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Science News Archive September 2019 - Page 3


Page 3 of 43

Triplet-targeted therapy improves survival for patients with advanced colorectal cancer and BRAF mutations

The BEACON CRC Phase III clinical trial found that the three-drug combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab significantly improved overall survival in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer. Median OS for the triplet-targeted therapy was 9 months compared to 5.4 months for standard therapy.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 30, 2019

Terror activity and local power structures

Research reveals that subsequent terrorist attacks are more likely to occur within a 20km radius of the initial attack, suggesting a localized pattern. The study also finds that group alliances and rivalries play a crucial role in shaping terror activity, with mutually reinforcing effects between terror attacks and state intervention.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 30, 2019

Strained, symmetric, and new

Tetravinylallene, a highly unsaturated molecule with two adjacent double bonds, has been synthesized for the first time, offering a new approach to constructing complex molecular frameworks. Its symmetry enables chemists to perform multiple reactions in one step, making it a potent tool for synthesizing natural products and drugs.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 30, 2019

How common is food insecurity among Medicare enrollees?

A study of nearly 9,700 Medicare beneficiaries found that food insecurity was common among older adults (1 in 10) and individuals with long-term disabilities (4 in 10). Lower incomes and reporting multiple chronic conditions were associated with increased risk of food insecurity.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateSep 30, 2019

Mechanisms of real-time speech interpretation in the human brain revealed

Scientists developed computational models of word meanings and tested them against real-time brain activity in volunteers, revealing how the brain combines words to make sense in context. The study shows how word constraints directly affect meaning interpretation, highlighting the neural mechanisms behind spoken language understanding.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 30, 2019

Artificial intelligence improves biomedical imaging

Researchers developed a machine learning method to enhance optoacoustic imaging quality without sacrificing it. The approach uses sparse data, allowing for reduced sensor numbers and improved diagnosis accuracy, facilitating clinical decision-making.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateSep 30, 2019

Risk of heart valve infections rising in hospitals

A Rutgers study reveals that new risk factors have emerged for heart valve infections, which can be deadly and affect patients with heart disease or artificial valves. The study found a significant increase in hospital-acquired cases, attributed to staphylococcus bacteria, highlighting the need for tailored prevention strategies.

New treatment improves survival in women newly diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer

A new treatment using niraparib after conventional chemotherapy improves progression-free survival and reduces risk of relapse or death in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The study, led by Dr. Antonio González Martín, found a significant reduction in risk of relapse, especially in patients with homologous recombination deficiency.

SourceUniversidad de Navarra·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 28, 2019

Light in a new light

A team of LSU researchers has successfully demonstrated a method to generate groups of photons with manipulable quantum properties, known as multiphoton states. By subtracting out some photons, they can reshape the form of the wavepacket and artificially increase the number of photons in it.

SourceLouisiana State University·Journalnpj Quantum Information·DateSep 27, 2019

Extra amino acid could work wonders

Rice University chemist Han Xiao is developing a custom-designed 21st amino acid to make life-saving substances and produce novel proteins for therapies. The goal is to create 'unnatural organisms' that can produce multiple designer amino acids, leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy and cancer treatment.