Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive January 2017 - Page 26


Page 26 of 35

National VA effort reduced risky opioid prescriptions for veterans, study finds

A new study finds that the Veterans Health Administration's Opioid Safety Initiative reduced high-dose opioid prescribing by 24% and very-high-dose prescribing by 21%, resulting in 331 fewer patients per month receiving prescriptions above 100 MEQ. The initiative also led to a 21% decrease in patients receiving both opioids and sedatives.

A research framework for tracing human migration events after 'out of Africa' origins

The study provides an expanded framework for researchers to study human origins, drawing upon extensive DNA sampling from modern and archaic hominid populations. It suggests a major eastern-western population split once modern humans left Africa, dating back to at least 45,000 years ago.

Glia, not neurons, are most affected by brain aging

Researchers found that glial cells experience bigger changes than neurons as people age, with astrocytes and oligodendrocytes shifting their regional gene expression patterns upon aging. The study provides a tool to understand how aging in the brain may be linked to the causes of age-related disorders.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 10, 2017

Close to half of adults and one quarter of kids in the US regularly consume artificial sweeteners

A recent study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reveals that 41% of adults and 25% of children in the US regularly consume artificial sweeteners. This represents a significant increase from data reported in 1999-2000, with consumption rates reaching 54% among adults and 200% among children.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateJan 10, 2017

Retroviruses 'almost half a billion years old'

New research reveals that retroviruses, including HIV, have been present on Earth for at least 450 million years, originating together with vertebrate hosts in the early Paleozoic era. This finding sheds light on the evolutionary history of these medically important viruses and their ongoing interactions with host immunity.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 10, 2017

Next-generation optics offer the widest real-time views of vast regions of the sun

A new optical device has provided the most precisely detailed, real-time pictures to date of solar activity occurring across vast stretches of the star's surface. The system corrects images distorted by atmospheric turbulence, allowing researchers to analyze magnetic events and forces that propel the star's magnetic fields.

SourceNew Jersey Institute of Technology·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateJan 10, 2017

Study reveals best states for lovers

A nationwide study found that states like Mississippi, Utah and Wisconsin scored low on attachment anxiety and avoidance, while having high marriage rates and fewer isolations. The top states for lovers also had lower temperatures and more regional charm.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Research in Personality·DateJan 10, 2017

Review shows limited progress in digitizing NHS records

A review of NHS electronic record implementation found limited progress made in the past 25 years, with challenges including confusion over policy funding and complex IT system integration. The study calls for more guidance on IT implementation to help hospitals make informed decisions about digitizing patient records.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalBritish Medical Bulletin·DateJan 10, 2017

Why is asthma worse in black patients?

Research reveals that African Americans are more likely to experience eosinophilic airway inflammation, making them less responsive to standard asthma treatments. This study highlights the need for personalized therapies tailored to individual airway inflammation patterns.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateJan 10, 2017

Endocrinologists want training in transgender care

A new study found that most endocrinologists have never received formal training on caring for transgender individuals, despite growing demand for such services. The Endocrine Society is now developing guidelines to address the need for education and training in this area.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJan 10, 2017

Gravitational biology

Researchers found immediate changes in gene expression of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in medaka fish exposed to microgravity. The study suggests a new area of research in gravitational biology, exploring the molecular mechanisms behind bone structure changes.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 10, 2017

New transplant technique restores vision in mice

A new transplant technique has successfully restored vision in mice with inherited retinal degeneration. The technique uses 3D retinal sheets derived from mouse embryonic stem cells, which develop normal structure and connectivity, allowing the growth of functional photoreceptors that connect to host cells and send visual signals.

SourceRIKEN·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateJan 10, 2017