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First Edition: August 9, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including Kathleen Sebelius' outreach to Texans and a look at Americans' comprehension of health insurance.

9 Aug 2013

Genetically engineered proteins may be promising new tool for mapping brain cell activity

Scientists used fruit flies to show for the first time that a new class of genetically engineered proteins can be used to watch nerve cell electrical activity in live brains. The results, published in Cell, suggest these proteins may be a promising new tool for mapping brain cell activity in multiple animals and for studying how neurological disorders disrupt normal nerve cell signaling.

9 Aug 2013

Tubingen researchers resolve how a plant steroid hormone makes plants grow

If one wants to better understand how plants grow, one must analyse the chemistry of life in its molecular detail. Michael Hothorn from the Friedrich-Miescher-Laboratory of the Max Planck Society in T-bingen and his team are doing just that. Their latest work now reveals that a plant membrane receptor requires a helper protein to sense a growth-promoting steroid hormone and to transduce this signal across the cell membrane.

9 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Fears of health law's adverse selection; GOP's 'fundamental miscalculation;' special deal for Congress keeps dissent low

Yet despite the care the administration took in establishing incentives and safeguards, even some of Obamacare's most committed backers are wondering whether the experiment will work as advertised - or, like Harvard's P.P.O., go off the rails along the way. Adverse selection is perhaps the direst threat. ... Healthier Americans will probably flock to cheaper bronze plans. And insurers will vie to enroll the healthy. In some states, big insurers have chosen not to participate in exchanges to avoid their strictures. On the outside, they could still sell cheap plans to skim off the healthy and avoid a rule that insurers on the exchanges must also offer more generous silver and gold plans (Eduardo Porter, 8/7).

9 Aug 2013

Four genetic variants in non-small cell lung cancer patients help predict survival, treatment response

Researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center have identified four inherited genetic variants in non-small cell lung cancer patients that can help predict survival and treatment response. Their findings could help lead to more personalized treatment options and improved outcomes for patients.

9 Aug 2013

AliveCor Heart Monitor for iPhone can detect heart rhythm problems, prevent strokes

A special iPhone case and app can be used to quickly and cheaply detect heart rhythm problems and prevent strokes, according to University of Sydney research presented at the Australia and New Zealand Cardiac Society conference today on the Gold Coast.

9 Aug 2013

New collaboration to play key role in improving lives of patients with long-term conditions

PATIENTS with long-term conditions such as mental health disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and stroke are set to benefit from a major multi-million pound partnership between the region’s NHS organisations, leading universities, local government, industry, charities, patients and the public.

9 Aug 2013

Researchers find antibodies specific to MERS-CoV in dromedary camels

Researchers searching for signs of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in livestock animals have found antibodies specific to the new virus in dromedary camels. The research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, suggests that these animals have encountered MERS-CoV, or a closely related virus, and may be one reservoir of the virus that is causing MERS in humans.

9 Aug 2013

12 insurers sign contracts for California exchange - but one plan opts out

Reports also detail how health exchanges are taking shape in Maryland, Wisconsin, Oregon, Iowa, D.C. and Connecticut.

9 Aug 2013

Sericin can decrease blood glucose levels and alleviate diabetic hippocampal damage

Preliminary studies by Dr. Zhihong Chen and colleagues from Chengde Medical College have shown that sericin might improve aberrant Akt signaling, decrease heme oxygenase-1 expression in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, and reduce the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in diabetic rats, thus protecting the nervous system.

9 Aug 2013

Research analysts assess ob-gyn physicians' use of multiple guidelines for breast cancer screening

For breast cancer screening, there are more clinical practice guidelines available to physicians than for any other medical procedure. A new study in the Journal for Healthcare Quality reports that when different clinical guidelines exist, physicians choose recommendations from multiple, sometimes conflicting, sources.

9 Aug 2013

TUM scientists decode typical protein profile of tumor cells

In what is the biggest study of its kind to date, researchers from Technische Universit-t M-nchen have identified over 10,000 different proteins in cancer cells. "Nearly all anti-tumor drugs are targeted against cellular proteins," says Prof. Bernhard K-ster, Head of the TUM Chair of Proteomics and Bioanalytics. "Identifying the proteome the protein portfolio of tumor cells increases our chances of finding new targets for drugs."

9 Aug 2013

Research findings offer clues to the origin of retinal disorders later in life

Scientists are developing a clearer picture of how visual systems develop in mammals. The findings offer important clues to the origin of retinal disorders later in life.

9 Aug 2013

Research suggests blocking DNA repair complex helps fight therapy-resistant leukemia

New research posted online by the Nature journal Leukemia suggests blocking part of a DNA repair complex that helps some types of leukemia resist treatment can increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and enhance survival.

9 Aug 2013

Pregnant rats fed with high-fat diet experience preeclampsia-like syndromes

Preeclampsia is a relatively common pregnancy disorder, characterized by primary hypertension and proteinuria. In patients with severe preeclampsia, eclampsia can develop, causing nervous system symptoms and signs.

9 Aug 2013

Start-up company specializes in reducing hospital readmission rates

Facing rising penalties under the health-care law for high readmission rates, some hospitals are turning to tech entrepreneurs like Chris Corio of San Francisco for help. Mr. Corio's four-year-old startup sells technology that assists patients in completing the recovery process after getting discharged.

9 Aug 2013

Govt. will continue to pay for Capitol Hill staffer health coverage, but mostly in exchanges

New details from the Obama administration clear a way for the government to continue to pay for the bulk of the costs associated with providing health coverage to Capitol Hill staffers, though they must buy coverage on Obamacare exchanges instead of getting it through the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. The rules say each congressional office should make the determination, however, about which employees move to exchanges and which can stay on the federal plans.

9 Aug 2013

Autism affects men and women differently

Autism affects different parts of the brain in females with autism than males with autism, a new study reveals. The research is published today in the journal Brain as an open-access article.

9 Aug 2013

Study: Immune-regulating molecules can trigger lymphomas

A small group of immune-regulating molecules, when overproduced even moderately, can trigger the blood cancers known as lymphomas, according to a new study led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI).

9 Aug 2013

Children born by Caesarean section more vulnerable to allergies

Children who came into the world by Caesarean section are more often affected by allergies than those born in the natural way. The reason for this may be that they have a less diverse gut microbiota, according to a study by universities in Sweden and Scotland.

9 Aug 2013

Research News and Research

First Edition: August 9, 2013

Genetically engineered proteins may be promising new tool for mapping brain cell activity

Tubingen researchers resolve how a plant steroid hormone makes plants grow

Viewpoints: Fears of health law's adverse selection; GOP's 'fundamental miscalculation;' special deal for Congress keeps dissent low

Four genetic variants in non-small cell lung cancer patients help predict survival, treatment response

AliveCor Heart Monitor for iPhone can detect heart rhythm problems, prevent strokes

New collaboration to play key role in improving lives of patients with long-term conditions

Researchers find antibodies specific to MERS-CoV in dromedary camels

12 insurers sign contracts for California exchange - but one plan opts out

Sericin can decrease blood glucose levels and alleviate diabetic hippocampal damage

Research analysts assess ob-gyn physicians' use of multiple guidelines for breast cancer screening

TUM scientists decode typical protein profile of tumor cells

Research findings offer clues to the origin of retinal disorders later in life

Research suggests blocking DNA repair complex helps fight therapy-resistant leukemia

Pregnant rats fed with high-fat diet experience preeclampsia-like syndromes

Start-up company specializes in reducing hospital readmission rates

Govt. will continue to pay for Capitol Hill staffer health coverage, but mostly in exchanges

Autism affects men and women differently

Study: Immune-regulating molecules can trigger lymphomas

Children born by Caesarean section more vulnerable to allergies

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