ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Ebola outbreak highlights global disparities in health-care resources
• Novel treatment strengthens bones in genetic disease neurofibromatosis type-1
• Study of Chilean quake shows potential for future earthquake
• New technology offers insight into cholesterol
• Lionfish characteristics make them more 'terminator' than predator
• Newborns' genetic code sends infection distress signal
• NSAIDs may lower breast cancer recurrence rate in overweight, obese women
• Long antibiotic treatments: Slowly growing bacteria to blame
• New shock-and-kill approach could eradicate barrier to curing HIV
• Freeways as fences, trapping the mountain lions of Los Angeles
• PTSD can develop even without memory of the trauma, study concludes
• New study on diabetes risk emphasizes value of registered dietitian nutritionists in treatment and prevention
• Genetic signal prevents immune cells from turning against the body
• Brain 'switchboard' found, important in attention, sleep
• Key mechanism that drives movement in living cells discovered
• Leukemia: Scientists make major breakthrough in understanding disease
• Overweight and obesity linked to 10 common cancers, over 12,000 cases every year in UK
• Antarctica's ice discharge could raise sea level faster than previously thought
• The spiritual person: Alcohol releases the 'beast within'
• Can our computers continue to get smaller and more powerful?
• New material could enhance fast, accurate DNA sequencing
• Statistical model predicts performance of hybrid rice
• Poor sleep quality increases suicide risk for older adults, researcher finds
• Treatment with lymph node cells controls dangerous sepsis in animal models
• Mind and body: Scientists identify immune system link to mental illness
• Injected bacteria shrink tumors in rats, dogs and humans
• Common household chemicals responsible for reproductive declines in mice
• Estimated 1.65 million global cardiovascular deaths each year linked to high sodium consumption
• Ebullition causes methane emissions in tropical reservoirs

Ebola outbreak highlights global disparities in health-care resources Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:47 AM PDT The outbreak of Ebola virus disease that has claimed more than 1,000 lives in West Africa this year poses a serious, ongoing threat to that region: the spread to capital cities and Nigeria -- Africa's most populous nation -- presents new challenges for healthcare professionals. The situation has garnered significant attention and fear around the world, but proven public health measures and sharpened clinical vigilance will contain the epidemic and thwart a global spread.

Novel treatment strengthens bones in genetic disease neurofibromatosis type-1 Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:47 AM PDT An enzyme therapy may prevent skeletal abnormalities associated with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type-1, investigators have discovered. The researchers demonstrated in a mouse model of the disorder that the enzyme asfotase-alpha improves bone growth, mineralization and strength.

Study of Chilean quake shows potential for future earthquake Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:46 AM PDT Near real-time analysis of the April 1 earthquake in Iquique, Chile, showed that the 8.2 event occurred in a gap on the fault unruptured since 1877 and that the April event was not what the scientists had expected, according to an international team of geologists.

New technology offers insight into cholesterol Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:46 AM PDT With new advanced techniques, it is possible to study cells in greater detail than ever before. The findings may, in the long term, improve the treatment of high cholesterol, researchers report.

Lionfish characteristics make them more 'terminator' than predator Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT New research on the predatory nature of red lionfish, the invasive species that is decimating native fish populations in parts of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, seems to indicate that lionfish are not just a predator, but more like the 'terminator' of movie fame. In behavior that is called 'alarming,' it appears that in some cases lionfish will continue to hunt until the last fish of a local population is dead.

Newborns' genetic code sends infection distress signal Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT Babies suffering from life-threatening bacterial infections such as sepsis could benefit from improved treatment, thanks to a ground-breaking study. For the first time, researchers have been able to detect and decode a signal generated from a baby's DNA that can tell doctors whether or not a bacterial infection is present in the bloodstream. The findings could help develop a test for bacterial infection in newborns, using a single drop of blood.

NSAIDs may lower breast cancer recurrence rate in overweight, obese women Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:44 AM PDT Recurrence of hormone-related breast cancer was cut by half in overweight and obese women who regularly used aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to a study. The study found that women whose body mass index (BMI) was greater than 30 and had estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancer had a 52 percent lower rate of recurrence and a 28-month delay in time to recurrence if they were taking aspirin or other NSAIDs.

Long antibiotic treatments: Slowly growing bacteria to blame Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:44 AM PDT Whether pneumonia or sepsis, infectious diseases are becoming increasingly difficult to treat. One reason for this is the growing antibiotic resistance. But even non-resistant bacteria can survive antibiotics for some time, and that's why treatments need to be continued for several days or weeks. Scientist have now shown that bacteria with vastly different antibiotic sensitivity coexist within the same tissue. They report that, in particular, slowly growing pathogens hamper treatment.

New shock-and-kill approach could eradicate barrier to curing HIV Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:43 AM PDT Despite tremendous progress in combatting HIV-1 infection with antiretroviral therapy, there is still no cure for the disease because these drugs do not kill a hidden reservoir of infected cells in the body. A new study reveals a multipronged strategy for eradicating this latent reservoir and preventing HIV-1 from rebounding after treatment is stopped in mice. The findings suggest that a 'shock-and-kill' approach, combined with virus-fighting antibodies, could represent a promising strategy for curing HIV-1.

Freeways as fences, trapping the mountain lions of Los Angeles Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:43 AM PDT That mountain lions have managed to survive at all in the Santa Monica Mountains of California -- in the vicinity of Los Angeles -- is a testament to the resilience of wildlife, but researchers studying these large carnivorous cats now show that the lions are also completely isolated, cut off from other populations by the freeway. According to the researchers' analyses, only one young mountain lion successfully dispersed into the Santa Monica Mountains in a decade.

PTSD can develop even without memory of the trauma, study concludes Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:38 AM PDT There are many forms of memory and only some of these may be critical for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), reports a new study. The findings suggest that even with no explicit memory of an early childhood trauma, symptoms of PTSD can still develop in adulthood.

New study on diabetes risk emphasizes value of registered dietitian nutritionists in treatment and prevention Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:34 AM PDT A new study indicating that Americans have approximately a 40 percent risk of developing diabetes during their lifetime offers more evidence that nutrition counseling provided by a registered dietitian nutritionist can help prevent or delay diabetes and its related health problems through lifestyle and dietary changes, according to researchers.

Genetic signal prevents immune cells from turning against the body Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:34 AM PDT A control signal for the immune system has been discovered that could help treat autoimmune diseases and cancer. "We discovered a mechanism responsible for stabilizing the cells that maintain immune system balance," says the senior author. "The immune system plays a huge role in chronic inflammation and if we can better understand the immune system, we can start to understand and treat many diseases."

Brain 'switchboard' found, important in attention, sleep Posted: 14 Aug 2014 09:34 AM PDT Using a mouse model, researchers have recorded the activity of individual nerve cells in a small part of the brain that works as a "switchboard," directing signals coming from the outside world or internal memories. Because human brain disorders such as schizophrenia, autism, and post-traumatic stress disorder typically show disturbances in that switchboard, the investigators say the work suggests new strategies in understanding and treating them.

Key mechanism that drives movement in living cells discovered Posted: 13 Aug 2014 11:15 PM PDT Living cell migration is regulated by the engagement of a force transmitter composed of vinculin and talin, two types of cytoskeletal protein, researchers have discovered. They showed that force-dependent vinculin binding to talin plays a critical role in mechanically connecting the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular substrate to contribute towards cell migration.

Leukemia: Scientists make major breakthrough in understanding disease Posted: 13 Aug 2014 09:09 PM PDT Mutations in genes that lead to childhood leukemia of the acute lymphoblastic type -- the most common childhood cancer in the world -- have been discovered by researchers, advancing their understanding of the disease. Currently, one in six children in the general population does not respond well to standard therapy for leukemia, and/or suffers from relapses and toxic side-effects of therapy. These figures of poor response and toxicity are even bigger among children with Down's syndrome.

Overweight and obesity linked to 10 common cancers, over 12,000 cases every year in UK Posted: 13 Aug 2014 09:08 PM PDT A higher body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of developing 10 of the most common cancers, the largest study of its kind on BMI and cancer, involving more than 5 million adults in the UK, shows. Each 5 kg/m² increase in BMI was clearly linked with higher risk of cancers of the uterus (62% increase), gallbladder (31%), kidney (25%), cervix (10%), thyroid (9%), and leukemia (9%). Higher BMI also increased the overall risk of liver, colon, ovarian, and breast cancers.

Antarctica's ice discharge could raise sea level faster than previously thought Posted: 13 Aug 2014 03:22 PM PDT Ice discharge from Antarctica could contribute up to 37 centimeters to the global sea level rise within this century, a new study shows. For the first time, an international team of scientists provide a comprehensive estimate on the full range of Antarctica's potential contribution to global sea level rise based on physical computer simulations. The study combines a whole set of state-of-the-art climate models and observational data with various ice models.

The spiritual person: Alcohol releases the 'beast within' Posted: 13 Aug 2014 03:22 PM PDT Results of the study indicate that violence decreases as spirituality increases in persons who received the non-alcohol beverage. However, quite unexpectedly, violence actually increased as spirituality increased in persons who received the alcoholic beverage.

Can our computers continue to get smaller and more powerful? Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT From their origins in the 1940s as sequestered, room-sized machines designed for military and scientific use, computers have made a rapid march into the mainstream, radically transforming industry, commerce, entertainment and governance while shrinking to become ubiquitous handheld portals to the world. But with miniature computer processors now containing millions of closely-packed transistor components of near atomic size, chip designers are facing both engineering and fundamental limits that have become barriers to the continued improvement of computer performance.

New material could enhance fast, accurate DNA sequencing Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT Gene-based personalized medicine has many possibilities for diagnosis and targeted therapy, but one big bottleneck: the expensive and time-consuming DNA-sequencing process. Now, researchers have found that nanopores in the material molybdenum disulfide could sequence DNA more accurately, quickly and inexpensively than anything yet available.

Statistical model predicts performance of hybrid rice Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT 'Genomic prediction' has been used by researchers to predict the performance of hybrid rice. Genomic prediction is a new technology that could potentially revolutionize hybrid breeding in agriculture. A statistical approach to predicting the value of an economically important trait in a plant, such as yield or disease resistance, the method works if the trait is heritable and reduces costs.

Poor sleep quality increases suicide risk for older adults, researcher finds Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT Older adults suffering from sleep disturbances are more likely to die by suicide than well-rested adults, according to a study. "This is important because sleep disturbances are highly treatable, yet arguably less stigmatizing than many other suicide risk factors," noted the lead author of the study.

Treatment with lymph node cells controls dangerous sepsis in animal models Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:44 PM PDT An immune-regulating cell present in lymph nodes may be able to halt severe cases of sepsis, an out-of-control inflammatory response that can lead to organ failure and death. "Our findings are important because, to our knowledge, no experimental therapeutic has shown such a significant survival benefit after the disease has progressed so far -- in our study up to 16 hours after a sepsis-inducing injury," says the senior author of the paper.

Mind and body: Scientists identify immune system link to mental illness Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:42 PM PDT Children with high everyday levels of a protein released into the blood in response to infection are at greater risk of developing depression and psychosis in adulthood, according to new research that suggests a role for the immune system in mental illness. The study indicates that mental illness and chronic physical illness such as coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes may share common biological mechanisms.

Injected bacteria shrink tumors in rats, dogs and humans Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:39 PM PDT A modified version of the Clostridium novyi (C. novyi-NT) bacterium can produce a strong and precisely targeted anti-tumor response in rats, dogs and now humans, according to a new report. In its natural form, C. novyi is found in the soil and, in certain cases, can cause tissue-damaging infection in cattle, sheep and humans. The microbe thrives only in oxygen-poor environments, which makes it a targeted means of destroying oxygen-starved cells in tumors that are difficult to treat with chemotherapy and radiation.

Common household chemicals responsible for reproductive declines in mice Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:36 PM PDT Researchers who were using a disinfectant when handling mice have discovered that two active ingredients in it cause declines in mouse reproduction. The ingredients are found in commercial and householder cleaners, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, preservatives in makeup and other cosmetics, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets. "If these chemicals are toxic to humans, they could also be contributing to the decline in human fertility seen in recent decades, as well as the increased need for assistive reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilization," one researcher said.

Estimated 1.65 million global cardiovascular deaths each year linked to high sodium consumption Posted: 13 Aug 2014 02:36 PM PDT More than 1.6 million cardiovascular-related deaths per year can be attributed to sodium consumption above the World Health Organization's recommendation of 2.0 grams per day, researchers have found in a new analysis of populations across 187 countries.

Ebullition causes methane emissions in tropical reservoirs Posted: 13 Aug 2014 07:35 AM PDT Methane emissions by ebullition from tropical reservoirs have been accurately quantified for the first time, revealing that this emission pathway depends on both the water level in the reservoir, which is dependent on the monsoon, and on daily variations in atmospheric pressure. Although tropical reservoirs probably emit over 10% of anthropogenic methane, their emissions are still poorly quantified. In this study, a new automatic system for the continuous measurement of methane fluxes was deployed on the reservoir of the largest hydroelectric dam in Southeast Asia.

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