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Science News for March 30, 2015


Percentage of children eating fast food on a given day drops

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that the percentage of children eating fast food on a given day dropped from 38.8% to 32.6% between 2003-2004 and 2009-2010, respectively. Calorie intake from burger and chicken restaurants also decreased, while Mexican and sandwich restaurants remained constant.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMar 30, 2015

News from Annals of Internal Medicine March 31, 2015

The US Preventive Services Task Force has updated its recommendations on iron supplementation and screening in pregnant women, finding that routine iron supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the incidence of iron deficiency and anemia. In contrast, new hepatitis C treatments show promise but may exceed insurers' willingness to pa...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateMar 30, 2015

Study debunks common misconception that urine is sterile

Researchers from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine found bacteria in the bladders of healthy women, contradicting the long-held belief that normal urine is sterile. This discovery has significant implications for understanding bladder health and disease, particularly lower urinary tract disorders.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalEuropean Urology·DateMar 30, 2015

How DNA alarm-system works

A new study by Lomonosov Moscow State University researchers clarifies the DNA alarm-system, which detects single-strand breaks and activates kinase ATM to signal repair. This system prevents cancer-causing mutations and cell death.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2015

New drug stalls estrogen receptor-positive cancer cell growth and shrinks tumors

Researchers have developed an experimental drug, BHPI, that rapidly shrinks most tumors in a mouse model of human breast cancer. The drug works by hyperactivating the unfolded protein response pathway, driving cancer cells from using it for protection into making it a lethal pathway.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2015

Clues to aging from long-lived lemurs

Dwarf lemurs' ability to put their bodies in standby mode, known as torpor, correlates with increased longevity. Hibernating lemurs live up to ten years longer than non-hibernators, staying healthier and reproducing for a longer period.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Zoology·DateMar 30, 2015

Cats relax to the sound of music

Researchers found that cats undergoing surgery benefit from classical music, particularly George Handel compositions, which reduce respiratory rate and pupil diameter. The study suggests using calming music in surgical environments could decrease anaesthetic doses and promote patient safety.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery·DateMar 30, 2015

To statin or not to statin?

A Johns Hopkins report provides clinicians with concrete tips to help patients decide whether to take statins, balancing benefits and risks. The report emphasizes the importance of individualized advice, clear explanation of benefits and risks, and shared decision-making.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMar 30, 2015

Study shows short & long-term cost-savings associated with minimally invasive surgery

A study by University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center found that laparoscopic colectomy procedures resulted in $6,689 lower costs compared to open surgery, with patients experiencing fewer days of health care utilization. The study also showed a significant difference in healthcare expenditures and patient workdays after the procedure.

Wearable technology can help with public speaking

A team of researchers from the University of Rochester has created a system called Rhema that uses smart glasses to give real-time feedback on public speaking volume and rate. This feedback helps speakers adjust their performance, with tests showing an improvement in delivery compared to users who received no or continuous feedback.

Early stage NSCLC patients with low tumor metabolic activity have longer survival

Researchers found that patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and low tumor metabolic activity have increased overall survival. A diagnostic test using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG/PET) can help identify patients who may benefit from post-surgical chemotherapy.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateMar 30, 2015

From tobacco to cyberwood

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a highly sensitive temperature sensor called cyberwood, which mimics the properties of temperature-sensitive plants. By incorporating plant cells and pectin molecules, the material responds to small temperature fluctuations with large changes in conductivity.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2015

Climate change costing soybean farmers

A recent study published in Nature Plants found that climate change is reducing soybean yields across the United States, with an average decline of 2.4% for every one-degree rise in temperature. The study suggests that soybean farmers can minimize yield losses by adopting practices such as earlier planting and no-till farming.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalNature Plants·DateMar 30, 2015

Identification of drug combinations that reverse HIV-1 latency

Researchers have developed a multifaceted approach to identify drug combinations that reverse HIV-1 latency. Several 2-drug combinations were found to be able to reactivate HIV-1 without triggering an inflammatory response, and a model was created to correlate changes in viral RNA with virus secretion from T cells.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 30, 2015

Ice hockey helmets to get safety stars

Researchers developed a new Hockey STAR rating system to evaluate helmet protection against concussions and head injuries in ice hockey. The system assigns a value to each helmet based on its ability to protect players from head impacts, driving manufacturers to advance helmet design.

SourceSpringer Science+Business Media·JournalAnnals of Biomedical Engineering·DateMar 30, 2015

Eating fruits and vegetables with high pesticide residues linked with poor semen quality

Men who consumed more produce with high pesticide residue levels had lower sperm counts and poorer sperm quality. Conversely, those who ate less of such produce had better semen health. The study suggests that minimizing pesticide exposure through organic or low-residue foods may be beneficial for reproductive health.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalHuman Reproduction·DateMar 30, 2015

Sea change: What took decades to destroy in oceans took millennia to recover

A new study by UC Davis researchers finds that ocean ecosystems can take thousands of years to recover from rapid climate change, with the recovery period being on a millennial scale. The study analyzed fossilized ocean fauna and found that even minor changes in oxygen levels could result in dramatic changes for seafloor communities.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2015

Crowdsourced tool for depression

A new peer-to-peer networking tool has been developed to build online support communities and practice therapeutic techniques for depression. The tool, called Panoply, yielded better outcomes in training subjects to use cognitive reappraisal and improving mood in those with severe symptoms.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateMar 30, 2015

Next important step toward a quantum computer

Researchers from the University of Bonn and Cambridge successfully linked two different quantum systems, quantum dots and ions, to work together as a team. This hybrid system combines the strengths of both components, enabling faster calculations and improved memory storage.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 30, 2015

BMC study: New Hepatitis C treatments cost-effective, but only for selected patients

A study by Boston Medical Center researchers finds that new Hepatitis C treatments are highly effective but only cost-effective for patients with advanced liver disease or those who have previously failed treatment. The therapy's wholesale cost of $85,000 per course is prohibitively expensive for healthier patients.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateMar 30, 2015

Massive study is first to explore historical ocean response to abrupt climate change

A massive 30-foot-long core sample of Pacific Ocean seafloor has shown that marine ecosystems can take thousands of years to recover from climate-related upheavals. The study analyzed over 5,400 invertebrate fossils and found that ecosystem recovery from climate change and seawater deoxygenation might take place on a millennial scale.

SourceCalifornia Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2015