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Science News Archive September 2013 - Page 19


Page 19 of 32

Exposure/ritual prevention therapy boosts antidepressant treatment of OCD

A form of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) called exposure and ritual prevention has been shown to augment antidepressant treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with 80% of patients responding compared to 23% on antipsychotics. The therapy works by retraining the brain's habit-forming circuitry to unlearn compulsive rituals.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateSep 12, 2013

Biologists measure evolution's Big Bang

Researchers measured evolution rates during the Cambrian explosion, resolving 'Darwin's dilemma' and explaining the sudden appearance of modern animal groups. The study found that moderately accelerated evolution was sufficient to explain the emergence of arthropods.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 12, 2013

Are women less corrupt?

A new study from Rice University finds that women are more likely to disapprove of and participate in anti-corruption efforts in countries where corruption is publicly condemned. However, the relationship between gender and corruption depends on institutional context.

SourceRice University·JournalPolitics and Gender·DateSep 12, 2013

Living the good life, longer

A new study by Harvard researchers found that Americans can look forward to over two extra years of healthy life compared to the past. The study analyzed data from multiple government-sponsored health surveys and found improvements in overall health, with reduced symptoms of disease and increased vitality.

SourceHarvard University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateSep 12, 2013

Voyager 1 spacecraft reaches interstellar space

University of Iowa researchers confirm Voyager 1's entry into interstellar space after detecting electron plasma oscillations at a frequency corresponding to an electron density about 40 times greater than expected. The spacecraft is now the most distant human-made object at over 11.6 billion miles from the sun.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalScience·DateSep 12, 2013

Medicare Center of Excellence Policy may limit minority access to weight-loss surgery

A new study published in JAMA found that the Medicare centers of excellence policy limited minority access to weight-loss surgery, with a 4.7 percentage point decline in non-white patients receiving bariatric surgery after policy implementation. The policy restricts patients to high-volume hospitals designated as centers of excellence.

A clinician's guide to managing moral distress

A new framework provides guidance for clinicians to manage moral distress, which can interfere with patient care and clinician well-being. The framework aims to create a healthy work environment supporting clinicians to practice with integrity and reduce the toll on caregivers and patients.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Palliative Medicine·DateSep 12, 2013

Dogs' behavior could help to design social robots

A study found that dogs react sociably to robots that behave socially towards them, even if the devices look nothing like a human. The research suggests that designers of social robots should consider how their designs interact with users and animals.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateSep 12, 2013

Study finds 30 percent lower risk of dying for diabetics with bypass surgery vs. stent

A recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology found that people with diabetes have a 30% lower risk of dying if they undergo coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) rather than angioplasty and inserting a stent (PCI). This significant finding has public health implications due to the large difference in outcomes.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalThe Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology·DateSep 12, 2013

The peanut at the heart of our galaxy

Astronomers used ESO's VISTA telescope to create the best 3D map yet of the Milky Way's central bulge, revealing an X-shaped structure. The galactic bulge is composed of 22 million red giant stars that can be used as standard candles to measure distances.

SourceESO·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 12, 2013

Revised Medicaid policy could reduce unintended pregnancies, save millions in health costs

A revised Medicaid sterilization policy could remove logistical barriers, reducing unintended pregnancies by 29,000 annually and saving $215 million in public health costs. The updated policy would prioritize informed decision-making and equitable access to sterilization, benefiting vulnerable populations.

The UK is not investing enough in research into multi-drug resistant infections, say researchers

A UK study finds that only 3.9% of total infectious disease research funding was allocated to antimicrobial resistance, highlighting the need for increased investment in this area. The study calls for strong leadership and sustained targeted spending to combat the growing threat of drug-resistant infections.

SourceOxford University Press UK·JournalJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy·DateSep 12, 2013

Mosquito bites deliver potential new malaria vaccine

A study published in Vaccine suggests that genetically engineered malaria parasites can be used as a vaccine to protect against infection. The attenuated parasites, which are stunted through precise gene deletions, induce robust immune responses that provide long-lasting protection.

SourceElsevier·JournalVaccine·DateSep 11, 2013

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons releases Choosing Wisely list

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has released a list of five targeted, evidence-based recommendations to support conversations between patients and physicians about necessary care. The recommendations aim to reduce waste and overuse in the healthcare system by identifying unnecessary tests and procedures in orthopaedics.

SourceAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·DateSep 11, 2013