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Science News for September 20, 2018


Black women more likely to skip crucial breast cancer treatments

A new study reveals that black women are more likely to skip hormone therapy treatments for breast cancer, with barriers including cost, side effects, and difficulty adhering to treatment plans. The study highlights the need for culturally competent behavioral interventions to improve outcomes for all women with breast cancer.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 20, 2018

Scientists reveal the hidden costs of cobalt mining in DR Congo

A new study by KU Leuven reveals the hidden costs of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including high levels of cobalt in children's urine and increased DNA damage. The research highlights the need for sustainable cobalt mining practices to mitigate environmental and health impacts.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalNature Sustainability·DateSep 20, 2018

Investigational steroid mirrors prednisone's benefits while taming its side effects

A new investigational steroid called vamorolone has been found to replicate the benefits of prednisone while reducing its side effects, offering hope for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. The study identifies nine potential biomarkers for inflammatory diseases that could serve as a fingerprint for chronic inflammation.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalPhysiological Genomics·DateSep 20, 2018

American girls read and write better than boys

Research by American Psychological Association reveals that girls exhibit better reading and writing ability than boys as early as the fourth grade. The achievement gap widens further with age, particularly for writing tasks. Experts attribute this to factors such as peer pressure, learning disabilities, and differences in brain function.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalAmerican Psychologist·DateSep 20, 2018

Festschrift dedicated to Mathilde Krim includes scientific research by Krim fellows

A special Festschrift dedicated to Dr. Mathilde Krim celebrates her life and medical career, featuring articles on HIV research and a range of scientific studies contributed by the Krim Fellows. The issue highlights key findings on CD4-HIV-1 envelope interactions and the complex role of immunoglobulin A in HIV, among other topics.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalAIDS Research and Human Retroviruses·DateSep 20, 2018

New way to target advanced breast cancers

Researchers have identified a link between inflammation and cancer growth in HER2-negative breast cancers, revealing anakinra as a potential treatment target. Anakinra, an existing anti-inflammatory drug, reduces gene expression of IL1b and other cytokines, improving symptoms and quality of life for some patients.

SourceJackson Laboratory·JournalCancer Research·DateSep 20, 2018

Fish-rich diets may boost babies' brain development

Research suggests that consuming fatty fish during pregnancy can enhance babies' brain function and visual development. The study analyzed 56 mothers and their children, finding that those who ate fish three or more times a week had better test results for visual functioning and maturational changes.

SourceSpringer·JournalPediatric Research·DateSep 20, 2018

MDMA (a.k.a. ecstasy) makes octopuses more social too

Researchers found that octopuses, which are typically solitary and asocial, become more interested in interacting with each other when under the influence of MDMA. The study suggests that common molecular pathways enable serotonin to encode social behaviors in both humans and octopuses.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 20, 2018

Gut fungus exacerbates asthma in antibiotic-treated mice

A non-pathogenic fungus can expand in the intestines of antibiotic-treated mice and enhance the severity of allergic airways disease. The study suggests that alterations in gut microbiota induced by intestinal fungi might be a previously unrecognized but potentially important risk factor for patients with asthma.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateSep 20, 2018

Putting underused smart devices to work

Researchers at IMDEA Networks Institute are exploring a novel 'DisCoEdge' system to optimize device usage and create new services. The system aims to spread heavy computational tasks and large storage over simple devices, enabling novel applications like cooperative data sharing and corporate storage systems.

Preventing a dengue outbreak at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Researchers identified 20 critical points for disease detection, assessment, and patient communication to strengthen Japan's preparedness plans. Gaps in current controls, including missed cases at accommodations and communication failures, were highlighted.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateSep 20, 2018

Study documents poor mental and physical health in rural borderland community members

A study on inequalities and health among foreign-born Latinos in rural borderland communities found that population is vulnerable to high stress negatively impacting mental and physical health. Historical factors such as oppression of farm labor and current practices like racial profiling contribute to low social status, employment ins...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateSep 20, 2018

New research finds annual well visit increases likelihood of preventive services

A new study published in Preventive Medicine found that annual wellness visits significantly increase the delivery of preventive services among the elderly population. The research revealed that participants with an AWV were more likely to undergo screenings for prostate cancer, influenza vaccine, and other recommended services.

SourceHarvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute·JournalPreventive Medicine·DateSep 20, 2018

Manganese plays a key role in bacterial infection

Enterococcus faecalis relies on manganese acquisition systems for virulence, which are essential for growth in manganese-restricted environments. Inactivating these transporters led to a loss of virulence in animal models, making them promising targets for new antimicrobial therapies.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateSep 20, 2018

Fatty acids can slow down an overheated immune system

Researchers from Aarhus University have discovered a new type of fatty acid that can slow down the overactive STING protein, which is normally an important part of our immune system. This breakthrough has opened a new path to developing effective treatments for autoimmune diseases such as Lupus and SAVI.

SourceAarhus University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 20, 2018

'Gut sense' is hardwired, not hormonal

Scientists have discovered a neural superhighway that enables rapid communication between the gut and brain, contradicting decades of research on hormonal transmission. This breakthrough has profound implications for our understanding of appetite and other gut-related disorders.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience·DateSep 20, 2018

Smartphone, M.D.

A new cell phone app and lab kit enable a smartphone to identify bacteria from patients anywhere in the world, leading to faster recovery and lower treatment costs for patients. The test uses a smartphone's camera to measure a chemical reaction and determines a diagnosis in about an hour.

Full, but still feasting: Mouse study reveals how urge to eat overpowers a signal to stop

A new study explores why people keep eating despite feeling full, showing that two tiny clusters of cells battle for control and the opioid system gets involved. Researchers found that stimulating POMC neurons decreases appetite, while AgRP neurons drive eating when both are activated.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 20, 2018

Researchers identify human skeletal stem cells

Human skeletal stem cells have been isolated from fetal and adult bones, providing a breakthrough in understanding the molecular diagnosis and treatment of skeletal diseases. The discovery enables researchers to create a detailed lineage map of stem-cell-mediated formation of skeletal tissues in humans.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateSep 20, 2018

Affordable Care Act: Study finds surprising gaps in HIV care providers' knowledge

A new study found that over a quarter of HIV medical providers surveyed couldn't say whether their state had expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Providers in states that expanded Medicaid were more likely to believe the law would improve HIV outcomes, but all providers agreed it would improve overall healthcare outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateSep 20, 2018

Gut branches of vagus nerve essential components of brain's reward and motivation system

Researchers have identified a novel gut-brain neural circuit establishing the vagus nerve as essential for regulating reward and motivation. The study reveals that stimulating the right branch of the vagus nerve can excite reward neurons in the brain, offering potential targets for therapy for eating and emotional disorders.

Decoding the structure of an RNA-based CRISPR system

Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered the molecular structure of CRISPR-Cas13d, a promising enzyme for emerging RNA-editing technology. This breakthrough enables scientists to visualize how the enzyme guides and targets RNA, paving the way for new strategies to treat RNA-based diseases.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell·DateSep 20, 2018

A one-way street for salt

Researchers have discovered the molecular mechanism behind quinoa's ability to store salt in its bladder cells, allowing it to thrive in saline soils. This unique adaptation enables quinoa to transfer excess salt to final storage sites without harming the plant.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 20, 2018

Breaking down backbones

Researchers found that mammal backbones gained distinct regions during evolution, enabling adaptation to various lifestyles such as running, flying, and digging. The study analyzed fossil records and living animals' vertebrae, challenging the notion of specialization in early land animals.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateSep 20, 2018

The extirpation of species outside protected areas

A study found up to 13 galliform species populations have been extirpated outside protected areas in Sundaland, a region with high biodiversity but biologically degraded landscapes. The researchers argue that effective management of protected areas and connectivity between habitats are crucial for long-term conservation.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalConservation Letters·DateSep 20, 2018

Nerve cells in the human brain can 'count'

Researchers at Universities of Bonn and Tübingen demonstrate that human neurons fire mainly for specific quantities, such as three or four points. The study also shows how we learn to handle number symbols in comparison to quantities, with digit neurons responding differently from quantity neurons.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNeuron·DateSep 20, 2018