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Science News Archive August 2016


Page 1 of 38

Want to hit your target? Good luck, short stuff

A study by Ohio State University researchers found that taller individuals have a natural advantage when it comes to spatial relations and judging the location of targets in their middle-distance vision. This ability is particularly important in situations with limited visual cues, such as darkness or obstacles.

SourceOhio State University·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 31, 2016

Insecure childhood can make dealing with stress harder

A study found that individuals with insecure childhood experiences had lower task performance under emotionally negative conditions and less brain activity in response to target letters. This suggests that inefficient emotional regulation strategies may lead to reduced cognitive resources for task completion.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateAug 31, 2016

Selenium status influence cancer risk

Researchers from Charité have found that high blood selenium levels are associated with a decreased risk of developing liver cancer. Selenium deficiency is identified as a major risk factor for liver cancer, with the third of the population having lowest selenium status facing a five- to ten-fold increased risk.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateAug 31, 2016

Potential new treatment for cocaine addiction

Researchers at Cardiff University have discovered a new drug treatment that inhibits memories responsible for cocaine cravings, significantly accelerating the end of drug-seeking behavior. The therapy, currently used in cancer trials, targets the brain's limbic system and could potentially speed up clinical development.

Concerns over glutathione skin bleaching in the UK

The use of glutathione for skin bleaching is on the rise in the UK despite potential risks and lack of regulation. The practice has been linked to serious side effects such as Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, as well as transmission of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateAug 31, 2016

Walking a tightrope: Regulators balancing need for safety and flexibility in approvals for new medicines

The European Medicines Agency's approval process for biosimilars shows variability, but offers insights into implementation. Regulators must balance the need for safety with flexibility to support innovation in new therapies, including personalized treatments and products on the borderline between medicines and other sectors.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateAug 31, 2016

Genetic diversity of enzymes alters metabolic individuality

Research at Tohoku University reveals genetic variants affecting enzymatic activities in healthy individuals, suggesting that moderate and rare variants contribute to metabolic differences and disease susceptibility. The study identifies five associations between metabolites and gene variants, including four related to metabolic diseases.

SourceTohoku University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 31, 2016

Food puzzles enhance feline wellbeing

A review of existing empirical evidence suggests that food puzzles can improve cats' physical health by aiding weight loss, and their emotional wellbeing by reducing aggression and fear. By introducing food puzzles, owners can provide cats with stimulation and exercise, leading to a more balanced lifestyle.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery·DateAug 31, 2016

LJI researchers gain new understanding of how neutrophils latch onto vessel walls to protect from infection and clean up injured tissue

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology discovered a novel mechanism by which neutrophil receptors latch onto vessel walls, dampening inflammation. Integrins assume an unorthodox shape that exposes the high affinity patch but maintains a bent conformation, preventing it from binding to ICAM-1 expressed on blood vessel cells.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 31, 2016