ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Mortality risks of being overweight or obese are underestimated
• Well-known cancer gene NRAS produces 5 variants, study finds
• BOSS quasars track the expanding universe: Most precise measurement yet
• Trees go high-tech: Process turns cellulose into energy storage devices
• Southwestern bird and reptile distributions to shift as climate changes
• Rebar technique strengthens case for graphene: Hybrid nanotube-graphene material promises to simplify manufacturing
• Education: States' standardized tests have a negative impact on parents' civic engagement
• Personal touch signature makes mobile devices more secure
• Daily serving of beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils can significantly reduce bad cholesterol
• Longer catch-and-release time leaves largemouth bass nests more vulnerable to predators
• 'I can haz blood?' The surprising world of pet blood transfusions
• Putting a price on ecological restoration
• Fathers can lower their children's risk of going hungry by staying involved
• Hope for children with previously incurable brain cancer
• Slowdown of global warming fleeting
• Social circuits that track how we like people, ideas
• Experience helps restaurant managers stick with local foods
• Rage-quitting: Feelings of failure, not violent content, foster aggression in video gamers
• Tissue testing during breast cancer lumpectomies prevents need for reoperation 96 percent of time
• Disruption of VISTA plays an important role in regulating immune response
• Gene sequencing project discovers mutations tied to deadly brain tumors in young children
• Rilpivirine combination product in pretreated HIV-1 patients: Added benefit not proven
• Procrastination and impulsivity genetically linked: Exploring the genetics of 'I'll do it tomorrow'
• Twitter use linked to infidelity and divorce
• U.S. school children exposed to arsenic in well water have lower IQ scores
• Hi-tech innovation gauges science learning in preschoolers
• The tiniest greenhouse gas emitters: Climate feedbacks from decomposition by soil microbes less dire than previously thought
• Green tea extract boosts your brain power, especially the working memory, new research shows
• Health benefits of 'green exercise' for kids shown in new study
• Fatty acid composition in blood reflects quality of dietary carbohydrates in children
• Organic solar cells more efficient with molecules face-to-face
• Cleft palate discovery in dogs to aid in understanding human birth defect
• Children see domestic violence that often goes unreported, research finds
• Educational interventions at Early Head Start led to decline in pediatric emergency visits
• Remedial courses fail bachelor's degree seekers, but boost those in associate's programs
• Ancient shrimp-like animals had 'modern' hearts and blood vessels
• Drink milk? Women who do may delay knee osteoarthritis
• Movies synchronize brains: Brain activity patterns show remarkable similarities across different people
• Freshwater turtle crosses the Aegean Sea
• Caffeine against Alzheimer's disease? Positive effect on tau deposits demonstrated
• Risk of dengue fever epidemic in Europe
• Look into the future with genetic programming
• Plant biotechnology approach for sustainable production of pharmaceutical compounds
• Long-fingered bat goes fishing
• New findings to help extend high efficiency solar cells' lifetime
• Switching off anxiety with light: Cone opsins coupled with serotonin receptors
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Focus on urban transport solutions distracts from poor planning
• Energizing sick mitochondria with vitamin B3: Effective treatment for mitochondrial disease
• Parental obesity and autism risk in the child: Is paternal obesity a greater risk factor than maternal obesity?
• No evidence of Alzheimer's disease-associated changes in adolescents carrying genetic risk factors
• A bird? A plane? Or both? Bio-inspired unmanned aircraft capable of soaring like birds
• Startlingly new functional details of common anti-diabetic drugs discovered
• Role of magnetic nanoparticles in breast cancer treatment
• Over a lifetime, childhood obesity costs $19,000 per child
• New mechanism for unleashing immune system against cancer discovered
• Circumcision could prevent prostate cancer ... if it’s performed after age 35, study shows
• Bleach vs. bacteria: Development of new drugs to breach microbial defenses
• Scaffolding protein promotes growth, metastases of epithelial ovarian cancer
• Six months hormonal treatment in addition to radiotherapy improves survival for men with localized prostate cancer
• Increased risk of developing lung cancer after radiotherapy for breast cancer

Mortality risks of being overweight or obese are underestimated Posted: 07 Apr 2014 11:37 AM PDT Many obesity studies substantially underestimate the mortality risks associated with excess weight in the United States, new research indicates. Normal weight is indicated by a BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2, overweight is indicated by a BMI of 25.0-29.9 kg/m2, obese class 1 is a BMI of 30.0-34.9 kg/m2 and obese class 2 is a BMI of 35.0 kg/m2 and above. Skeptics of the meta-analysis argue that the findings are likely driven by biases, especially by illness-induced weight loss.

Well-known cancer gene NRAS produces 5 variants, study finds Posted: 07 Apr 2014 11:37 AM PDT The NRAS gene, known to play a fundamental role in cancer development, produces five gene variants, or isoforms, rather than just one form, as thought, new research shows. The study identified four previously unknown variants that the NRAS gene produces. The finding might help improve drugs for cancers in which NRAS plays a crucial role. It also suggests that NRAS might affect additional target molecules in cells.

BOSS quasars track the expanding universe: Most precise measurement yet Posted: 07 Apr 2014 11:37 AM PDT Scientists have made novel measurements of the structure of the universe when it was only about 3 billion years old, using quasars collected by the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). Results include the most precise measurement of expansion since galaxies formed. BOSS, the largest component of the third Sloan Digital Sky Survey, pioneered the use of quasars to chart universal expansion and the role of dark energy.

Trees go high-tech: Process turns cellulose into energy storage devices Posted: 07 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT A fundamental chemical discovery should allow tress to soon play a major role in making high-tech energy storage devices. A method has been discovered to turn cellulose -- the most abundant organic polymer on Earth and a key component of trees –- into the building blocks for supercapacitors.

Southwestern bird and reptile distributions to shift as climate changes Posted: 07 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT Dramatic distribution losses and a few major distribution gains are forecasted for southwestern bird and reptile species as the climate changes, according to new research. Overall, the study forecasted species distribution losses -- that is, where species are able to live -- of nearly half for all but one of the 5 reptile species they examined, including for the iconic chuckwalla.

Rebar technique strengthens case for graphene: Hybrid nanotube-graphene material promises to simplify manufacturing Posted: 07 Apr 2014 10:10 AM PDT Carbon nanotubes become reinforcing bars that make two-dimensional graphene much easier to handle in a hybrid material. Chemists set nanotubes into graphene in a way that not only mimics how steel rebar is used in concrete but also preserves and even improves the electrical and mechanical qualities of both. The technique should make large, flexible, conductive and transparent sheets of graphene much easier to manipulate, which should be of interest to electronics manufacturers.

Education: States' standardized tests have a negative impact on parents' civic engagement Posted: 07 Apr 2014 10:09 AM PDT New research has found that parents of public school students in states with more extensive and stringent student assessment systems express lower trust in government and more negative views of their children's schools, threatening civic engagement and the potential for future education reform.

Personal touch signature makes mobile devices more secure Posted: 07 Apr 2014 10:09 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new security system that continuously monitors how a user taps and swipes a mobile device. If the movements don't match the owner's tendencies, the system recognizes the differences and can be programmed to lock the device.

Daily serving of beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils can significantly reduce bad cholesterol Posted: 07 Apr 2014 09:27 AM PDT Eating one serving a day of beans, peas, chickpeas or lentils can significantly reduce 'bad cholesterol' and therefore the risk of cardiovascular disease, a new study has found. North Americans on average currently eat less than half a serving a day.

Longer catch-and-release time leaves largemouth bass nests more vulnerable to predators Posted: 07 Apr 2014 09:25 AM PDT During spawning season, a largemouth bass male attentively guards its nest. Recent research found that catch-and-release angling could give bass predators the perfect opportunity to consume the young. In fact, the time spent away from the nest during a catch-and-release event and the subsequent exhaustion it creates for the male are critical to the survival of the embryos, particularly in lakes with high densities of brood predators.

'I can haz blood?' The surprising world of pet blood transfusions Posted: 07 Apr 2014 09:25 AM PDT Don Juan, Napoleon, Gucci, Azur, and Marissa are very friendly and will rush to welcome anyone who enters their room, and that's what makes them good blood donors. "I chose them for their hematological characteristics, but also for their good disposition. We didn't want cats that would be stressed when handled or that needed excessive sedation," said Dr. Marie-Claude Blais, Professor at the University of Montreal's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Where they are housed, the five cats (four males and one female) can climb to the top of their trapeze and out into the yard through a cat flap. They can lounge on a hammock all day long or play cat and mouse. What is more, the door to their room is never locked, so they can get their daily dose of hugs, a benefit not necessarily stipulated in their contract.

Putting a price on ecological restoration Posted: 07 Apr 2014 09:25 AM PDT Putting a price on clean water and soil fertility helps the UN set ecological restoration targets for degraded and deforested land. Forests provide essential ecosystem services for people, including timber, food and water. For those struggling with the after-effects of deforestation, the main hope lies in rebuilding forest resources through ecological restoration.

Fathers can lower their children's risk of going hungry by staying involved Posted: 07 Apr 2014 08:33 AM PDT Nonresident father involvement in a child's life is positively associated with lower food insecurity in both early and middle childhood. Involvement could include time spent with the child, monetary contributions and "in kind" support, such as treats, gifts and payment of medical or childcare expenses. In particular, in kind support resulted in a 10 to 12 percent reduction in food insecurity for children.

Hope for children with previously incurable brain cancer Posted: 07 Apr 2014 08:33 AM PDT Potential treatment targets for a previously incurable form of pediatric brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma has been revealed by scientists. The researchers believe that this discovery could lead to better treatment. "We're hoping that by having a better genetic characterization of these cancers we can try to better target these tumors and provide a personalized approach to treatment," one expert noted.

Slowdown of global warming fleeting Posted: 07 Apr 2014 08:33 AM PDT The recent slowdown in the warming rate of the Northern Hemisphere may be a result of internal variability of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation -- a natural phenomenon related to sea surface temperatures, according to researchers.

Social circuits that track how we like people, ideas Posted: 07 Apr 2014 08:33 AM PDT Whether at the office, dorm, PTA meeting, or any other social setting, we all know intuitively who the popular people are even if we can't always put our finger on why. That information is often critical to professional or social success. Yet until now, scientists have not understood how our brains recognize these popular people. In new work, researchers say that we track people's popularity largely through the brain region involved in anticipating rewards.

Experience helps restaurant managers stick with local foods Posted: 07 Apr 2014 08:33 AM PDT Restaurant chefs and food purchasing managers who have bought local foods in the past are more likely to continue adding them to menus and store shelves, according to a team of researchers. Food purchasers also indicated that they would not stock local food just because it is local. Local foods must have a unique selling point, according to the researchers.

Rage-quitting: Feelings of failure, not violent content, foster aggression in video gamers Posted: 07 Apr 2014 08:31 AM PDT The disturbing imagery or violent storylines of videos games like World of Warcraft or Grand Theft Auto are often accused of fostering feelings of aggression in players. But a new study shows hostile behavior is linked to gamers' experiences of failure and frustration during play—not to a game's violent content.

Tissue testing during breast cancer lumpectomies prevents need for reoperation 96 percent of time Posted: 07 Apr 2014 08:31 AM PDT Unique laboratory testing during breast cancer lumpectomies to make sure surgeons remove all cancerous tissue spares patients the need for a repeat lumpectomy in roughly 96 percent of cases, a success rate much higher than the rate nationally, a study shows. During the years reviewed, 13.2 percent of breast cancer lumpectomy patients nationally had to return to the operating room within a month of their initial surgery, compared to 3.6 percent where these tests were performed.

Disruption of VISTA plays an important role in regulating immune response Posted: 07 Apr 2014 08:31 AM PDT The body's immune system response was enhanced in a study when researchers disrupted VISTA, a protein that prevents the immune system from overreacting. Understanding how checkpoint regulators like VISTA function is important to cancer researchers, who hope to use the immune system to attack tumors.

Gene sequencing project discovers mutations tied to deadly brain tumors in young children Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:17 AM PDT New mutations in pediatric brain tumors known as high-grade gliomas, which most often occur in the youngest patients, have been discovered by researchers. The discoveries stem from the most comprehensive effort yet to identify the genetic missteps driving these deadly tumors. The results provide desperately needed drug development leads, particularly for agents that target the underlying mutations. This and other studies show these mutations often differ based on patient age.

Rilpivirine combination product in pretreated HIV-1 patients: Added benefit not proven Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:17 AM PDT A Rilpivirine combination product in HIV-1 patients with previous antiretroviral treatment was not shown to demonstrate any added benefit in a recent study. The only study cited in the dossier was too short for the assessment of an added benefit, and the appropriate comparator therapy was not implemented.

Procrastination and impulsivity genetically linked: Exploring the genetics of 'I'll do it tomorrow' Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:17 AM PDT Procrastination and impulsivity are genetically linked, suggesting that the two traits stem from similar evolutionary origins, according to new research. The research indicates that the traits are related to our ability to successfully pursue and juggle goals.

Twitter use linked to infidelity and divorce Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:17 AM PDT Scientists found that active Twitter users are far more likely to experience Twitter–related conflict with their romantic partners. However, new research shows that Twitter use could actually be damaging to users' romantic relationships. Scientists found that active Twitter users are far more likely to experience Twitter-related conflict with their romantic partners.

U.S. school children exposed to arsenic in well water have lower IQ scores Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:17 AM PDT A study from three school districts in Maine exposed to arsenic in drinking water experienced declines in child intelligence. While earlier studies conducted by the researchers in South Asia, and Bangladesh in particular, showed that exposure to arsenic in drinking water is negatively associated with child intelligence, this is the first study to examine intelligence against individual water arsenic exposures in the U.S.

Hi-tech innovation gauges science learning in preschoolers Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:17 AM PDT An iPad app is the first of its kind to examine how preschoolers can learn about science by getting back to nature. The iPad application is being used to streamline a research technique known as behavior mapping. The researchers say this form of data collection has been used for 40 years to assist environmental psychologists and landscape architects in studying the connection between behaviors and physical characteristics of space.

The tiniest greenhouse gas emitters: Climate feedbacks from decomposition by soil microbes less dire than previously thought Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:17 AM PDT Climate feedbacks from decomposition by soil microbes are one of the biggest uncertainties facing climate modelers. A new study shows that these feedbacks may be less dire than previously thought.

Green tea extract boosts your brain power, especially the working memory, new research shows Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:15 AM PDT Green tea is said to have many putative positive effects on health. Now, researchers are reporting first evidence that green tea extract enhances the cognitive functions, in particular the working memory. The findings suggest promising clinical implications for the treatment of cognitive impairments in psychiatric disorders such as dementia.

Health benefits of 'green exercise' for kids shown in new study Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:15 AM PDT Children who are exposed to scenes of nature while exercising are more likely to experience health-enhancing effects after activity, according to a study. The researchers found that after the 'green exercise' the children's post-activity blood pressure was significantly lower than it was without the simulated forest environment, indicating that the nature scenes promoted positive health effects.

Fatty acid composition in blood reflects quality of dietary carbohydrates in children Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:15 AM PDT Fatty acid composition in blood is not only a biomarker for the quality of dietary fat, but also reflects the quality of dietary carbohydrates, new research shows. This study showed that a higher consumption of candy and a lower consumption of high-fibre grain products were associated with a higher proportion of oleic acid in blood.

Organic solar cells more efficient with molecules face-to-face Posted: 07 Apr 2014 07:14 AM PDT New research reveals that energy is transferred more efficiently inside of complex, three-dimensional organic solar cells when the donor molecules align face-on, rather than edge-on, relative to the acceptor.

Cleft palate discovery in dogs to aid in understanding human birth defect Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:07 AM PDT Discovery of a genetic mutation that causes a form of cleft palate in a retriever breed provides the first dog model for this craniofacial defect and offers a tool for better understanding cleft palate in humans. Although cleft palate is one of the most common birth defects in children, affecting approximately one in 1,500 live human births in the United States, it is not completely understood.

Children see domestic violence that often goes unreported, research finds Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:07 AM PDT A nationwide study of children who have witnessed domestic violence found that parents or caregivers were physically injured in more than a third of the cases, yet only a small fraction of offenders went to jail and just one in four incidents resulted in police reports, according to the research.

Educational interventions at Early Head Start led to decline in pediatric emergency visits Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:07 AM PDT Integrating an educational intervention regarding upper respiratory infections into Early Head Start programs led to a significant decrease in pediatric emergency visits and adverse care practices among predominantly Latino families, who have been shown to be at high risk for limited health literacy.

Remedial courses fail bachelor's degree seekers, but boost those in associate's programs Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:07 AM PDT Taking remedial courses may not help students earn their bachelor's degrees, but the classes can help students at two-year colleges earn associate's degrees, according to a new study. The role of remedial education has been under scrutiny for years, viewed as an essential tool in efforts to raise rates of degree completion. At the same time, critics question whether the courses are appropriate for institutions of higher education.

Ancient shrimp-like animals had 'modern' hearts and blood vessels Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:07 AM PDT In 520 million-year-old fossil deposits resembling an 'invertebrate version of Pompeii,' researchers have found an ancestor of modern crustaceans revealing the first-known cardiovascular system in exquisitely preserved detail. The organ system is surprisingly complex and adds to the notion that sophisticated body plans had already evolved more than half a billion years ago.

Drink milk? Women who do may delay knee osteoarthritis Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:07 AM PDT Women who frequently consume fat-free or low-fat milk may delay the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Results show that women who ate cheese saw an increase in knee OA progression. Yogurt did not impact OA progression in men or women. OA is a common, degenerative joint disease that causes pain and swelling of joints in the hand, hips, or knee.

Movies synchronize brains: Brain activity patterns show remarkable similarities across different people Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:06 AM PDT When we watch a movie, our brains react to it immediately in a way similar to brains of other people. Researchers have succeeded in developing a method fast enough to observe immediate changes in the function of the brain even when watching a movie.

Freshwater turtle crosses the Aegean Sea Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:06 AM PDT Scientists have studied the widely distributed freshwater turtle, Mauremys rivulata. In spite of geographical barriers, the turtles are genetically very similar throughout their vast  distribution range. This would indicate that that animals cross hundreds of kilometers of sea.

Caffeine against Alzheimer's disease? Positive effect on tau deposits demonstrated Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:05 AM PDT Caffeine has a positive effect on tau deposits in Alzheimer's disease, researchers have demonstrated for the first time. Tau deposits, along with beta-amyloid plaques, are among the characteristic features of Alzheimer's disease. These protein deposits disrupt the communication of the nerve cells in the brain and contribute to their degeneration. Despite intensive research there is no drug available that can prevent this detrimental process.

Risk of dengue fever epidemic in Europe Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:05 AM PDT The risk of dengue fever beginning to spread in Europe is imminent. According to researchers, this is no longer just an issue for the scientific community but also for politicians and policy makers, who need to be prepared and develop preventive measures.

Look into the future with genetic programming Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:05 AM PDT With predictive modeling techniques, it is possible to predict anything from clients' shopping habits and illnesses to a golfer's handicap. The only prerequisite is to have enough examples. Now a researcher has adapted the technique of genetic programming so it can be used for such purposes.

Plant biotechnology approach for sustainable production of pharmaceutical compounds Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:05 AM PDT Ground-breaking discoveries for improving the efficiency of the production of pharmaceuticals through plant biotechnology have been made through recent research. Biotechnological production offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to the chemical synthesis of rare and complex pharmaceutical compounds currently isolated from plants.

Long-fingered bat goes fishing Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:05 AM PDT The long-fingered bat is on the verge of extinction; the recent work of biologists has been crucial in getting to know it better, in order to protect it. The long-fingered bat has now been shown to feed on fish as well as insects. What is more, it knows how to fish.

New findings to help extend high efficiency solar cells' lifetime Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:05 AM PDT Scientists have made a surprising discovery about the degradation of solar cells that could help pave the way to creating a longer lifetime for these cells.  Key factors for creating cost-efficient solar cells to compete with conventional energy sources like fossil fuels include fabrication cost, efficiency and lifetime of the cells.

Switching off anxiety with light: Cone opsins coupled with serotonin receptors Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:04 AM PDT Receptors for the messenger molecule serotonin can be modified in such a way that they can be activated by light, a study shows. An imbalance in serotonin levels seems to cause anxiety and depression. The researchers have provided a new model system for investigating the mechanism underlying these dysfunctions in cell cultures as well as living organisms.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Focus on urban transport solutions distracts from poor planning Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:04 AM PDT If you think transportation solutions are essential for reducing greenhouse emissions and growing economic opportunity in rapidly-expanding cities, think again. Scientists now say we're looking at the problem the wrong way.

Energizing sick mitochondria with vitamin B3: Effective treatment for mitochondrial disease Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:04 AM PDT Vitamin B3 form nicotinamide riboside can slow down the progression of mitochondrial disease, suggesting its potential as a novel therapy approach to adult-onset mitochondrial muscle diseases, new research suggests. Vitamins B have recently been turned out to be potent modifiers of energy metabolism, especially the function of mitochondria. Vitamin B3, (niacin) has been found to delay the signs of aging in animal models.

Parental obesity and autism risk in the child: Is paternal obesity a greater risk factor than maternal obesity? Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:04 AM PDT Several studies have looked at possible links between maternal obesity during pregnancy and the risk of developmental disorders in the child. However, paternal obesity could be a greater risk factor than maternal obesity, according to a new study.

No evidence of Alzheimer's disease-associated changes in adolescents carrying genetic risk factors Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:03 AM PDT Two studies indicate that some of the pathologic changes associated with Alzheimer's disease in older individuals are not apparent in young people who carry the apolipoprotein (APOE) genetic risk factor for developing the disease. In the first study, no differences were found in hippocampal volume or asymmetry between cognitively normal adolescent carriers and non-carriers of the ApoE ɛ4 or ɛ2 allelles. The second study reports no differences in plasma concentrations of amyloid-β peptides among young adult ɛ4, ɛ3 or ɛ2 carriers.

A bird? A plane? Or both? Bio-inspired unmanned aircraft capable of soaring like birds Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:03 AM PDT Researchers are developing a bio-inspired unmanned aircraft capable of soaring like birds, boosting energy efficiency and endurance. The research team is aiming to be the first in the world to demonstrate an autonomous unmanned aircraft that can mimic birds by using updrafts around buildings to stay airborne.

Startlingly new functional details of common anti-diabetic drugs discovered Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:03 AM PDT Scientists thought they basically knew how the most common drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes worked, but a new study reveals unexpected new aspects of the process. These findings could eventually lead to more potent anti-diabetic drugs with fewer serious side effects.

Role of magnetic nanoparticles in breast cancer treatment Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:02 AM PDT While exploring the promise of magnetic nanoparticle (mNP) hyperthermia in breast cancer treatment, a researcher reviews preclinical studies and discusses plans for early-phase clinical studies in humans. This evolving treatment approach involves the injection of nanoparticles into the tumor, which are then activated with magnetic energy. Once activated the nanoparticles produce heat inside the cancer cell. The heat kills the cancer cell with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.

Over a lifetime, childhood obesity costs $19,000 per child Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:02 AM PDT Childhood obesity comes with an estimated price tag of $19,000 per child when comparing lifetime medical costs to those of a normal weight child, according to an analysis. When multiplied by the number of obese 10-year-olds in the United States, lifetime medical costs for this age alone reach roughly $14 billion.

New mechanism for unleashing immune system against cancer discovered Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:02 AM PDT A major discovery brings a new drug target to the increasingly exciting landscape of cancer immunotherapy. The study is particularly noteworthy because it reveals a new way to block the function of CTLA-4, an immune inhibitory checkpoint receptor already generating huge interest in the pharmaceutical and research communities due to its potential in fighting cancer. An antibody that blocks CTLA-4 is already in use for advanced melanoma.

Circumcision could prevent prostate cancer ... if it’s performed after age 35, study shows Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:02 AM PDT Men circumcised after the age of 35 were 45% less at risk of later developing prostate cancer than uncircumcised men. Prostate cancer is rare amongst Jewish or Muslim men, the majority of whom are circumcised. While the specific causes of this cancer remain unknown, three risk factors have been identified: aging, a family history of this cancer, and Black African ethnic origins.

Bleach vs. bacteria: Development of new drugs to breach microbial defenses Posted: 07 Apr 2014 06:02 AM PDT Chlorine bleach has been used as a disinfectant for hundreds of years, but our bodies have been using its active component to help kill invading bacteria for millennia. Details about how bleach kills -- and how bacteria can survive the attack -- may lead to the development of new drugs.

Scaffolding protein promotes growth, metastases of epithelial ovarian cancer Posted: 06 Apr 2014 06:44 PM PDT A scaffolding protein responsible for regulating signaling pathways in the cell promotes the growth and spread of epithelial ovarian cancer, research has determined. The researchers note that even though this study looked at the ovarian cancer in mice, some of the genes that turned up in the gene expression analysis can be further evaluated in human cell lines and tumors. "We want to make sure we're studying something that's not only important in mice but can also give us clues about human cancers."

Six months hormonal treatment in addition to radiotherapy improves survival for men with localized prostate cancer Posted: 06 Apr 2014 06:44 PM PDT Men with prostate cancer that is small and confined to the prostate gland but that is at risk of growing and spreading, do better if they are treated with radiotherapy combined with androgen deprivation therapy, which lowers their levels of the male hormone, testosterone, according to new research.

Increased risk of developing lung cancer after radiotherapy for breast cancer Posted: 06 Apr 2014 06:44 PM PDT Women who have radiotherapy for breast cancer have a small but significantly increased risk of subsequently developing a primary lung tumor, and now research has shown that this risk increases with the amount of radiation absorbed by the tissue.

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