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Science News for October 25, 2017


Feinstein Institute study looks at impact of a popular pre-heart transplant therapy on the kidney

A study published in The Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy can affect kidney function, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease. Researchers identified interventions to improve outcomes, including nephrologist involvement and enhanced dialysis tra...

SourceNorthwell Health·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateOct 25, 2017

Hepatitis C care falling short for young opioid users in R.I.

A study finds that while HCV screening is common among young adults who use prescription opioids recreationally, the follow-up measures needed to stop the spread of the virus are significantly less so. Only a small percentage received confirmatory testing, specialty care, or education on how not to transmit the virus.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateOct 25, 2017

Blocking key pathways is a way to defeat cancer stem cells

Researchers have discovered a cocktail of drugs that effectively eliminate acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by targeting key pathways. By simultaneously blocking two important pathways, the team was able to achieve complete elimination of AML in most cases tested.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 25, 2017

Development of a highly-accurate computational model of human metabolism

A Korean research team created a comprehensive computational model of human metabolism, enabling accurate prediction of personal metabolic features. The model incorporates alternative splicing information and was validated with over 11,000 Gene-Transcript-Protein-Reaction Associations.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 25, 2017

Living close to green spaces is associated with better attention in children

A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that children who live close to green spaces have improved attention skills. The study analyzed data from over 1,500 children and showed a positive correlation between residential exposure to greenness and better scores on attention tests.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateOct 25, 2017

Targeting mitochondria in pulmonary hypertension

A new clinical trial has shown that the generic drug Dichloroacetate (DCA) can decrease blood pressure in lung vessels and improve walking ability in PAH patients, without significant side effects. DCA works by activating mitochondria, which are suppressed in PAH, leading to cell growth and overgrowth of cells narrowing vessel lumen.

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 25, 2017

Can open and honest scientists win public trust?

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that fully disclosing personal beliefs can actually decrease people's trust in scientific research. The researchers used two scenarios focused on the additive Bisphenol A, a controversial substance often found in plastic water bottles, and found that when scientists made statements about their...

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 25, 2017

A better way to wash pesticides off apples

Researchers found that a baking soda solution was the most effective at removing pesticide residues from organic Gala apples. After 12 and 15 minutes of washing, 80% of thiabendazole and 96% of phosmet were removed. The study suggests that this simple method could be an effective strategy for cleaning pesticides off produce.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateOct 25, 2017

Bacterial toxins made in the gut

Austrian scientists identify critical enterotoxin tilivalline and its potent metabolite tilimycin, produced by penicillin-resistant bacteria. The discovery provides insights into antibiotic side reactions and potential new approaches for producing anticancer drugs.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 25, 2017

First Jurassic ichthyosaur fossil found in India

A nearly complete Jurassic ichthyosaur fossil was discovered in India, measuring over 5.5 meters in length. The fossil is believed to belong to the Ophthalmosauridae family and is thought to have lived between 165-90 million years ago.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 25, 2017

Rapid cellphone charging getting closer to reality

Scientists at the University of Waterloo have created a new type of supercapacitor that can store significantly more electrical energy than existing devices. This breakthrough enables faster charging times for cellphones and laptops, and potentially replaces batteries in electric vehicles and other applications.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalACS Nano·DateOct 25, 2017

Mature B lymphocytes accelerate the healing of diabetic ulcers, other skin injuries

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that mature B lymphocytes can greatly accelerate the healing of acute and chronic wounds in both healthy and diabetic skin. The treatment also improved tissue quality and reduced scarring. High numbers of a patient's B cells can be isolated through standard blood pheresis procedu...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalWound Repair and Regeneration·DateOct 25, 2017

Underweight women are at greater risk of early menopause

A recent study published in Human Reproduction found that underweight women are at a greater risk of experiencing an early menopause compared to lean or normal weight women. Women who were underweight as teenagers or in their mid-30s had a significant increase in the risk of early menopause, with some women reporting a 50% higher risk.

Sexual function concerns not always reflected in prostate cancer treatment choices

A recent study by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers found that more than half of men with prostate cancer prefer preserving sexual function, but this preference was not strongly linked to the choice of treatment strategy. Active surveillance is widely recognized as the best option for preserving sexual function, ye...

SourceUNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateOct 25, 2017

It's all about the mix

Researchers from NIST have developed a new material mix that combines metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with 3-D printer plastic, showing promise for sensing and storage applications. The mixture retains more than 50 times more hydrogen than plastic alone, suggesting the MOFs are still functioning effectively while inside the plastic.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalPolymers for Advanced Technologies·DateOct 25, 2017

Determining when humans started impacting the planet on a large scale

Researchers applied high-resolution mass spectrometry to investigate synthetic chemical contamination in two lakes in Central Europe, capturing the past 100 years of sediment layers. The analysis revealed concentrations of industrial chemicals starting in the 1950s, marking the beginning of large-scale human impact on the environment.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateOct 25, 2017

Technique offers advance in testing micro-scale compressive strength of cement

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a micropillar compression technique to characterize the micro-scale strength of cement, allowing for the development of stronger, more sustainable materials. The study provides precise measures of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) compressive strength in cement mixtures.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Nanomechanics and Micromechanics·DateOct 25, 2017

Comet mission reveals 'missing link' in our understanding of planet formation

Researchers from Germany's Technische Universität Braunschweig uncovered a crucial link between the formation of cometary 'dust pebbles' and planet accretion. The study, based on Rosetta mission data, reveals that these pebbles are concentrated by solar instability, leading to collapse and the birth of comets.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 25, 2017

Anti-pancreatic cancer drug in research focus

Scientists have successfully synthesized a promising anticancer molecule, BE-43547A(2), which shows unprecedented activity against pancreatic cancer stem cells. The compound reduces cancer stem cell proliferation by 21-fold and abolishes tumor-initiating capability.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 25, 2017

Brain tumors share common tricks to survive

Researchers discovered that different types of brain tumors and brain cancer cells share common energy production processes, enabling them to adapt and grow in the brain. This study aims to identify new targets for treatment and potentially develop drugs specifically designed to target these survival mechanisms.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 25, 2017

Genome sleuthing tracks the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Researchers tracked MRSA transmission through detailed genome sequencing and epidemiological data, finding clusters of closely related bacteria linked to specific individuals and hospital transfers. The study reveals MRSA strains thought to be strictly hospital-associated are spreading in the general community.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 25, 2017

Household with mother (-in-law) means fewer kids

Researchers analyzed records of over 2.5 million women from 14 countries, finding that living with a mother-in-law actually results in lower family sizes. Women who live with either their own or husband's mother have fewer children compared to those who only live with their spouse.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateOct 25, 2017

Why arched backs are attractive

A study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science found that small changes in a woman's back angle influence attractiveness ratings. The results suggest an arching of the back signals female receptivity, which may explain why high heels are considered attractive.

SourceSpringer·JournalEvolutionary Psychological Science·DateOct 25, 2017