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Science News for July 15, 2019


Surgery before pregnancy linked to higher risk of opioid withdrawal in babies

A new study found that mothers who underwent surgery before pregnancy have a 1.6 times higher risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome, a condition characterized by opioid withdrawal symptoms in newborns. The study suggests that careful postoperative pain management can help prevent this condition.

SourceUniversity of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM)·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJul 15, 2019

Child psychiatry telephone programs help increase mental health services for children

A national study found that child psychiatric telephone access programs significantly increased the proportion of children receiving mental health services. States with statewide programs had higher treatment rates compared to those with partial or no programs. The study suggests that expanding these programs could bolster the number o...

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateJul 15, 2019

Surgery before pregnancy linked to increased risk of opioid withdrawal in babies

A new study found that mothers who had surgery before pregnancy had a 1.6 times higher risk of their newborns experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms, known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, analyzed data from almost 2.2 million births in Quebec between 1989 and 2016.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJul 15, 2019

High blood pressure, cholesterol in young adults associated with later heart disease

Research found that young adulthood is a critical period for cardiovascular disease prevention. Elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels in this age group are associated with an increased risk of heart disease later in life. Maintaining optimal levels of these risk factors could yield substantial lifetime benefits.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJul 15, 2019

Persistent HIV in central nervous system linked to cognitive impairment

A study of 69 individuals on long-term antiretroviral therapy found nearly half had persistent HIV in cells of their cerebrospinal fluid, associated with neurocognitive difficulties. HIV can persist in the nervous system even when suppressed in blood medication, suggesting a significant obstacle to efforts to eradicate HIV.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 15, 2019

Ancient Roman port history unveiled

A team of researchers successfully reconstructed anthropic influences on sedimentation in the ancient harbour of Portus, a complex of harbour basins and canals that formed the hub of commerce in the Roman Empire. The findings suggest that the Romans were proactively managing their river systems earlier than previously thought.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalQuaternary International·DateJul 15, 2019

Study documents impacts of selective logging on Congo's intact forest landscapes

A new study documents the impacts of selective logging on Congo's intact forest landscapes, highlighting the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem health. Researchers found that logged habitats have lower tree densities and reduced ape resources, while IFLs retain higher tree densities and more abundant ape populations.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalFrontiers in Forests and Global Change·DateJul 15, 2019

NIH and partners to launch HIV vaccine efficacy trial in the Americas and Europe

The NIH is launching a Phase 3 HIV vaccine efficacy trial called Mosaico, which will assess the safety and effectiveness of an investigational vaccine regimen designed to prevent HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men and transgender people. The trial will enroll 3,800 participants in North America, South America, and Europe.

Unlocking chemo-resistance in cancer

Researchers have discovered the precise mechanism behind 5-Fluorouracil resistance in cancer, revealing a previously unknown protein called BOK as the key to understanding this phenomenon. Without BOK, cancer cells become dormant and can survive chemotherapy treatment before mutating into more aggressive forms.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 15, 2019

'Racist police officer' stereotype may become a self-fulfilling prophecy

A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that officers worried about appearing racist report lower confidence and increased support for coercive policing. The research suggests a vicious cycle where officers' concerns about stereotype threats lead to decreased moral authority and more aggressive policing tactics.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalLaw and Human Behavior·DateJul 15, 2019

DNA analysis of Gibraltar Neanderthals

Researchers analyzed DNA from Gibraltar Neanderthal remains found in 1848 and 1926, finding that some sequences were deaminated due to damage, while others showed significant human DNA contamination. The study suggests it is possible to analyze ancient DNA in highly contaminated specimens using a specific preparation method.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 15, 2019

Scientists explore blood flow bump that happens when our neurons are significantly activated

Researchers studying functional hyperemia found that blood flow to brain cells increases when neurons are activated, and this response may be beneficial for the health of neurons. The study aims to clarify the link between neural activity and blood flow changes, which could improve our understanding of brain diseases like Alzheimer's.

Myth-busting study reveals that gamblers can't detect slot machine payout percentages

A recent study by UNLV researchers found that players cannot reliably detect differences in how much and often a slot machine pays, despite common perceptions. The study used two identical machines with varying payouts over nine months, showing no statistically significant indication of play migration from higher to lower payout games.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas·JournalInternational Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management·DateJul 15, 2019

Is obesity associated with risk of pediatric MS?

A single-center study of 453 children with multiple sclerosis found a significant association between obesity and increased risk of pediatric MS. The study also explored the response of first-line therapy in obese children with MS, but no conclusive findings were reported.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateJul 15, 2019

Strange new species of duck-billed dinosaur identified

A new species of primitive hadrosaurid, Aquilarhinus palimentus, has been identified from a complete skull found in Big Bend National Park, Texas. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of duck-billed dinosaur snouts and suggests that there may have been multiple lineages before the main radiation of hadrosaurids.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalJournal of Systematic Palaeontology·DateJul 15, 2019

Maternal secrets of our earliest ancestors unlocked

Australopithecus africanus mothers breastfed their infants continuously from birth to about one year of age. The research team analyzed over two-million-year-old teeth and found that nursing appears to continue in a cyclical pattern, with the mother supplementing gathered foods with breastmilk during seasonal changes and food shortages.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature·DateJul 15, 2019

Genetic study reveals metabolic origins of anorexia

A global genome-wide association study identified eight genetic variants linked to anorexia nervosa, revealing a complex interplay between metabolic and psychiatric factors. The research suggests that integrating metabolic information may help clinicians develop better treatment approaches for this potentially lethal illness.

SourceKing's College London·JournalNature Genetics·DateJul 15, 2019