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Science News for December 29, 2015


Factors predicting low patient accrual in cancer clinical trials

A study analyzed 787 phase II/III clinical trials sponsored by the National Clinical Trials Network, finding that increased competition, planning to enroll a larger proportion of the available population, and lack of new agents were associated with poor accrual. The researchers developed a multivariable prediction model to identify tri...

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 29, 2015

Temple study finds opioid prescribing guideline significantly decreases prescription rates

A Temple University study found that an opioid prescribing guideline significantly decreased prescription rates for minor conditions and chronic noncancer pain in acute care settings. The guideline was implemented in January 2013 and resulted in a high degree of statistical significance across all age groups and complaint categories.

SourceTemple University Health System·JournalJournal of Emergency Medicine·DateDec 29, 2015

Plain packaging effective in reducing misperceptions of tobacco products among Australian Indigenous

A study found that plain packaging decreased overall perceptions of healthier tobacco brands by 12%, as well as reduced prestige perceptions among young Indigenous smokers. The findings support the effectiveness of health warnings in reducing global tobacco use, particularly among vulnerable populations.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·DateDec 29, 2015

Thermal microscopy of single cells

A team of researchers developed a new imaging approach that provides images of a single cell with micrometer resolution using a contrast based on the cell's thermal properties. This technique allows for unprecedented sensitivity in detecting diseased conditions at the sub-cell scale and may aid in optimizing cryopreservation processes.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 29, 2015

Clinical research experts comment on the state of their fields

Clinical research experts discuss various topics, including the impact of personalized genomic data on healthcare systems, strategies to combat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and population approaches to reduce diabetes incidence. They also highlight the need for improved cancer diagnosis and treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 29, 2015

St. Jude researchers develop powerful interactive tool to mine data from cancer genome

The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has developed ProteinPaint, a web application and dataset that provides an interactive tool for researchers worldwide to advance their understanding of pediatric cancer mutations. The tool offers critical information unavailable with existing visualization tools, allowing users to see the impac...

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNature Genetics·DateDec 29, 2015