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Science News Archive December 2016 - Page 18


Page 18 of 32

Famine alters metabolism for successive generations

A study of over 3,000 families affected by mid-20th Century China's widespread starvation found that prenatal famine exposure was associated with significantly higher odds of hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes in both the mother and her children. The risk persisted even when only one parent had been exposed to famine.

SourceBrown University·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateDec 12, 2016

No good evidence that shock-absorbing insoles stave off injuries or stress fractures

A pooled analysis of available data reveals that shock-absorbing insoles do not prevent injuries or stress fractures. In contrast, foot orthotics have been shown to reduce the risk of overall injury and certain types of leg and foot pain by up to 41%. However, the quality of the evidence varies, and further rigorous research is needed.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateDec 12, 2016

Faster track to treatment

A team of researchers has identified a network of genes in the brain that contribute to epilepsy, and predicts that a known anti-epileptic drug can restore its function. The study's 'network-biology' approach may provide a faster and cheaper way to discover new treatments.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalGenome Biology·DateDec 12, 2016

New study seeks to use human serum to detect heart attacks

A new study has developed an electrical immunosensor that can detect heart attacks within a minute using human serum. The system works by measuring the level of cardiac troponin I, a protein excreted by the heart muscle after a heart attack. This novel immunosensor holds considerable potential for use in biomedical diagnosis.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics·DateDec 12, 2016

Researchers develop new approach for better big data prediction

A new approach to analyzing big data has been developed at Columbia University, Princeton and Harvard University. The Influence score, or I-score, is a statistic that can identify highly predictive variables in large datasets. This method has potential applications in predicting diseases, social science phenomena, and financial markets.

SourceColumbia University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2016

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Increases Among Rural Infants

The proportion of rural infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome increased significantly between 2004 and 2013. This geographic disparity highlights the urgent need for policymakers to appropriate funding for clinicians and programs that could improve access to opioid prevention and treatment services for rural women and children.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateDec 12, 2016

Dual loss of TET proteins prompts lethal upsurge in inflammatory T cells in a mouse model

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology found that the loss of TET proteins hinders T cell maturation and promotes aberrant proliferation, leading to a lethal disease resembling lymphoma. The study's findings suggest that TET proteins serve as tumor suppressors and may help block malignancy in cancers marked by TET mutations.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalNature Immunology·DateDec 12, 2016

A $5 fix for a nasty parasite

Researchers create method to detect C. parvum in source waters, improving public health protection. The calcium-mediated attachment of oocysts to environmental biofilms enables faster and cheaper detection.

SourceLehigh University·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateDec 12, 2016

How physical exercise aids in stroke recovery

A recent study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that physical exercise can help preserve adult visual plasticity in mice and restore it after a stroke. This suggests that exercise may be used as a preventive or therapeutic approach to aid recovery after a cortical stroke.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Aging Neuroscience·DateDec 12, 2016

Costs of treating patients with psychosis change significantly as they age

A new study finds that middle-aged patients with psychosis are incurring significant costs in long-term care facilities and with hospitalization, highlighting the need to address both mental and physical health in younger patients. Chronic psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, are associated with high health care costs due to you...

SourceCentre for Addiction and Mental Health·JournalThe Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics·DateDec 12, 2016

Even with maximized yields, sub-Saharan Africa won't grow enough grain in 2050

A new study found that even with optimized yields, sub-Saharan Africa will not meet its grain demand by 2050. Closing the yield gap requires a large acceleration in farming practices and investments in agricultural development. The region must prioritize strategic investments to upgrade infrastructure and ensure food security.

SourceUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2016