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Science News Archive October 2018 - Page 18


Page 18 of 47

Recent survey provides updated national estimate of doctors' financial ties to industry

A recent national survey of internal medicine doctors found that three-quarters reported financial ties to industry, with drug samples and food/beverage being the most common benefits. The study also revealed significant reductions in certain types of payments compared to a previous survey in 2009.

SourceThe Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateOct 19, 2018

How to avoid raising a materialistic child

Researchers found that fostering gratitude among adolescents can decrease materialism and increase generosity. By keeping a daily journal, teens showed significant decreases in materialism and increases in gratitude, demonstrating the potential of this simple strategy to curb materialistic tendencies.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalThe Journal of Positive Psychology·DateOct 19, 2018

Restrictive abortion laws in Northern Ireland affect women's health, study shows

Research from the LBJ School of Public Affairs found that Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws have negative consequences for women's physical and mental well-being. Women often face barriers to accessing care, including fear of prosecution, lack of clarity on healthcare provider duties, and challenges in arranging travel or childcare.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalBMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health·DateOct 19, 2018

A single missing gene leads to miscarriage

Research reveals a single missing gene in mothers leads to miscarriages due to placenta problems, including fewer blood vessels and altered shape. The study provides new insights into recurrent miscarriage in humans and lays the foundation for further research on placenta development.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 19, 2018

Electronic medical records show promise in reducing unnecessary testing

Boston Medical Center reduced unnecessary diagnostic testing and increased postoperative order sets after implementing electronic medical record-based interventions. The study demonstrates the impact of deploying multiple interventions simultaneously within the electronic medical record on delivering high-value care.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalThe Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety·DateOct 19, 2018

HER2+ early breast cancers where shorter-course trastuzumab could be an option

A nine-week course of adjuvant trastuzumab was associated with similar disease-free survival and lower risk of cardiac toxicity compared to a one-year course in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. A six-month course of trastuzumab was also shown to be cost-effective, with an average cost saving of nearly £10,000 per patient.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateOct 19, 2018

Invasive forage grass leads to grassland bird decline

A recent study found that invasive cattle forage grass, tall fescue, is associated with nest failure in dickcissels, small grassland birds. The researchers identified tall fescue as a key factor influencing nest survival, and suggested that removing the invasive species could benefit wildlife and people's livelihoods.

What makes up a social network, and how to make use of it

This book by East China Normal University and Singapore Management University researchers delves into network data mining and analysis to identify social communities, assess network robustness, and predict links. The research focuses on bipartite graphs and signed graphs, offering insights into user behavior across heterogeneous networks.

The neurobiology of social aggression

A study by Duke-NUS researchers found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) affect social dominance in mice. The research sheds light on the neurobiology of aggression and bullying.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2018

Social vulnerability and medical skepticism top factors limiting adherence to screening

A recent survey found that social vulnerability and medical skepticism are major barriers to cancer screening participation, particularly for colorectal and lung cancer screenings. Researchers call for a combined approach incorporating new technologies and personalized messaging to address inequalities in screening uptake.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateOct 19, 2018

En route to custom-designed natural products

Scientists have successfully explained the structure and function of docking domains in peptide natural products. This breakthrough allows researchers to redesign docking domain interactions, modulating the product spectrum of a rhabdopeptide-synthesizing NRPS. The discovery has promising implications for creating new substances.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 19, 2018

Does herpes cause Alzheimer's?

A new study published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience suggests a causal link between herpes viruses and Alzheimer's disease, with antiviral drugs drastically reducing the risk of senile dementia in patients with severe herpes infections.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Aging Neuroscience·DateOct 19, 2018

Elucidating cuttlefish camouflage

Cuttlefish control camouflage by directly acting on skin cells called chromatophores, producing local changes in contrast. Through statistical analysis of chromatophore output, researchers inferred motor neuron activity and higher levels of control, peering into the brain's camouflage system.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature·DateOct 19, 2018

New way to prevent heart disease in type 1 diabetes

Scientists at Newcastle University have found that metformin can reduce the presence of microRNAs that contribute to heart disease in patients with Type 1 diabetes. By decreasing these microRNAs, metformin improves glucose levels and promotes blood vessel repair, opening up new treatment options for this vulnerable patient group.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·DateOct 19, 2018