Culture | Page 1701 | Science Codex

'Big mama' bonobos help younger females stand up for themselves

Bullying happens in the primate world too, but for young bonobo females, big mama comes to the rescue. Japanese primatologists report in Animal Behaviour that older bonobo females frequently aid younger females when males behave aggressively towards them.

"We may have uncovered one of the ways in which females maintain a superior status in bonobo society," says lead author Nahoko Tokuyama of Kyoto University.

In their study, Tokuyama and fellow researcher Takeshi Furuichi observed a group of wild bonobos at Wamba, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Elderly Japanese most resilient in wake of triple disaster, study finds

Research into the aftermath of the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear meltdown found that the oldest were least likely to experience a deterioration of existing chronic conditions.

The study also reveals that the health of people living in the countryside was more resilient than that of urban dwellers following the triple disaster of 2011.

The findings are in contrast to previous studies that suggested that young, city-dwellers would be less susceptible to ill-health in the aftermath of a major disruptive event.

Adults born with heart disease have increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Children born with heart disease have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes after age 30, according to a new study.

The risk appears even higher for those born with a cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) condition -- one in which patients had a bluish coloration of the skin due to low oxygen content in tissues near the surface of the skin.

The study is published online in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

ALS research suggests stem cells be 'aged' to speed progress toward finding treatments

LOS ANGELES (July 19, 2016) -- Cedars-Sinai scientists are seeking to build an improved stem-cell model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to accelerate progress toward a cure for the devastating neurological disorder. Their findings demonstrate that current models can be enhanced by the aging of motor neurons to show how ALS damages cells later in life.

Short cycle antiretrovirals: On the road to treatment 4 days a week

Simplification of treatment use is designed to lower rates of side effects and treatment costs, and to improve acceptability and adherence. It is important for people living with HIV, whose antiretroviral therapy is lifelong. This is why it is being studied in several trials worldwide. ANRS is assessing the value of reducing drug dosages or their frequency, and the value of sparing treatment options.

Unconventional natural gas development associated with increased asthma exacerbation risk

Residential unconventional natural gas development activity, a process that involves fracking and creates a source of energy used both domestically and internationally, was associated with increased risk of asthma exacerbations in a study of patients with asthma in Pennsylvania, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Study: Fracking industry wells associated with increased risk of asthma attacks

People with asthma who live near bigger or larger numbers of active unconventional natural gas wells operated by the fracking industry in Pennsylvania are 1.5 to four times likelier to have asthma attacks than those who live farther away, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.

Five-year survival data: Brentuximab vedotin may be curative in some with Hodgkin lymphoma

(WASHINGTON, July 18, 2016) -- Five-year survival data published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), suggest that the targeted therapy brentuximab vedotin may have cured some Hodgkin lymphoma patients whose disease has persisted despite receiving previous therapies.

Stem cells engineered to grow cartilage, fight inflammation

With a goal of treating worn, arthritic hips without extensive surgery to replace them, scientists have programmed stem cells to grow new cartilage on a 3-D template shaped like the ball of a hip joint. What's more, using gene therapy, they have activated the new cartilage to release anti-inflammatory molecules to fend off a return of arthritis.

The technique, demonstrated in a collaborative effort between Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Cytex Therapeutics Inc. in Durham, N.C., is described July 18 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Genes found in H. pylori that influence biofilm formation

Washington, DC - July 18, 2016 - Most bacteria cannot survive in the acidic environment of the human stomach, but Helicobacter pylori, a major cause of ulcers, thrives under such circumstances. Now research has shown that one of that bacterium's regulatory proteins that helps it adapt to these stressful conditions also regulates the formation of biofilms. Biofilms, a group of bacteria that adhere together on a surface, are often much harder to kill than bacteria in their normal, disaggregated state, and can cause major medical problems.

For frozen embryos in dispute, scholars propose guidelines

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- In at least 11 cases over the last 24 years, including the appeal of a Missouri case heard in June, U.S. courts have grappled with difficult arguments between men and women who fertilized and froze embryos together, but then disagreed about whether they should be gestated and born. The scattered case law has resolved little, creating a need for common ground rules that could prevent such disputes.

Moderate exercise might be more effective at combatting pre-diabetes

DURHAM, N.C. -- Walking briskly on a regular basis may be more effective than vigorous jogging for improving glucose control in individuals with pre-diabetes, according to research from Duke Health.

The findings, published online July 15 in the journal Diabetologia, are the result of a randomized, six-month study of 150 participants, each of whom was designated as having pre-diabetes based on elevated fasting glucose levels.

Modified rye bread helps patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are often concerned that certain foods may trigger or worsen their symptoms, which can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation. In a new study, patients who ate rye bread that was low in so-called "FODMAPs" (fermentable oligo- di- and mono-saccharides and polyols) experienced milder IBS symptoms than patients who ate normal rye bread.

Hard-to-treat hypertension may jeopardize sleep apnea patients' heart health

In a study of patients with hypertension, those with resistant hypertension--meaning that their blood pressure remained elevated despite concurrent use of three antihypertensive agents of different classes--had a higher rate of sleep apnea (9.6%) than those without resistant hypertension (7.2%). Resistant hypertensive patients with sleep apnea had an increased risk of ischemic heart events and congestive heart failure compared with patients with sleep apnea and non-resistant hypertension.

Quality of care in VA health system compares well to other settings, study finds

The Veterans Affairs health care system generally performs better than or similar to other health care systems on providing safe and effective care to patients, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Analyzing a decade of research that examined the VA health care system across a variety of quality dimensions, researchers found that the VA generally delivered care that was better or equal in quality to other health care systems, although there were some exceptions.