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Science News Archive September 2014 - Page 32


Page 32 of 34

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