Thursday 5 September 2019

New study confirms protective effect of diabetes drugs against kidney failure

A new meta-analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology today has found that SGLT2 inhibitors can reduce the risk of dialysis, transplantation, or death due to kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

Artificial intelligence approaches may improve diagnostics of kidney disease

Two new studies reveal that modern machine learning—a branch of artificial intelligence in which systems learn from data, identify patterns, and make decisions—may augment traditional diagnostics of kidney disease. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of JASN.

Squirrels, bees could get US aid but not Yellowstone's bison

U.S. wildlife officials rejected petitions Thursday to protect Yellowstone National Park's storied bison herds but pledged to consider protections for two other species—a tiny, endangered squirrel in Arizona and bees that pollinate rare desert flowers in Nevada.

Study shows how consumers rely on price to determine quality of products

A study by an assistant professor at The University of Texas at Arlington published in the Journal of Marketing shows that marketers of relatively high-priced products should consider keeping prices high, as many consumers associate high price with high quality.

A molecular 'atlas' of animal development

In a paper in Science this week, Penn researchers report the first detailed molecular characterization of how every cell changes during animal embryonic development. The work, led by the laboratories of Perelman School of Medicine's John I. Murray, the School of Arts and Sciences' Junhyong Kim, and Robert Waterston of the University of Washington (UW), used the latest technology in the emergent field of single cell biology to profile more than 80,000 cells in the embryo of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Tropical storm Faxai gets a name and NASA gets an infrared picture

Tropical Storm 14W has been moving through the Northwestern Pacific Ocean for several days and has now been renamed Faxai. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the newly renamed storm and took the temperature of Faxai's clouds and storms.

Tiny airborne particles from wildfires have climate change implications

Wildfires are widespread across the globe. They occur in places wherever plants are abundant—such as the raging fires currently burning in the Brazilian Amazon. Such biomass burning (BB) can be an environmental calamity.

Research shows OB-GYNs hesitate to talk about fertility

A new study shows that many OB-GYNs are uncomfortable counseling their patients on fertility at a time when more women are delaying pregnancy and needing their doctors to be more vigilant about this education.

Sex and height might influence neck posture when viewing electronic handheld devices

Sex and height appear to influence how people flex their neck when viewing handheld devices, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Arkansas.

NASA catches the eye of Typhoon Lingling

Typhoon Lingling continues to strengthen in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean and NASA's Terra satellite imagery revealed the eye is now visible.

NASA finds strongest storms off-center in Tropical Storm 14W

NASA's Terra satellite provided an infrared view and temperature analysis of Tropical Storm 14W's cloud tops. Terra satellite showed some powerful thunderstorms in the storm were east of the center.

Underwater soundscapes reveal differences in marine environments

Storms, boat traffic, animal noises and more contribute to the underwater sound environment in the ocean, even in areas considered protected, a new study from Oregon State University shows.

Location matters for home-based female entrepreneurs says new study

Study shows ground floor-based businesswomen doubled their income, narrowed the gender earnings gap by more than half.

Methane-producing microorganism makes a meal of iron

A new understanding of how an important methane-producing microorganism creates methane and carbon dioxide could eventually allow researchers to manipulate how much of these important greenhouse gases escape into the atmosphere. A new study by Penn State researchers proposes an updated biochemical pathway that explains how the microorganism uses iron to more efficiently capture energy when producing methane. The study appears online in the journal Science Advances.

Mortality rates in Ebola survivors after hospital discharge could be 5 times higher compared with the general population

First study of its kind suggests Ebola survivors may be at increased risk of death in the first year after hospital discharge, particularly those who spent longer in hospital.

Do unmarried women face shortages of partners in the US marriage market?

One explanation for declines in marriage is a shortage of economically-attractive men for unmarried women to marry. Indeed, a new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family reveals a significant scarcity of such potential male spouses.

Best strategy for managing hypertension and preeclampsia at end of pregnancy

In 2009, the Hypertension and Preeclampsia Intervention Trial At near Term-I (HYPITAT- I) trial showed that inducing labor in women with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia at the end of pregnancy reduces the number of high risk situations for the mother, without compromising the health of newborns. An analysis published in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology evaluated the impact of the HYPITAT-I findings on timing of labor and subsequent outcomes for mother and child in the Netherlands.

Social networking sites affect nurses' performance

Addiction to social networking sites reduces nurses' performance and affects their ability to concentrate on assigned tasks, according to a study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. The study found that nurses can take "self-management" steps to address the issue, however.

Study examines personality and motivation in relation to internet gaming disorder

A new study examining the relationships among personality, motivation, and internet gaming disorder (IGD) found that predictors of IGD include male gender, neurotic and introverted personality traits, and motivation related to achievement. The Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling study included 1,881 adults from various countries.

Students who do not date are not social misfits

Prior research identified four distinct dating trajectories from 6th to 12th grade: Low, Increasing, High Middle School, and Frequent. In a new study published in the Journal of School Health, researchers found that adolescents who were not in a romantic relationship had good social skills and low depression, and fared better or equal to peers who dated.

Groundwater studies can be tainted by 'survivor bias'

Bad wells tend to get excluded from studies on groundwater levels, a problem that could skew results everywhere monitoring is used to decide government policies and spending.

Negotiation: A three-step solution to affordable prescription drugs

Medicare often spends $3,590 for an individual's 30-day prescription after adjusting for all rebates, and prices continue to rise.

Pharmacists in the ER speed delivery of coagulation drug to bleeding patients

Millions of patients take blood thinners such as Coumadin to prevent blood clots that can cause strokes.