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Science News Archive November 2017 - Page 2


Page 2 of 42

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