HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

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April 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

HEALTH

Hospitalizations from synthetic pot (“spice”) spike, officials say (USA Today)

Poison-control experts and public health officials are warning about a new spike in illnesses and hospitalizations caused by people using the drug "spice," a catch-all name for a type of synthetic marijuana. Through last week, poison centers across the country received 1,900 calls from people seeking help after experiencing adverse reactions to these drugs -- four times the number of calls as the same period the year before.

Fake Medicines Do Real Damage: Thousands Die, Superbugs Get Stronger (NPR)

In tests of anti-malarial pills and antibiotics, 9 to 41 percent didn't meet quality standards. And the world does a crummy job chasing criminals who reap $75 billion a year from counterfeit meds.

Why Oregon lawmakers want limits on antibiotics for farm animals (CS Monitor)

If the legislation passes, Oregon would be the first in the nation to mandate stricter rules on livestock antibiotics.

Critics Lash Out At Chinese Scientists Who Edited DNA In Human Embryos (NPR)

By editing the genes in embryos in the lab, Chinese scientists showed that it's possible to change hereditary traits that cause a blood disorder (beta-thalassemia). But the work also created unintended mutations

Salk Scientists Propose New Mitochondrial Disease Fix (KPBS)

San Diego researchers have discovered a way to cut bad mitochondrial DNA out of mouse embryos. But they say ethical debate is needed before ever trying the technique in humans.

Thoughts Can Fuel Some Deadly Brain Cancers (NPR)

A doctor-scientist's long quest to help children with a rare form of brain cancer has led to the discovery that high levels of brain activity can make glioma tumors grow faster.

Too Many Dietary Supplements May Up Your Cancer Risk (JWR)

In a study to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, Dr. Tim Byers of the University of Colorado’s Cancer Center found that people who took “more dietary supplements than needed tend to have a higher risk of developing cancer”....

Why Do Mosquitoes Like To Bite You Best? It's In Your Genes (U-T)

Researchers set hungry mosquitoes loose on identical and fraternal twins. They found that inherited genes do play a role in making you a mosquito magnet.

Feds Say It's Time To Cut Back On Fluoride In Drinking Water (NPR)

 Federal health officials Monday changed the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water for the first time since 1962, cutting by almost half the maximum amount of fluoride that should be added to drinking supplies.

Ohio students invent DUI marijuana testing device (CS MONITOR)

 Two Ohio grad students have invented a device that quickly tests saliva to determine the concentration of pot's active chemical in the bloodstream

Maybe You Should Rethink That Daily Aspirin (NPR) 

A small dose of aspirin taken regularly can help prevent a second heart attack or stroke. But too many healthy people are taking the drug for prevention. And for them, the risks may outweigh benefits.

Real-world doctors fact-check Dr. Oz, and the results aren't pretty (LA Times)

 What do real-world doctors have to say about the advice dispensed on “The Dr. Oz Show”? Less than one-third of it can be backed up by even modest medical evidence. / If that sounds alarming, consider this: Nearly 4 in 10 of the assertions made on the hit show appear to be made on the basis of no evidence at all.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientists find huge magma reservoir in Yellowstone 'supervolcano' (+video) (CS Monitor)

Beneath Yellowstone’s surface, seismologists at the University of Utah have discovered a huge reservoir of hot, partly molten rock – more evidence that Yellowstone with its earthquakes and geysers is a 'supervolcano.'

Does digital mean the end of history? (BBC)

Are we in danger of entering a digital dark age? 

Ten quirky ideas for making our cities more sustainable (Guardian)

From glow in the dark trees to underground bike sheds and solar powered bins we look at some of the more left-field solutions to help make our cities more liveable

Tweets could create flood maps that help save lives (CS Monitor)

After the Indonesian capital Jakarta was hit by floods this February, related tweets peaked at almost 900 a minute, with a significant number including information about location and water depth, according to a joint study by two Dutch organizations, Deltares and Floodtags. /The team then analyzed the thousands of tweets – and others from similar flooding a year earlier – to derive a method for creating real-time flood maps based on Twitter messages, statistics, and data on land elevation and water motion. 

How Tech Firms Are Helping People In The Nepal Earthquake Zone (NPR)

Tech and telecom companies stepped up with much-needed services. Facebook and Google offered tools to help those in the region let family and friends know they're OK. Other firms cut calling costs.

Can drones plant trees? Former NASA scientist says yes. (CS Monitor)

BioCarbon Engineering hopes to plant 1 billion trees each year in order to counter deforestation. Are drones the answer to restoring the planet's natural vegetation?

Download Your Google Search History, and/or Delete It! (Reason)

Google offers a way to view, download, and delete the data its collected on your searches

Some Adidas products to be made of plastic debris from oceans (CS Monitor)

The sportswear company wants to help save the oceans by recycling marine plastic trash into products. The company partnered with New York–based Parley for the Oceans, an initiative that calls itself a place “where creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans.” 

 


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