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Science News for September 2, 2014


Surprising new role for calcium in sensing pain

Researchers at Duke University have made a surprising discovery about the role of calcium in pain sensation using Caenorhabditis elegans worms. Calcium flow through pain-sensing channels helps worms adapt to repeated painful stimuli by desensitizing them, suggesting a potential survival advantage.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 2, 2014

Discharged patients return to the ER because 'better safe than sorry'

According to a study by American College of Emergency Physicians, discharged patients often return to the emergency department because they're anxious about their symptoms. The main reasons cited are fear or uncertainty about their medical condition, distrust in the healthcare system, and difficulties accessing care due to lack of insu...

SourceAmerican College of Emergency Physicians·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateSep 2, 2014

Cool calculations for cold atoms

Researchers at Joint Quantum Institute develop universal theory for Efimov states, enabling prediction of chemical processes involving three or more atoms. The new theory successfully incorporates short-distance regime and van der Waals force, predicting a series of Efimov states with varying binding energies.

SourceJoint Quantum Institute·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 2, 2014

NSF renews grant for biological physics research at Rice

The Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at Rice University has received a five-year, $11.75 million grant from the NSF to support its work on applying physical science to new aspects of the natural world. Researchers will develop concepts, models and methods that quantitatively describe processes in living systems.

Childhood trauma could lead to adult obesity

A meta-analysis of 112,000 participants found that childhood trauma significantly increases the risk of obesity in adulthood. The study revealed a 34% higher risk among adults who experienced abuse as children, with physical and emotional abuse leading to increased risks of 28% and 36% respectively.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalObesity Reviews·DateSep 2, 2014

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine: Household air pollution puts more than 1 in 3 people worldwide at risk of ill health and early death

A third of the world's population uses plant-based solid fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting, resulting in high levels of household air pollution. The Commission concludes that an estimated 600-800 million families worldwide are at increased risk of illnesses such as respiratory tract infections and lung cancer.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·DateSep 2, 2014

A handsome face could mean lower semen quality

A recent study found that males with more masculine faces tend to have lower semen quality due to increased testosterone levels impairing sperm production. Males often overestimate the attractiveness of other men to females.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Evolutionary Biology·DateSep 2, 2014

Melatonin does not reduce delirium in elderly patients having acute hip surgery

A randomized controlled trial found that melatonin supplementation had no effect on reducing delirium in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. The study suggests that melatonin may not be effective in preventing postoperative delirium, and further research is needed to compare its effects with antipsychotics.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateSep 2, 2014

Men who exercise less likely to wake up to urinate

Research led by Kate Wolin found that physically active men were 13% less likely to report nocturia and 34% less likely to experience severe nocturia compared to inactive men. The study suggests that physical activity may provide a strategy for managing BPH-related outcomes, including nocturia.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise·DateSep 2, 2014

Residency training predicts physicians' ability to practice conservatively

A new study found that residency training in locations with less intensive practice patterns is associated with better clinical decision-making. Physicians trained in these environments consistently scored higher on a management exam subscale, indicating their ability to make conservative decisions without sacrificing patient outcomes.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateSep 2, 2014

New name for symptoms associated with menopause

Experts agree on a new term, Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), to describe the complex symptoms associated with declining estrogen levels. GSM encompasses genital dryness, sexual discomfort, and urinary issues, providing a more accurate and publicly acceptable definition.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateSep 2, 2014

Sensory reinnervation of muscle spindles after TN defect repaired by autologous vein graft

Researchers used autologous vein grafts to bridge 10-mm segments of tibial nerves in rat gastrocnemius muscles, finding no significant differences in muscle spindle reinnervation between experimental groups. This suggests that autologous vein grafts provide comparable sensory reinnervation results as immediate end-to-end anastomosis.

SourceNeural Regeneration Research·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·DateSep 2, 2014

Are human breast milk microbiomes 'neutral'?

Recent research reveals that breast milk microbiomes are maintained by niche differentiation and dominant species, contradicting the traditional neutral theory. This finding has significant clinical implications for understanding mastitis and other diseases associated with breast milk.

SourceScience China Press·JournalChinese Science Bulletin·DateSep 2, 2014

Future solar panels

The research team has found that larger surface areas of cells lead to reduced performance, but can be overcome by building modules with smaller cells connected in series or parallel. They have also developed a new automatic structuring technique to connect cells without damaging the substrate.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalSolar Energy Materials and Solar Cells·DateSep 2, 2014

Any diet works, if you stick to it

A recent study published in JAMA found that branded diets, such as Atkins and Weight Watchers, are effective for weight loss when adhered to. Behavioural support and exercise also play a significant role in enhancing weight loss outcomes.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalJAMA·DateSep 2, 2014

Many nurses unprepared to meet dying patients

A study of over 200 nursing students found that many feel unprepared to care for dying patients, with anxiety and fear being major concerns. The students' idealized concept of a competent nurse differs from the actual situation, emphasizing the need for education and support to address these issues.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalInternational Journal of Palliative Nursing·DateSep 2, 2014

LA BioMed researcher to be honored

Dr. Richard Casaburi will receive the Distinguished Scientist Honor Lecturer award from CHEST, recognizing his pioneering work in developing rehabilitative treatments for COPD. He leads LA BioMed's pulmonary rehabilitation research and has received numerous awards for his contributions.

Risk of diabetes in children and adolescents exposed to antipsychotics

A nationwide Danish register study found that psychiatrically ill youth exposed to antipsychotic medications had a significantly higher risk of developing type II diabetes compared to those not exposed. Regular cardiometabolic monitoring should be integral part of antipsychotic prescribing in children and adolescents.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateSep 2, 2014

Increase seen in use of double mastectomy

A study found a substantial increase in double mastectomy use among California women with early-stage breast cancer between 1998 and 2011. Despite the procedure's lack of association with lower mortality rates compared to breast-conserving surgery plus radiation, its higher risk of death was noted.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateSep 2, 2014

Exceptionally well preserved insect fossils from the Rhône Valley

Researchers have found exceptionally well-preserved fossil insects in the French equivalent of the Tithonian Konservat-Lagerstätte, comprising a new species representing the oldest known water treader. The fossils provide crucial insights into the evolution of terrestrial environments during the Upper Jurassic period.

SourcePeerJ·JournalPeerJ·DateSep 2, 2014

Extinctions during human era worse than thought

A new study estimates the pre-human extinction rate to be 0.1 extinctions per million species per year, 10 times lower than previously thought. This means the current rate is 100 times worse, with extinctions occurring 1,000 times more frequently than in the past.

SourceBrown University·JournalConservation Biology·DateSep 2, 2014

Nano-forests to reveal secrets of cells

A team of scientists from Lund University has successfully created artificial cell membranes on vertical nanowires, mimicking the curved shape of natural membranes. This breakthrough could lead to new insights into membrane dynamics and target protein interactions in pharmaceutical research.

SourceLund University·JournalNano Letters·DateSep 2, 2014

Burnt out birds suggest hard work could be bad for your health

A recent study on a cooperative bird species found that dominant birds, who work harder and take on more responsibilities, experience weakened antioxidant protection after a breeding season. This suggests that unequal sharing of workloads in societies may leave the hardest-working individuals at risk of poor health and accelerated ageing.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalFunctional Ecology·DateSep 2, 2014