Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for November 17, 2016


ACMG issues new recommendations for reporting secondary findings in genomic sequencing

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics has released updated recommendations for reporting secondary findings in clinical exome and genome sequencing. The new list, ACMG SF v2.0, includes four additional genes and one removed gene, totaling 59 medically actionable genes recommended for return. The updates aim to provide s...

SourceAmerican College of Medical Genetics and Genomics·JournalGenetics in Medicine·DateNov 17, 2016

Ice is no match for CSU-developed coating

Researchers created an environmentally friendly, inexpensive coating made from PDMS that keeps surfaces ice-free with low ice adhesion strength of 5 kPa. This innovation could replace toxic liquid de-icers used on planes and cars, providing a permanent protective solution.

SourceColorado State University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·DateNov 17, 2016

Secrets in the soil

Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered a combination of beneficial soil microbes that can boost rice plant defenses against both arsenic and fungal diseases. By applying a 'health cocktail' of these microbes, plants can better withstand stresses, providing a natural solution for addressing global food security concerns.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalFrontiers in Plant Science·DateNov 17, 2016

Uncombable hair gene discovered

Researchers found mutations in three genes involved in forming the hair shaft, which causes uncombable hair syndrome, a rare condition affecting around 100 documented cases worldwide. The discovery provides insights into mechanisms of healthy hair formation and secures clinical diagnosis with molecular genetic methods.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateNov 17, 2016

Scientists develop new mouse model to aid Zika virus research

Researchers have developed a new mouse model that can be used to study the Zika virus and its effects on the body. The model, which employs mice with functioning immune systems, has been shown to develop symptoms of neurological disease after infection, providing valuable insights into potential treatments.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 17, 2016

Shared epigenetic changes underlie different types of autism

Research reveals that over 68% of individuals with different types of autism share a common set of epigenetic modifications in the brain. This finding suggests that a single global epigenetic pattern could underlie diverse manifestations of the psychiatric disease. Epigenetic drugs may hold potential as novel treatments for ASD.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateNov 17, 2016

Scientists discover how bacteria induce 'NET' release

A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that flagellar motility of P. aeruginosa is the main factor required to induce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The researchers developed an assay to quantify the levels of P. aeruginosa flagellin and found that immotile strains failed to stimulate NET formation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 17, 2016

E-cigarettes may harm teens' lung health

New research found an association between e-cigarette use and persistent cough, bronchitis, and congestion in teenagers. The study suggested that even non-smoking e-cigarette users may experience respiratory symptoms, highlighting the need for further study on the long-term effects of e-cigarettes.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateNov 17, 2016

3-D imaging technique maps migration of DNA-carrying material at the center of cells

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking 3D imaging technique that maps the reorganization of genetic material in cell nuclei, providing a new understanding of how chromosomes are compacted and genes are activated or silenced. This breakthrough uses X-ray microscopy to visualize the structure and movement of chromatin in real-time.

How the heart turns into bone

Researchers at UCLA discovered that cardiac fibroblasts, which give rise to scar tissue after injury, can also produce bone-like cells. By blocking an enzyme involved in bone mineralization, they prevented calcification in mice, offering a potential new approach for treating abnormal calcium deposits in the heart.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateNov 17, 2016

Does traffic-related air pollution increase asthma risk by stimulating immune mediated inflammation?

A study of 577 children living in Puerto Rico found that closer proximity to major roads was associated with higher levels of interleukin 31, a cytokine promoting allergic inflammation. This increase in IL-31 levels is linked to increased asthma risk and severity in genetically susceptible children.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalPediatric Allergy and Immunology·DateNov 17, 2016

Cameroon's cholera outbreaks vary by climate region

Researchers discovered that cholera follows distinct outbreak patterns in different climate subzones of Cameroon, with varying relationships between rainfall, temperature, and disease transmission. Locally targeted interventions are necessary to control the spread of the disease, according to the study's findings.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateNov 17, 2016

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine: Donor lungs could be kept alive for substantially longer with new lung preservation technique

A new study found that a combination of cold preservation and ex-vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) can extend donor lung preservation time to over 12 hours without jeopardizing recipient outcomes. This technique has the potential to increase organ availability by reducing geographical limitations and enabling longer-distance transports.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·DateNov 17, 2016

Fear of gaining weight may influence contraception choices

Women who are overweight or obese are less likely to use hormonal birth control methods, opting for long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) like IUDs and implants instead. This preference is driven by fear of weight gain associated with the pill and shot, despite LARCs not containing estrogen.

SourcePenn State·JournalContraception·DateNov 17, 2016

Neurons in the human eye are organized for error correction

A study reveals that neurons in the human eye work together to correct errors and improve visual signal accuracy. The research used a mathematical model to analyze retinal ganglion cell activity and found that collective signals are more reliable than individual cell signals.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 17, 2016

Chemical origami yields new plant compounds with therapeutic and economic potential

Researchers developed a method to alter plant enzymes, producing new natural compounds with disease-resistance properties and potentially useful as anti-foaming agents or natural sweeteners. This breakthrough could revolutionize the production of complex compounds in the lab.

SourceIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 17, 2016

Tracking the flow of quantum information

Researchers have developed a formula to understand where quantum objects land when transmitted, offering insights for controlling open quantum systems. The formula suggests that 'rain gutters' and 'gates' can be engineered to manipulate quantum objects, either after they land or during their flow.

SourceYale University·JournalPhysical Review X·DateNov 17, 2016

Molecular imaging hack makes cameras 'faster'

Rice chemist Christy Landes and her team have created a new microscopy technique called super temporal resolution microscopy (STReM), which captures images of molecules at a frame rate 20 times faster than typical lab cameras. This enhancement allows researchers to study fast processes without needing more expensive cameras, extracting...

SourceRice University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateNov 17, 2016

Solving the riddle of putrid camel pee could aid millions affected by sleeping sickness

Biochemists from Trinity College Dublin have discovered indolepyruvate, a metabolic by-product of trypanosome activity, which may offer possibilities for developing anti-trypanosome drugs. Inhibiting its production could be key in fighting the parasite, which causes sleeping sickness and kills millions in sub-Saharan Africa.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 17, 2016

Updated ASTRO guideline expands pool of suitable candidates for APBI

The updated guideline suggests that more breast cancer patients can benefit from accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), including younger patients and those with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The guideline provides direction for the use of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) for early-stage breast cancer patients.

SourceAmerican Society for Radiation Oncology·JournalPractical Radiation Oncology·DateNov 17, 2016

Kidney failure patients' advance directives are often inadequate

A recent study found that nearly half of kidney failure patients receiving dialysis had advance directives, but only a small minority specifically addressed dialysis management at the end of life. The simple presence or absence of an advance directive is not enough to fully address important aspects of dialysis patients' end-of-life care.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateNov 17, 2016

Nutty stimulant revealed as anticancer tool

Arecoline, an analog of nicotine, has been identified as an inhibitor of the enzyme ACAT1, which contributes to the Warburg effect in cancer cells. Researchers found that arecoline steers cells' metabolism away from glycolysis, inhibiting growth in human lung cancer and leukemia cells.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalMolecular Cell·DateNov 17, 2016

Optical clock technology tested in space for first time

Researchers successfully tested an optical clock in space, demonstrating its potential to improve GPS accuracy and enable global sensing applications. The compact frequency comb laser system operated smoothly under microgravity conditions, paving the way for future space-based precision clocks.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateNov 17, 2016

Reducing salt intake may help protect kidney patients' heart and kidney health

A new study found that reducing sodium intake significantly reduced albuminuria and blood pressure in patients with chronic kidney disease. The combination of paricalcitol and a low sodium diet resulted in the lowest albuminuria levels in patients, indicating a strong reduction in kidney function decline and heart benefits.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateNov 17, 2016