ScienceDaily: Top News

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• New way to plug 'leaky' light cavities demonstrated
• New 'high-entropy' alloy is as light as aluminum, as strong as titanium alloys
• Thyroid hormones reduce animal cardiac arrhythmias
• New way to turn genes on discovered
• Scientists estimate total weight of plastic floating in world's oceans: Nearly 269,000 tons of plastic pollution floating in the ocean
• Oldest horned dinosaur species in North America found in Montana: Hooked beak, sharply pointed cheeks distinguishes neoceratopsian species
• Prenatal exposure to common household chemicals linked with substantial drop in child IQ
• New drug combination for advanced breast cancer delays disease progression
• Organic electronics could lead to cheap, wearable medical sensors
• Physicists explain puzzling particle collisions
• New form of ice could help explore exciting avenues for energy production and storage
• Predator versus prey: California sheephead's role along Pacific Coast
• Fungus-growing ants selectively cultivate their crops
• Testosterone may contribute to colon cancer tumor growth
• No laughing matter: Nitrous oxide rose at end of last ice age
• Teen Smoking: Deeper Analysis of Statistics Needed, Study Finds
• Next-Generation Treatment for Urinary Tract Infections May Focus on Fitness Genes
• Pathway that degrades holiday turkey fuels metastasis of triple negative breast cancer
• Dragonflies on the hunt display complex choreography
• Breakthrough solves centuries-old animal evolution mystery
• Patients given less blood during transfusions do well
• How long can Ebola live? No one really knows
• Theory details how 'hot' monomers affect thin-film formation
• Better biomonitor for children with asthma
• New study measures methane emissions from natural gas production and offers insights into two large sources
• New insight into cancer defense mechanism
• 'Smart windows' have potential to keep heat out and save energy
• New 'electronic skin' for prosthetics, robotics detects pressure from different directions
• U.S. taxpayers bear financial burden of smoking-related disease
• Climate change projected to drive species northward
• Government healthcare spending linked to maternal mortality rates across the EU
• Honeybee hive sealant promotes hair growth in mice
• Internet searches can predict volume of ER visits
• Key to vitamin A metabolism found
• Phenomenal fossil and detailed analysis reveal details about enigmatic fossil mammals
• Analogues of a natural product are drug candidates against malaria
• Ancient creature discovered in the depths of the Arctic Ocean
• Biomarker discovery sheds new light on heart attack risk of arthritis drugs
• First implant of patient-specific rod for spinal deformities in U.S.
• Majority of women with early-stage breast cancer in U.S. eceive unnecessarily long courses of radiation
• Better substances for treating dengue virus proposed
• Guidelines for treatment of Ebola patients are urgently needed
• Revolutionary new procedure for epilepsy diagnosis unlocked by research
• Where are the helium atoms in the molecule? As in a cloud
• Carbon soot particles, dust blamed for discoloring India’s Taj Mahal
• Early trial of new drug shows promise for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
• Lifestyle the key to gap in cardiac patient outcomes
• Researchers observe how unfolded proteins move in the cell
• Yeast are first cells known to cure themselves of prions
• Multiple, short learning sessions strengthen memory formation in fragile X syndrome
• Most exaggeration in health news is already present in academic press releases: Scientific community can improve the situation
• Defects are perfect in laser-induced graphene
• Scientists resolve spin puzzle
• Anyone who is good at German learns English better
• Shifting boundaries and changing surfaces: Energies at work in closed flexible loop spanned by soap film
• Early results indicate potential for focused ultrasound to treat OCD
• Women with dense breasts will have to look beyond ultrasound for useful supplemental breast cancer screening
• Keeping families safe from the flu
• Laughing gas shows promise for severe depression, pilot study suggests
• Simeprevir-based therapy offers patients in developing countries a cost-effective alternative in treatment of hepatitis C

New way to plug 'leaky' light cavities demonstrated Posted: 10 Dec 2014 11:08 AM PST Engineers have demonstrated a new and more efficient way to trap light, using a phenomenon called bound states in the continuum that was first proposed in the early days of quantum wave mechanics.

New 'high-entropy' alloy is as light as aluminum, as strong as titanium alloys Posted: 10 Dec 2014 11:08 AM PST Researchers have developed a new 'high-entropy' metal alloy that has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than any other existing metal material.

Thyroid hormones reduce animal cardiac arrhythmias Posted: 10 Dec 2014 11:08 AM PST Rats that received thyroid hormones had a reduced risk for dangerous heart arrhythmias following a heart attack, according to a new study. The research team found that thyroid hormone replacement therapy significantly reduced the incidence of atrial fibrillation -- a specific kind of irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia -- in the rats, compared to a control group that did not receive the hormones.

New way to turn genes on discovered Posted: 10 Dec 2014 11:08 AM PST Using a gene-editing system originally developed to delete specific genes, researchers have now shown that they can reliably turn on any gene of their choosing in living cells. The findings are expected to help researchers refine and further engineer the tool to accelerate genomic research and bring the technology closer to use in the treatment of human genetic disease.

Scientists estimate total weight of plastic floating in world's oceans: Nearly 269,000 tons of plastic pollution floating in the ocean Posted: 10 Dec 2014 11:08 AM PST Nearly 269,000 tons of plastic pollution may be floating in the world's oceans, according to a new study. Microplastic pollution is found in varying concentrations throughout the oceans, but estimates of the global abundance and weight of floating plastics, both micro and macroplastic, lack sufficient data to support them. To better estimate the total number of plastic particles and their weight floating in the world's oceans, scientists from six countries contributed data from 24 expeditions collected over a six-year period from 2007-2013 across all five sub-tropical gyres, coastal Australia, Bay of Bengal, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Oldest horned dinosaur species in North America found in Montana: Hooked beak, sharply pointed cheeks distinguishes neoceratopsian species Posted: 10 Dec 2014 11:08 AM PST Scientists have named the first definite horned dinosaur species from the Early Cretaceous in North America. The limited fossil record for neoceratopsian--or horned dinosaurs--from the Early Cretaceous in North America restricts scientists' ability to reconstruct the early evolution of this group.

Prenatal exposure to common household chemicals linked with substantial drop in child IQ Posted: 10 Dec 2014 11:08 AM PST Children exposed during pregnancy to elevated levels of two common chemicals found in the home -- di-n-butyl phthalate and di-isobutyl phthalate -- had an IQ score, on average, more than six points lower than children exposed at lower levels, according to researchers. The study is the first to report a link between prenatal exposure to phthalates and IQ in school-age children. While avoiding all phthalates in the United States is for now impossible, the researchers recommend that pregnant women take steps to limit exposure by not microwaving food in plastics, avoiding scented products as much as possible, including air fresheners, and dryer sheets, and not using recyclable plastics labeled as 3, 6, or 7.

New drug combination for advanced breast cancer delays disease progression Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST A new combination of cancer drugs delayed disease progression for patients with hormone-receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, according to a multi-center phase II trial. The drug combination doubled the number of patients whose cancer had not progressed after one year from 14% to 28%, according to the study.

Organic electronics could lead to cheap, wearable medical sensors Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST A pulse oximeter, commonly used to measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels, has been created using all organic materials instead of silicon. The advance could lead to cheap, flexible sensors that could be used like a Band-Aid.

Physicists explain puzzling particle collisions Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST An anomaly spotted at the Large Hadron Collider has prompted scientists to reconsider a mathematical description of the underlying physics. By considering two forces that are distinct in everyday life but unified under extreme conditions, they have simplified one description of the interactions of elementary particles. Their new version makes specific predictions about events that future experiments should observe and could help to reveal 'new physics,' particles or processes that have yet to be discovered.

New form of ice could help explore exciting avenues for energy production and storage Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST The discovery of a new form of ice could lead to an improved understanding of our planet's geology, potentially helping to unlock new solutions in the production, transportation and storage of energy. Ice XVI, the least dense of all known forms of ice, has a highly symmetric cage-like structure that can trap gaseous molecules to form compounds known as clathrates or gas hydrates.

Predator versus prey: California sheephead's role along Pacific Coast Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST California sheephead plays a vital role in the food web of kelp forests along the Pacific coast. Commonly found in the waters from Baja California to Point Conception -- although they can sometimes be found as far north as Monterey Bay -- sheephead feed on sea urchins, whose grazing habits can wreak havoc on community composition in kelp forests.

Fungus-growing ants selectively cultivate their crops Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST Ever since agriculture evolved ca 10,000 years ago, plants have been artificially selected to become the fast growing and highly productive varieties we know today. However, humans were not the first to see merit in cultivating their own food, as ants have been doing this for 50 million years.

Testosterone may contribute to colon cancer tumor growth Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST Evidence suggesting that the male hormone testosterone may actually be a contributing factor in the formation of colon cancer tumors has been discovered. "Previously, scientists believed that female hormones may have lent some sort of protection against tumor susceptibility," the lead researcher said. "However, by showing that removing testosterone from rats leads to a drastic decrease in colon cancer susceptibility, it appears that male hormones may actually contribute to colon tumor growth rather than female hormones being protective."

No laughing matter: Nitrous oxide rose at end of last ice age Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST Nitrous oxide is an important greenhouse gas that doesn't receive as much notoriety as carbon dioxide or methane, but a new study confirms that atmospheric levels of N2O rose significantly as the Earth came out of the last ice age and addresses the cause.

Teen Smoking: Deeper Analysis of Statistics Needed, Study Finds Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:12 AM PST When it comes to measuring teen smoking, many public health agencies rely too heavily on reports of monthly cigarette use, a broad statistic that makes it difficult to draw conclusions about current habits and historical trends, a new study finds.

Next-Generation Treatment for Urinary Tract Infections May Focus on Fitness Genes Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:10 AM PST Ask any woman: urinary tract infections are painful and unpredictable. Now researchers have identified genes to help fight the infections that are becoming resistant to antibiotics. The findings reveal the specific genes expressed by Escherichia coli, the bacteria that most often causes UTIs in otherwise healthy people.

Pathway that degrades holiday turkey fuels metastasis of triple negative breast cancer Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:10 AM PST Triple negative breast cancer cells process tryptophan to promote survival while traveling through the body in order to seed new tumor sites, researchers say. "I'm not saying that people with metastatic breast cancer shouldn't eat turkey during the holidays, but triple-negative breast cancer appears to have found a way to process tryptophan more quickly, equipping cancer cells to survive while in circulation, which allows them to metastasize," says the first author of a new paper.

Dragonflies on the hunt display complex choreography Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:10 AM PST The dragonfly is a swift and efficient hunter. Once it spots its prey, it takes about half a second to swoop beneath an unsuspecting insect and snatch it from the air. Researchers have used motion-capture technology to reveal new insight into the sophisticated information processing and acrobatic skills of dragonflies on the hunt.

Breakthrough solves centuries-old animal evolution mystery Posted: 10 Dec 2014 10:10 AM PST Researchers have developed a method for spying on the activity of every gene within a cell at once. The breakthrough allows them to determine the order in which the three layers of cells in animal embryos evolved. Other applications include cancer research.

Patients given less blood during transfusions do well Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST It's a simple premise -- now backed up by more evidence than ever: 'Why give more blood to anyone if you can't show it benefits them?' Research has found that for many patients, smaller blood transfusions after surgery are at least as beneficial as larger ones, both in the short term and the long term.

How long can Ebola live? No one really knows Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST The Ebola virus travels from person to person through direct contact with infected body fluids. But how long can the virus survive on glass surfaces or countertops? How long can it live in wastewater when liquid wastes from a patient end up in the sewage system? A new article reviews the latest research to find answers to these questions.

Theory details how 'hot' monomers affect thin-film formation Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST Researchers have devised a mathematical model to predict how 'hot' monomers on cold substrates affect the growth of thin films being developed for next-generation electronics.

Better biomonitor for children with asthma Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST A diagnostic technique tested on Ground Zero firefighters to assess the effects of pollution is now being used on urban asthmatic children. The study has revealed that environmental sampling stations located in urban areas are not sufficient to protect the health of these children.

New study measures methane emissions from natural gas production and offers insights into two large sources Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST A small subset of natural gas wells are responsible for the majority of methane emissions from two major sources -- liquid unloadings and pneumatic controller equipment -- at natural gas production sites. With natural gas production in the United States expected to continue to increase during the next few decades, there is a need for a better understanding of methane emissions during natural gas production.

New insight into cancer defense mechanism Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST A new mechanism that gives a better understanding of cancer development has been identified by scientists. The molecular mechanism ensures that when cells divide, the genomic material passes correctly to the resulting daughter cells: "The process, known as chromosome segregation, is vitally important because incorrect passage of the genomic material makes cells prone to develop into cancer cells," says one investigator. The new discovery depends on a protein called BubR1 which if mutated can cause cancer.

'Smart windows' have potential to keep heat out and save energy Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST Windows allow brilliant natural light to stream into homes and buildings. Along with light comes heat that, in warm weather, we often counter with energy-consuming air conditioning. Now scientists are developing a new kind of 'smart window' that can block out heat when the outside temperatures rise. The advance could one day help consumers better conserve energy on hot days and reduce electric bills.

New 'electronic skin' for prosthetics, robotics detects pressure from different directions Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST Touch can be a subtle sense, but it communicates quickly whether something in our hands is slipping, for example, so we can tighten our grip. For the first time, scientists report the development of a stretchable 'electronic skin' closely modeled after our own that can detect not just pressure, but also what direction it's coming from. The study on the advance could have applications for prosthetics and robotics.

U.S. taxpayers bear financial burden of smoking-related disease Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST Cigarette smoking generates as much as $170 billion in annual health care spending in the United States, according to a new study. The study found that taxpayers bear 60 percent of the cost of smoking-attributable diseases through publicly funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Despite declines in the rates of smoking in recent years, the costs on society due to smoking have increased.

Climate change projected to drive species northward Posted: 10 Dec 2014 09:14 AM PST Anticipated changes in climate will push West Coast marine species from sharks to salmon northward an average of 30 kilometers per decade, shaking up fish communities and shifting fishing grounds, according to a new study.

Government healthcare spending linked to maternal mortality rates across the EU Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:43 AM PST Reductions in government healthcare spending in the European Union are associated with increased maternal mortality rates, suggests a new article. However, if skilled birth attendants are in place, the association disappears, highlighting the potential importance of maternal care, finds the research.

Honeybee hive sealant promotes hair growth in mice Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:43 AM PST Hair loss can be devastating for the millions of men and women who experience it. Now scientists are reporting that a substance from honeybee hives might contain clues for developing a potential new therapy. They found that the material, called propolis, encouraged hair growth in mice.

Internet searches can predict volume of ER visits Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:43 AM PST The correlation between Internet searches on a regional medical website and next-day visits to regional emergency departments was 'significant,' authors of a recent study say, suggesting that Internet data may be used in the future to predict the level of demand at emergency departments. This is the first study to use Internet data to predict emergency department visits in either a region or a single hospital.

Key to vitamin A metabolism found Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:43 AM PST Researchers have discovered the mechanism that enables the enzyme Lecithin: retinol acyltransferase to store vitamin A, which is essential for sight. The researchers hope the new information will be used to design small molecule therapies for degenerative eye diseases. The same enzymatic activity of LRAT that allows specific cells to absorb vitamin A can be used to transport small molecule drugs to the eye.

Phenomenal fossil and detailed analysis reveal details about enigmatic fossil mammals Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:43 AM PST Mammals that lived during the time of the dinosaurs are often portrayed as innocuous, small-bodied creatures, scurrying under the feet of the huge reptiles. In reality, this wasn't the case, and a new fossil from Madagascar further underscores this point, revealing fascinating perspectives on the growing diversity of Mesozoic mammals.

Analogues of a natural product are drug candidates against malaria Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:43 AM PST Two analogues of borrelidin were found to cure 100 percent of infected mice and produce immunological memory in these animals, a property not previously observed in an antimalarial drug. Growing resistance to current treatment for malaria increases the need for new drug candidates.

Ancient creature discovered in the depths of the Arctic Ocean Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:43 AM PST An extraordinary animal has been discovered more than 1.5 miles (2.5 km) below the ocean surface off the coast of northern Alaska, USA. The new species is a type of bivalve mollusk (clams, mussels, oysters etc.). Age estimates place the new clam as living more than 1.8 million years ago to the near present, but scientists can't discount that it might still be alive today.

Biomarker discovery sheds new light on heart attack risk of arthritis drugs Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:42 AM PST A class of drug for treating arthritis - all but shelved over fears about side effects - may be given a new lease of life, following the discovery of a possible way to identify which patients should avoid using it. A new study sheds light on the 10-year-old question of how COX-2 inhibitors -- a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) -- can increase the risk of heart attack in some people.

First implant of patient-specific rod for spinal deformities in U.S. Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:41 AM PST In early November, a New York hospital became the first in the U.S. to implant a patient with a new customized osteosynthesis rod precisely designed and manufactured preoperatively to properly realign the individual's spine, which had been severely deformed from scoliosis since childhood.

Majority of women with early-stage breast cancer in U.S. eceive unnecessarily long courses of radiation Posted: 10 Dec 2014 08:41 AM PST Two-thirds of women treated for early-stage breast cancer in the U.S. receive longer radiation therapy than necessary, according to a new study. "Hypofractionated radiation is infrequently used for women with early-stage breast cancer, even though it's high-quality, patient-centric cancer care at lower cost," said the study's lead author. "It is clinically equivalent to longer duration radiation in curing breast cancer, has similar side effects, is more convenient for patients, and allows patients to return to work or home sooner."

Better substances for treating dengue virus proposed Posted: 10 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST Potential new active substances for treating the dengue virus are being proposed by European scientists. In the quest for medication to treat the dengue virus, the scientific community is focusing on a particular enzyme of the pathogen, the protease known as NS2B/NS3. The reason for this is that inhibitors of similar proteases have been revealed to be very effective with other viruses. Protease inhibitors are already being used successfully in the treatment of HIV and Hepatitis patients.

Guidelines for treatment of Ebola patients are urgently needed Posted: 10 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST As the Ebola Virus Diseases epidemic continues to rage in West Africa, infectious diseases experts call attention to the striking lack of treatment guidelines. With over 16,000 total cases and more than 500 new infections reported per week, and probable underreporting of both cases and fatalities, the medical community still does not have specific approved treatment in place for Ebola, according to experts.

Revolutionary new procedure for epilepsy diagnosis unlocked by research Posted: 10 Dec 2014 07:00 AM PST Pioneering new research could revolutionize global diagnostic procedures for one of the most common forms of epilepsy, scientists say. The ground-breaking research has revealed differences in the way that distant regions of the brain connect with each other and how these differences may lead to the generation of seizures in people with idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGE).

Where are the helium atoms in the molecule? As in a cloud Posted: 10 Dec 2014 06:59 AM PST Physicists have now resolved a disputed matter of theoretical physics. Science has long since known that, contrary to the old school of thought, helium forms molecules of two, three or even more atoms. Exactly what helium consisting of three atoms looks like, however, has been disputed by theoretical physicists for about 20 years. Besides the intuitive assumption that the three identical components form an equilateral triangle, there was also the hypothesis that the three atoms are arranged linearly, in other words in a row. Scientists, using the COLTRIMS reaction microscope, were able to demonstrate that the truth lies somewhere in between.

Carbon soot particles, dust blamed for discoloring India’s Taj Mahal Posted: 10 Dec 2014 06:58 AM PST The Taj Mahal's iconic marble dome and soaring minarets require regular cleaning to maintain their dazzling appearance, and scientists now know why. Researchers are pointing the finger at airborne carbon particles and dust for giving the gleaming white landmark a brownish cast.

Early trial of new drug shows promise for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer Posted: 10 Dec 2014 06:58 AM PST In patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, infusion of pembrolizumab produced durable responses in almost one out of five patients. One of the 27 patients had a complete response and four had a partial response. Seven more patients had stable disease.

Lifestyle the key to gap in cardiac patient outcomes Posted: 10 Dec 2014 06:58 AM PST Patients suffering from the world's most common heart rhythm disorder can have their long-term outcomes significantly improved with an aggressive management of their underlying cardiac risk factors, according to researchers.

Researchers observe how unfolded proteins move in the cell Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:20 AM PST When a large protein unfolds in transit through a cell, it slows down and can get stuck in traffic. Using a specialized microscope -- a sort of cellular traffic camera -- chemists now can watch the way the unfolded protein diffuses. Studying the relationship between protein folding and transport could provide great insight into protein-misfolding diseases such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's

Yeast are first cells known to cure themselves of prions Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:20 AM PST Yeast cells can sometimes reverse the protein misfolding and clumping associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's, according to new research. The finding contradicts the idea that once prion proteins have changed into the shape that aggregates, the change is irreversible. In humans, such aggregates, called amyloids, are associated with diseases including Alzheimer's, Huntington's and Parkinson's.

Multiple, short learning sessions strengthen memory formation in fragile X syndrome Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:11 AM PST A learning technique that maximizes the brain's ability to make and store memories may help overcome cognitive issues seen in fragile X syndrome, a leading form of intellectual disability, according to neurobiologists.

Most exaggeration in health news is already present in academic press releases: Scientific community can improve the situation Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:10 AM PST Most exaggeration in health related science news is already present in academic press releases, finds a new study. Researchers suggest that improving the accuracy of academic press releases "could represent a key opportunity for reducing misleading health related news." Health related news has widespread potential to influence health related behaviour but often misreports the science.

Defects are perfect in laser-induced graphene Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:07 AM PST Researchers use lasers to create graphene foam from inexpensive polymers in ambient conditions. The laser-induced graphene may be suitable for electronics and energy storage.

Scientists resolve spin puzzle Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:06 AM PST Scientists have helped to uncover the properties of defects in the atomic structure of magnetite, potentially opening the way for its use in producing more powerful electronic devices.

Anyone who is good at German learns English better Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:06 AM PST Your literacy skills in your first language heavily influence the learning of a foreign language. Thus, anyone who reads and writes German well is likely to transfer this advantage to English – regardless of the age of onset of foreign language learning. Foreign language lessons at an early age, however, pay off less than was previously assumed. In fact, they can even have a negative impact on the first language in the short run, as a linguist reveals in her long-term study involving 200 Zurich high-school children.

Shifting boundaries and changing surfaces: Energies at work in closed flexible loop spanned by soap film Posted: 10 Dec 2014 05:04 AM PST New research examines the energies at work in a closed flexible loop spanned by a soap film. While the underlying experiments are simple enough to be replicated in a kitchen sink, the research generates potentially important questions and changes how we think about different disciplines from material science to vertebrate morphogenesis.

Early results indicate potential for focused ultrasound to treat OCD Posted: 10 Dec 2014 04:50 AM PST The potential of focused ultrasound to treat certain patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been supported by new research. "There is a need for non-invasive treatment options for patients with OCD that cannot be managed through medication," says the lead investigator. "Using focused ultrasound, we were able to reduce the symptoms for these patients and help them get some of their life back without the risks or complications of the more invasive surgical approaches that are currently available."

Women with dense breasts will have to look beyond ultrasound for useful supplemental breast cancer screening Posted: 10 Dec 2014 04:50 AM PST Supplemental ultrasound screening for all U.S. women with dense breasts would substantially increase healthcare costs with little improvement in overall health, according to researchers. The study will help inform the national legislative discussion about potential regulations requiring health providers to tell women if their mammogram shows that they have dense breasts.

Keeping families safe from the flu Posted: 10 Dec 2014 04:50 AM PST The flu, or seasonal influenza virus, is extremely unpredictable. Its severity can vary widely from one season to the next depending on many things, including the strains of flu spreading, availability of vaccines, how many people get vaccinated and how well the flu vaccine is matched to the flu viruses circulating each season. For these reasons, especially with recent news out of the CDC last week, many may be wondering, "should I be concerned about this flu season?"

Laughing gas shows promise for severe depression, pilot study suggests Posted: 10 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, has shown early promise as a potential treatment for severe depression in patients whose symptoms don't respond to standard therapies. The pilot study is believed to be the first research in which patients with depression were given laughing gas.

Simeprevir-based therapy offers patients in developing countries a cost-effective alternative in treatment of hepatitis C Posted: 10 Dec 2014 04:41 AM PST A protease inhibitor, simeprevir, a once a day pill, along with interferon and ribavirin has proven as effective in treating chronic Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) as telaprevir with interferon and ribavirin, the standard of care in developing countries. Further, simeprevir proved to be simpler for patients and had fewer adverse events, scientists report.

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