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Science News for November 30, 2017


Neutrophil-inspired propulsion

Researchers have created a novel system that enables aggregates composed of magnetized particles to roll along a channel using a combined acoustic and magnetic field. The system has shown promise for delivering drugs to hard-to-reach sites within the body, with potential applications in cancer treatment.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 30, 2017

Helping the brain prune bad habits

Researchers found that fasudil, a drug that inhibits Rho kinase, promotes goal-directed behavior in mice by pruning dendritic spines, a process involved in learning new behaviors. The treatment showed promise in reducing cocaine self-administration and could be an effective adjunct to cognitive behavioral therapy for treating drug abuse.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 30, 2017

Migration makes breeding harder for seabirds

A study by University of Oxford researchers found that puffin colonies traveling great distances during winter often face difficulty breeding due to environmental factors like competition and habitat quality. The study provides new insights into seabird migration behaviors, highlighting the costs associated with long-distance travel.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 30, 2017

Army researchers seek better batteries

A team of Army scientists published new findings on modeling insights into battery electrolyte structure and stability, highlighting the importance of tailoring electrolytes to support fast and reversible lithium transport. The research aims to improve battery efficiency and lifespan.

SourceU.S. Army Research Laboratory·JournalAccounts of Chemical Research·DateNov 30, 2017

Rising levels of HIV drug resistance

A new study reveals that HIV drug resistance is on the rise, particularly among individuals in low- to middle-income countries, where 11.1% of those starting therapy have resistant virus strains. The research highlights the importance of improving monitoring and response strategies to combat this growing threat.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateNov 30, 2017

Researchers advance technique to detect ovarian cancer

Researchers at Rice University and MD Anderson Cancer Center use fluorescent carbon nanotube probes to locate specific tumors in the body. The noninvasive technique achieved first in vivo success in detecting small concentrations of nanotubes inside rodents with high accuracy.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateNov 30, 2017

Diet success may depend on your DNA

A recent study published in the journal Genetics found that genetic differences can greatly impact how individuals respond to different diets. The researchers used four groups of animal models with unique genetic traits to test the effectiveness of various diets, including American-style, Mediterranean, Japanese, and ketogenic diets.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalGenetics·DateNov 30, 2017

New in the Hastings Center report, November-December 2017

The article examines the persistence of continuous electronic fetal monitoring as a standard of care, despite evidence that it increases risks. It also discusses the lack of mechanisms for ensuring medical professionals stay current with best practices and the role of malpractice law in setting boundaries on acceptable interventions.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateNov 30, 2017

New treatment investigated for brain tapeworm infection

Researchers investigate pretreatment with etanercept to manage post-treatment inflammation in neurocysticercosis, a major cause of epilepsy worldwide. Etanercept suppresses inflammatory pathways involved in treatment-induced inflammation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateNov 30, 2017

Uncertainty surrounds US livestock methane emission estimates

A new study challenges previous estimates of US livestock methane emissions, suggesting a significant discrepancy between top-down and bottom-up approaches. The researchers used a spatially explicit approach to estimate enteric methane emissions for cattle and manure methane emissions for swine and poultry.

SourcePenn State·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateNov 30, 2017

Parasitic worms don't just wait to be swallowed by new hosts

Scientists found that parasitic nematodes use odors from host mice as cues to position themselves where they have a higher chance of being eaten. The worms are attracted to fresh mouse feces and can migrate towards new hosts based on odorants produced by mammalian skin, feces, or urine.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 30, 2017

Study suggests a way to stop HIV in its tracks

A Loyola University Chicago study has identified the protein bicaudal D2, which facilitates the trafficking and nuclear import of HIV-1 genomes during infection. This finding raises the possibility of developing a drug that would prevent HIV-1 from binding to bicaudal D2.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 30, 2017

Targeted treatment could prevent spread of pancreatic cancer, heart damage

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a targeted treatment that can prevent the spread of pancreatic cancer and protect the heart from damage. The treatment, which involves using an mTOR kinase inhibitor, has shown promise in reducing disease progression and cardiac impairment in patients with certain types of tumors.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalMolecular Cancer Therapeutics·DateNov 30, 2017

Mindfulness training and therapy can reverse jail time's negative psychological effects

Researchers found that mindfulness training and therapy can mitigate the decline in cognitive abilities and impulse control associated with prison time. The study revealed that inmates who participated in CBT and mindfulness exercises showed significant improvements in emotion recognition and impulse control compared to those in a cont...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalCriminal Justice and Behavior·DateNov 30, 2017

Study reads between the lines in children's vocabulary differences

Grade school children from low-income homes have significantly smaller vocabularies compared to their peers, with a 10% difference in word learning, leading to long-term academic implications. The study suggests that increasing vocabulary through oral methods and visualizing sentence relationships can be effective interventions.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology·DateNov 30, 2017

Caught in the act: Papillomaviruses promote non-melanoma skin cancer

Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center have found that papillomaviruses associated with UV light can promote the development of non-melanoma skin cancer. The viruses affect the stability of host cell DNA, leading to accumulation of UV-related damage. This link has been previously underinvestigated in human biopsies.

Conspiracy thinking less likely with greater news media literacy, study suggests

A study by University of Illinois researchers found that individuals with higher news media literacy are less likely to endorse conspiracy theories. The study surveyed nearly 400 participants and found that those who know more about the news media are less susceptible to conspiracy theories, regardless of their political affiliation.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalCommunication and the Public·DateNov 30, 2017

CRF1 stress receptor is regulator of mast cell activity during stress

A new study identified CRF1 as a master regulator of mast cell activity during stressful challenges, including psychological stress and anaphylaxis. The study showed that mice lacking CRF1 expression were protected against disease, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for treating stress-related diseases.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateNov 30, 2017

New document guides hospitals in responding to infectious disease outbreaks

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America published a new guidance document for hospitals to respond to infectious disease outbreaks. The document emphasizes the role of healthcare epidemiologists in emergency preparedness and response, providing medical and technical expertise and leading infection prevention efforts.

SourceSociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateNov 30, 2017

Postsurgery guideline could reduce opioid prescriptions by as much as 40 percent

A new guideline for discharge opioid prescriptions after inpatient general surgical procedures could significantly reduce opioid prescriptions. The guideline, developed by researchers at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, recommends prescribing a certain number of opioids based on the patient's usage the day before discharge.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateNov 30, 2017

Cigarette smokers are 10 times more likely to be daily marijuana users

A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that cigarette smokers are 10 times more likely to use marijuana on a daily basis. The strongest relationship between cigarette smoking and daily cannabis use is among 12 to 17 year olds, who are 50 times more likely to be daily cannabis users than non-smokers.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateNov 30, 2017

Speaking up against bigotry can reduce bad behavior

Rutgers psychologists discover that confronting people about bigoted statements can lead to a lasting reduction in prejudice. Confrontation causes individuals to feel bad and consciously avoid repeating such statements, with effects persisting even a week after the initial encounter.

SourceRutgers University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateNov 30, 2017

Bat cave study sheds new light on origin of SARS virus

A new study sheds light on the origin of the SARS virus, finding that genetic recombination between viral strains in bats may have produced the direct evolutionary ancestor of the strain that caused a deadly outbreak. The study also identified strains capable of entering human cells.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 30, 2017

Researchers report altered brain functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder

A study published in Brain Connectivity found significant differences in functional architecture and interactivity of the default mode network in adolescent and young adult males with autism spectrum disorder compared to those without ASD. These findings could lead to the development of new imaging-based diagnostic markers for autism.

Study identifies genes involved in tolerance following kidney transplantation

Researchers found genes associated with B cell receptor signaling and activation in tolerant kidney transplant recipients, suggesting an active immune regulation of B cells. The study provides insights into the mechanisms behind tolerance induction in renal transplantation, potentially leading to minimization of immunosuppression.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateNov 30, 2017

Fish oil component preconditions vision cells to survive future injury or disease

A LSU Health New Orleans study found that DHA in fish oil 'preconditions' photoreceptor and RPE cells to survive future insults, reducing the risk of retinal degeneration. The researchers also discovered that daily omega-3 supplementation may provide an opportunity for halting debilitating eye diseases.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalCellular and Molecular Neurobiology·DateNov 30, 2017

Judging a 'clean face' for trachoma

Researchers trained staff in Tanzania to assess facial cleanliness and found reliable measures of clean faces. These findings suggest adding facial cleanliness assessments to trachoma surveys in developing countries where the infection is a public health problem.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateNov 30, 2017

Cancer drug leads to 'drastic decrease' in HIV infection in lung cancer patient

A recent study has found that a cancer drug called nivolumab can drastically decrease the reservoirs of HIV-infected cells in the body, a key step towards potentially eradicating the virus. This breakthrough has been observed in a single patient with lung cancer, who showed a sustained reduction in HIV reservoirs after treatment.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateNov 30, 2017

Recurring nightmares could reflect your daily frustrations

Research suggests that people's daily frustration with life can lead to recurring nightmares, where they experience falling, failing, or being attacked in their dreams. The study found that those whose psychological needs were not met reported more negative dream themes and struggled to interpret their dreams positively.

SourceSpringer·JournalMotivation and Emotion·DateNov 30, 2017

HIV also targets the brain

Researchers at Stellenbosch University found that HIV affects the brain in early stages of infection, leading to decreased blood flow and brain functional impairment. The study used fMRI scans to compare brain activity of people with and without HIV, revealing a link between frontal lobe atrophy and cognitive symptoms.

SourceStellenbosch University·JournalAIDS·DateNov 30, 2017

People with disabilities more likely to be arrested

Research at Cornell University found that people with disabilities are nearly 44% more likely to be arrested by age 28 compared to those without disabilities. Black men with disabilities face a disproportionately high risk of arrest, highlighting the need for police training and healthcare improvements.

SourceCornell University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateNov 30, 2017

Shifting protein networks in breast cancer may alter gene function

A new study found that breast cancer proteins can have altered functions in tumor cells due to changes in protein interaction networks. This shift affects the number of genes performing each function, not their expression levels. The study predicts patient survival and cancer subtype based on these functional shifts.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 30, 2017