from Harvard University proposes recommendations for addressing the challenge of expanding public access to clinical trial data. The authors suggest a system that balances the need for transparency with the protection of research participants' identities, while also minimizing burdens on trial sponsors.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 21, 2013