Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Rare sheep could be key to better diagnostic tests in developing world, says Stanford study
The newest revolution in microbiology testing walks on four legs and says "baa". It's the hair sheep, a less-hirsute version of the familiar woolly barnyard resident. A new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine, which is to be published July 3 in PLoS ONE, finds that not only are these ruminants low-maintenance and parasite-resistant, they're also perfect blood donors for the microbiology tests necessary to diagnose infectious disease in the developing world.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Study identifies how tamoxifen stimulates uterine cell growth and cancer
University of California - San Francisco researchers have identified a new "feed-forward" pathway linking estrogen receptors in the membrane of the uterus to a process that increases local estrogen levels and promotes cell growth.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Perfect pitch study offers window into influences of nature and nurture
Practice, practice, practice might get you to Carnegie Hall, but for aspiring musicians, there's new evidence that genes may influence one's ability to get there, as well.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Learning from locusts
A similarity in brain disturbance between insects and people suffering from migraines, stroke and epilepsy points the way toward new drug therapies to address these conditions.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
New focus on the moon
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera has taken and received its first images of the Moon, kicking off the year-long mapping mission of Earth's nearest celestial neighbor. The LROC imaging system is under the watchful eyes of Arizona State University professor Mark Robison, the principal investigator.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Plants' internal clock can improve climate-change models
The ability of plants to tell the time, a mechanism common to all living beings, enables them to survive, grow and reproduce. In a study published in the latest issue of the prestigious journal Ecology Letters, an international team has studied this circadian clock from a molecular viewpoint, and has found an ecological implication: It makes climate change scenarios and CO2 level figures more accurate.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Second Life data offers window into how trends spread
Do friends wear the same style of shoe or see the same movies because they have similar tastes, which is why they became friends in the first place? Or once a friendship is established, do individuals influence each other to adopt like behaviors?
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
A question of height
Intelligent countryside management could improve the survival chances of animal and plant species threatened by climate change. The creation of small heat-shielded habitats and better links between habitats would counteract a moderate temperature increase, and give threatened species more time to adapt better and/or to migrate to cooler regions. This is the conclusion drawn by scientists at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research from a British study on saving the Large Blue butterfly.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
AGU journal highlights - July 2, 2009
Featured in this release are research papers on the following topics: "Ancient supervolcano's eruption caused decade of severe winters"; "Understanding fault movement during Wenchuan earthquake"; "First direct measurement of lunar backscatter from solar wind"; "Reducing uncertainty in estimates of global sea level rise"; "Boost in freshwater content of Arctic Ocean "; "Data gaps in records hinder detection of climate trends"; "Glaciers cause seismic activity in Iceland"; and more.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Integrated optical trap holds particles for on-chip analysis
A new type of optical particle trap can be used to manipulate bacteria, viruses and other particles on a chip as part of an integrated optofluidic platform.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
LRO's first moon images
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has transmitted its first images since reaching the moon on June 23. The spacecraft's two cameras, collectively known as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, or LROC, were activated June 30. The cameras are working well, and have returned images of a region in the lunar highlands south of Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds).
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Many characteristics of Mars, including ice, are similar to Earth, paper says
Mars gets as far as 250 million miles away, but many parts of it closely resemble places on Earth, including its landscape, history of water, soil and even its weather, says a Texas A&M University researcher in the current issue of Science magazine.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Prostate cancer patients disease free after 5 years likely to be disease free after 10 years
Prostate cancer patients who receive brachytherapy and remain free of disease for five years or greater are unlikely to have a recurrence at 10 years, according to a study in the July 1 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Brain malformations significantly associated with preterm birth, Wake Forest research shows
New research out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine provides for the first time a solid scientific answer for the long-standing question of whether there is an association between preterm birth and brain malformations.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Overweight kids experience more loneliness, anxiety, MU study finds
As childhood obesity rates continue to increase, experts agree that more information is needed about the implications of being overweight as a step toward reversing current trends. Now, a new University of Missouri study has found that overweight children, especially girls, show signs of the negative consequences of being overweight as early as kindergarten.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Pacific Northwest forests could store more carbon, help address greenhouse issues
The forests of the Pacific Northwest hold significant potential to increase carbon storage and help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in coming years, a recent study concludes, if they are managed primarily for that purpose through timber harvest reductions and increased rotation ages.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Ben-Gurion U. researchers reveal connection between cancer and human evolution
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have discovered that gene mutations that once helped humans survive may increase the possibility for diseases, including cancer. The findings were recently the cover story in the journal Genome Research.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
UT multimedia program increases middle school interest in science
Middle school students who were part of a unique science learning program developed by the University of Texas School of Public Health showed significant increases in interest and achievement scores compared to other students, a recent study found.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Natural compound stops retinopathy
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center have found a way to use a natural compound to stop one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Sexist jokes favor the mental mechanisms that justify violence against women
These are the conclusions of research work carried out at the University of Granada in a sample of 109 18-26 year old university male students. The results of this work will be released July 2 in the framework of the International Summer School and Symposium on Humor and Laughter.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Report calls for new initiative to improve math education for preschoolers
To ensure that all children enter elementary school with the foundation they need for success, a major national initiative is needed to improve early childhood mathematics education, says a new report from the National Research Council.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Poor health among indigenous peoples a question of cultural loss as well as poverty
Health problems of Indigenous peoples around the world are intimately tied to a number of unique factors, such as colonization, globalization, migration, and loss of land, language and culture. These factors remain even after the "typical" social problems facing the poor, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, and low education levels are addressed, according to Dr. Malcolm King, lead author of a paper to be published tomorrow in The Lancet,.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
The problem with self-help books: Study shows the negative side to positive self-statements
In times of doubt and uncertainty, many Americans turn to self-help books in search of encouragement, guidance and self-affirmation. The positive self-statements suggested in these books, such as "I am a lovable person" or "I will succeed," are designed to lift a person's low self-esteem and push them into positive action. According to a recent study in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science; however, these statements can actually have the opposite effect.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
In the eye of the storm: Why some people stayed behind
Hurricane Katrina was the largest natural disaster in US history, claiming the lives of more than 1,800 victims and causing well over $100 billion in damage along the Gulf Coast. The 2005 storm breached every levee in New Orleans, flooding almost the entire city as well as the neighboring parishes. Yet a surprising number of people stayed behind and rode out the storm.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Ferns took to the trees and thrived
As flowering plants like giant trees quickly rose to dominate plant communities during the Cretaceous period, the ferns that had preceded them hardly saw it as a disappointment.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Children with autism need to be taught in smaller groups, pilot study confirms
Since the 1970s, there has been much debate surrounding the fact that individuals with autism have difficulty in understanding speech in situations where there is background speech or noise. Today, at the annual meeting of the International Multisensory Research Forum being held at the City College of New York, neuroscientists announced conclusive evidence to verify this fact.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Visit to the doctor: The supply of additional private services is increasing
Panel physicians are increasingly offering individual health services to patients with statutory health insurance. This is documented by Susanne Richter et al. of the Department of Social Medicine, Lubeck University, in the new edition of Deutsches Arzteblatt. IHS include medical health services which are not reimbursed by the health insurance funds and which the patient has to pay for himself.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Virus-resistant grapevines
Viruses can cost winegrowers an entire harvest. If they infest the grapevines, even pesticides are often no use. What's more, these chemicals are harmful to the environment. Researchers are growing plants that produce antibodies against the viruses and are thus immune.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Rampant helper syndrome
The Archaea are very primitive single-celled organisms, sometimes living under extreme conditions. Some species produce methane with the help of deazaflavin cofactor. Researchers of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in Munich have shown that this small molecule is also widespread among higher organisms, where it helps to repair damaged DNA.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Evolution: Crabs go deep to avoid hot water
Researchers from the National Oceanography Center, Southampton, have drawn together 200 years' worth of oceanographic knowledge to investigate the distribution of a notorious deep-sea giant -- the king crab. The results, published this week in the Journal of Biogeography, reveal temperature as a driving force behind the speciation and radiation of a major seafloor predator -- globally, and over tens of millions of years of Earth's history.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Printable batteries
For a long time, batteries were bulky and heavy. Now, a new cutting-edge battery is revolutionizing the field. It is thinner than a millimeter, lighter than a gram, and can be produced cost-effectively through a printing process.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Research output in developing countries reveals 194 percent increase in five years
The partners of Research4Life announced today at the World Conference of Science Journalists 2009 that a new research impact analysis has demonstrated a dramatic rise in research output by scientists in the developing world since 2002. By comparing absolute growth in published research before (1996 - 2002) and after (2002 - 2008) the advent of the Research4Life programs, the analysis has revealed a 194 percent or 6.4-fold increase in articles published in peer reviewed journals.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Scientists 'rebuild' giant moa using ancient DNA
Scientists have performed the first DNA-based reconstruction of the giant extinct moa bird, using prehistoric feathers recovered from caves and rock shelters in New Zealand.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Bioethicists lead call for public debates on future uses of stem cells
More than 40 scientists, bioethicists, lawyers and science journal editors are calling on their colleagues, policy makers and the public to begin developing guidelines for the research and reproductive use of stem cell-derived eggs and sperm, even though such use may be a decade or more away.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
UCLA scientists find molecular differences between embryonic stem cells and reprogrammed skin cells
UCLA researchers have found that embryonic stem cells and skin cells reprogrammed into embryonic-like cells have inherent molecular differences, demonstrating for the first time that the two cell types are clearly distinguishable from one another.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
NASA's Fermi Telescope reveals a population of radio-quiet gamma-ray pulsars
A new class of pulsars detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is solving the mystery of previously unidentified gamma-ray sources and helping scientists understand the mechanisms behind pulsar emissions.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Gene's novel role may provide key to treating liver and neurodegenerative diseases
Singapore scientists have made a novel discovery about how gene, "Fas-apoptosis inhibitory molecule", protects both immune and liver cells from programmed cell death. Their research is published in Cell Death and Differentiation.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
MIT and CDC discover why H1N1 flu spreads inefficiently
A team from MIT and the Centers for Disease Control has found a genetic explanation for why the new H1N1 "swine flu" virus has spread from person to person less effectively than other flu viruses.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
JNCI news brief: Improving the biomarker pipeline for early cancer detection
Several statistical and biological issues need to be addressed in order to improve biomarker identification for early detection of cancer, according to a commentary published online July 2 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Study shows PET can measure effectiveness of novel breast cancer treatment
A new study published in the July issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine shows that positron emission tomography scans in mice can be used to determine whether a novel type of breast cancer treatment is working as intended.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
JNCI news brief: Hepatitis B virus mutations may predict risk of liver cancer
Certain mutations in the DNA of the hepatitis B virus are associated with the development of liver cancer and may help predict which patients with HBV infections are at increased risk of the disease, according to a large meta-analysis in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published online July 2.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
A rush of blood to the head -- anger increases blood flow
Mental stress causes carotid artery dilation and increases brain blood flow. A series of ultrasound experiments, described in BioMed Central's open access journal Cardiovascular Ultrasound, also found that this dilatory reflex was absent in people with high blood pressure.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Stanford bioethicist and colleagues call for federal regulation of genetic ancestry testing
The lack of federal regulation in instances of DNA use will be addressed in the Policy Forum section in the July 3 issue of Science by Sandra Soo-Jin Lee, Ph.D., of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, and colleagues from four other universities. The need for a clear set of rules governing genetic ancestry testing is becoming more urgent, Lee said, given the proliferation of private corporations that promise consumers insight into their genetic origins.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Doubts cast on credibility of some published clinical trials
Randomized controlled trials are considered the "gold standard" research method for assessing new medical treatments. But research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Trials shows that the design of a remarkable 93 percent of 2235 so-called RCTs published in some Chinese medical journals during 1994 to 2005 was flawed, casting doubt on the reliability of research that is likely to influence medical decision-makers.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Climate change and the mystery of the shrinking sheep
Milder winters are causing Scotland's wild breed of Soay sheep to get smaller, despite the evolutionary benefits of possessing a large body, according to new research due to be published in this week's Science Express.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Pinpointing origin of gamma rays from a supermassive black hole
An international collaboration of 390 scientists reports the discovery of an outburst of very-high-energy gamma radiation from the giant radio galaxy Messier 87, accompanied by a strong rise of the radio flux measured from the direct vicinity of its super-massive black hole. The combined results give first experimental evidence that particles are accelerated to extremely high energies of tera electron Volt in the immediate vicinity of a supermassive black hole and then emit the observed gamma rays.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Mexican wives' mental health dives when husbands work in US
A new study finds that Mexican wives who stay home when their husbands immigrate to the United States for work have poorer mental health than a comparison group.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Mars data published in Science this week
Four papers in the journal Science this week offer new details about the history of water on Mars, gleaned from the 2008 NASA Phoenix Mars Mission that was operated from the University of Arizona.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
'Jumping gene' diminishes the effect of a new type 2 diabetes risk gene
Research has identified a new gene associated with diabetes, together with a mechanism that makes obese mice less susceptible to diabetes. A genomic fragment that occurs naturally in some mouse strains diminishes the activity of the risk gene Zfp69. The researchers also found that the corresponding human gene (ZNF642) is especially active in overweight individuals with diabetes. The results of the study are published July 3 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
VLBA locates superenergetic bursts near giant black hole
Combining gamma-ray telescopes with the supersharp radio 'vision' of the Very Long Baseline Array showed astronomers the location from which very-high-energy gamma rays are emerging from the core ot the giant galaxy M87.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
MIT researchers find new actions of neurochemicals
Although the tiny roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has only 302 neurons in its entire nervous system, studies of this simple animal have significantly advanced our understanding of human brain function because it shares many genes and neurochemical signaling molecules with humans. Now MIT researchers have found novel C. elegans neurochemical receptors, the discovery of which could lead to new therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders if similar receptors are found in humans.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
New type of El Nino could mean more hurricanes make landfall
A new study, in the journal Science, suggests that the form of El Nino may be changing potentially causing not only a greater number of hurricanes than in average years, but also a greater chance of hurricanes making landfall.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Researchers unite to distribute quantum keys
Researchers from across Europe have united to build the largest quantum key distribution network ever built. The efforts of 41 research and industrial organizations were realized as secure, quantum encrypted information was sent over an eight node, mesh network.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Existing Parkinson's disease drug may fight drug-resistant TB
Existing drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease could be repositioned for use in the treatment of extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis, which kills about 2 million people each year, according to a study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego. The rise of these strains of TB throughout the world, including industrialized countries, poses a great threat to human health.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Climate change and the mystery of the shrinking sheep
Changing winter conditions are causing Scotland's wild Soay sheep to get smaller despite the evolutionary benefits of having a large body, researchers report in a study that shows how climate change can trump natural selection.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Research reveals what drives lung cancer's spread
A new study by researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reveals the genetic underpinnings of what causes lung cancer to quickly metastasize, or spread, to the brain and the bone -- the two most prominent sites of lung cancer relapse. The study will be published online in the journal Cell on July 2.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
New targeted therapy finds and eliminates deadly leukemia stem cells
New research describes a molecular tool that shows great promise as a therapeutic for human acute myeloid leukemia, a notoriously treatment-resistant blood cancer. The study, published by Cell Press in the July 2 issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, describes exciting preclinical studies in which a new therapeutic approach selectively attacks human cancer cells grown in the lab and in animal models of leukemia.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Predicting the return of prostate cancer: New Johns Hopkins study betters the odds of success
Cancer experts at Johns Hopkins say a study tracking 774 prostate cancer patients for a median of eight years has shown that a three-way combination of measurements has the best chance yet of predicting disease metastasis.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Hormone treatment eases post-surgery distress in children
In the July issue of Anesthesiology, UC Irvine physicians focused on reducing anxiety in children and their families report that oral treatment with melatonin before surgery can significantly reduce the occurrence of emergence delirium in children.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Alzheimer's research yields potential drug target
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara and several other institutions have found laboratory evidence that a cluster of peptides may be the toxic agent in Alzheimer's disease. Scientists say the discovery may lead to new drugs for the disease.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
New science review examines multiple health benefits of dairy foods
In a supplement to the current issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, several prominent nutrition researchers weigh in on an updated review of the health benefits of consuming dairy foods. This supplement further contributes to the well-established evidence that consuming the recommended servings of dairy foods each day is a convenient and affordable way to get several key nutrients that many Americans do not consume enough.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Researchers testing virus-gene therapy combination against melanoma
Researchers at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center are injecting a modified herpes virus into melanoma tumors, hoping to kill the cancer cells while also bolstering the body's immune defenses against the disease.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Blood stem cell growth factor reverses memory decline in mice
A human growth factor that stimulates blood stem cells to proliferate in bone marrow reverses memory impairment in mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Lap-band weight-loss surgery can reverse metabolic syndrome in obese teens
A new study of obese adolescents has shown that laparoscopic gastric banding surgery -- the "Lap-Band" procedure -- not only helps them achieve significant weight loss but can also improve and even reverse metabolic syndrome, reducing their risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Nanotechnology may increase longevity of dental fillings
Tooth-colored fillings may be more attractive than silver ones, but the bonds between the white filling and the tooth quickly age and degrade. A Medical College of Georgia researcher hopes a new nanotechnology technique will extend the fillings' longevity.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Earth's most prominent rainfall feature creeping northward
The rain band near the equator that determines the supply of freshwater to nearly a billion people throughout the tropics and subtropics has been creeping north for more than 300 years. If the band continues to migrate at just less than a mile a year, which is the average for all the years it has been moving north, then some Pacific islands near the equator may be starved of freshwater by midcentury or sooner.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
UCLA collaboration identifies immune system link to schizophrenia
Researchers at UCLA and colleagues from around the world have, for the first time, identified additional genes that confirm what scientists have long suspected -- that the immune system may play a role in the development of schizophrenia. Further, they have also identified genetic anomalies that disrupt the cellular pathways involved in brain development, memory and cognition, all markers of schizophrenia.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Study examines liver transplantation after drug induced acute liver failure
Liver transplantation offers a good chance for survival for patients with drug induced acute liver failure, however, certain pre-transplant factors are associated with worse outcomes.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Study examines dietary influences of liver disease
Diets high in protein and cholesterol are associated with a higher risk of hospitalization or death due to cirrhosis or liver cancer, while diets high in carbohydrates are associated with a lower risk. These findings are in the July issue of Hepatology, a journal published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Exercise helps patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Counseling patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease on how to increase physical activity leads to health benefits that are independent of changes in weight. These findings are in a new study in the July issue of Hepatology, a journal published by John Wiley & Sons on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
U of Minnesota finds treatment that significantly slows progression of eye damage in persons with type 1 diabetes
University of Minnesota Medical School researcher Michael Mauer, M.D., has found a treatment that significantly slows the progression of eye injury in people with type 1 diabetes, a common complication caused by this disease. By administering an antihypertensive, medication commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure, Mauer and colleagues were able to slow progression of diabetic eye damage in more than 65 percent of participants involved in the study.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Cell transplantation and cardiac repair
Two separate studies published in the current issue of Cell Transplantation into cardiac repair by cell transplantation have found, respectively, that the best way to deliver autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cells to the heart following a myocardial infarction was via the anterograde intracoronary vein and that bone marrow cell transplants for limb ischemia induced angiogenesis in patients failing therapy and facing amputation. The first study found higher cell retention; the second demonstrated an alternative to amputation.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Astronomer's new guide to the galaxy: Largest map of cold dust revealed
Astronomers have unveiled an unprecedented new atlas of the inner regions of the Milky Way, our home galaxy, peppered with thousands of previously undiscovered dense knots of cold cosmic dust -- the potential birthplaces of new stars. Made using observations from the APEX telescope in Chile, this survey is the largest map of cold dust so far, and will prove an invaluable map for observations made with the forthcoming ALMA telescope, as well as the recently launched ESA Herschel space telescope.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Newly appreciated membrane estrogen receptor important therapeutic target for breast cancer
New research at Rhode Island Hospital has uncovered the biological effects of a novel membrane estrogen receptor, a finding that has potential implications for hormonal therapy for breast cancer.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Both good/bad movie characters who smoke influence teens to do the same
Dartmouth researchers have determined that movie characters who smoke, regardless of whether they are "good guys" or "bad guys," influence teens to try smoking.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Unexpectedly long-range effects in advanced magnetic devices
A tiny grid pattern has led materials scientists at NIST and the Institute of Solid State Physics in Russia to an unexpected finding -- the surprisingly strong and long-range effects of certain electromagnetic nanostructures used in data storage.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
NIST develops novel ion trap for sensing force and light
A novel ion trap demonstrated at NIST could usher in a new generation of applications, because the device holds promise as a stylus for sensing very small forces or for an interface for efficient transfer of individual light particles for quantum communications.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
ADA releases updated position paper on vegetarian diets
The American Dietetic Association has released an updated position paper on vegetarian diets that concludes such diets, if well-planned, are healthful and nutritious for adults, infants, children and adolescents and can help prevent and treat chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
VYVANSE CII provided significant efficacy at 14 hours in adults with ADHD
Shire announced results from a Phase 3b study that found VYVANSE (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) CII demonstrated significant efficacy at 14 hours after administration during a simulated workplace environment in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. VYVANSE is the first approved stimulant for adults with ADHD to be evaluated in this setting, and these data were presented at the New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit meeting. VYVANSE is approved by the FDA for ADHD in children aged 6 to 12 years and adults with ADHD.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Genetically engineered mice yield clues to 'knocking out' cancer
Researchers from NIST, Oregon Health and Science University and the New York University School of Medicine have demonstrated that deleting two genes in mice responsible for repairing DNA strands damaged by oxidation leads to several types of tumors, providing additional evidence that such stress contributes to the development of cancer. The work may lead to the development of new measurement methods and reference materials for accurate and reproducible assessments of DNA damage and repair.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
New treatment for receding gums: No pain, lots of gain
Tufts dental researchers demonstrate three-year success with a tissue regeneration application that reduces the pain and recovery time of gum grafting surgery. This specific treatment, developed at Tufts, eliminates the need to take tissue from the roof of the mouth.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
New clue into how brain stem cells develop into cells which repair damaged tissue
Scientists have discovered a new mechanism in brain stem cells that controls how and when they develop into cells which repair damage in neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis. They have found that a signalling pathway (called Wnt) in brain stem cells may be a critical key to developing therapies that would enable the restoration of damaged tissues.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Increasing age of mothers in Spain leads to rise in mortality rates
A new study examining the evolution of maternal mortality rates in Spain since 1996 shows a 17 percent increase in deaths. This trend is linked to the widespread increase in maternal age. The highest death rates are among foreign women and those who live in the province of Malaga.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Desert rhubarb -- a self-irrigating plant
Researchers from the department of science education-biology at the University of Haifa-Oranim have managed to make out the "self-irrigating" mechanism of the desert rhubarb, which enables it to harvest 16 times the amount of water than otherwise expected for a plant in this region based on the quantities of rain in the desert. This is the first example of a self-irrigating plant worldwide.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Lack of sleep could be more dangerous for women than men
Women who get less than the recommended eight hours sleep a night are at higher risk of heart disease and heart-related problems than men with the same sleeping patterns.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Double success for Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia scientists working on chromosome segregation
Lars Jansen's work on the formation of the centromere, a key cellular structure in powering and controlling chromosome segregation and accurate cell division, has just earned him a paper in Nature Cell Biology and a prestigious EMBO installation grant, of 50,000 euro per year, for a maximum of five years, to be carried out at the IGC, in Portugal.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
The least sea ice in 800 years
New research, which reconstructs the extent of ice in the sea between Greenland and Svalbard from the 13th century to the present indicates that there has never been so little sea ice as there is now. The research results from the Niels Bohr Institute, among others, are published in the scientific journal Climate Dynamics.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Colorectal cancer
Previously, only a few genes had been associated with the formation of metastases in colorectal cancer. Now, researchers of the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine Berlin-Buch and Charite -- University Medicine Berlin, Germany, have identified 115 genes that are disregulated both in the primary tumor and in its metastases. In the future, their findings may help identify patients with aggressive tumors at an earlier stage.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Wagner's 'difficult' reputation unwarranted says research
The composer Richard Wagner is well-known, even notorious, for writing operas that can challenge both performers and listeners. A new study published in the Journal of the Acoustic Society of America reveals that Wagner set his text to music in a way that uses the acoustics of the soprano voice in a manner that helps both performers and listeners.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
MS study offers theory for why repair of brain's wiring fails
Scientists have uncovered new evidence suggesting that damage to nerve cells in people with multiple sclerosis accumulates because the body's natural mechanism for repair of the nerve coating called "myelin" stalls out.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Researchers find clear difference in quality, type of lung cancer info available in US and Japan
A study published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology revealed that internet-based lung cancer information was of a higher quality in the United States than in Japan. Dr. Yasushi Goto of the National Cancer Center Hospital in Tokyo and his team of researchers evaluated 150 Web sites, and determined noticeable differences in the quality and type of information on lung cancer available over the Internet in the two countries.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
UT researcher: Interferon alpha can delay full onset of type I diabetes
A low dose of oral interferon alpha shows promise in preserving beta cell function for patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, according to researchers at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. The results of the Phase II trial are published today in Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes Association.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Joint replacement patients with diabetes greatly benefit from controlled glucose
Diabetics undergoing total joint replacement often are at a higher risk of experiencing complications after surgery due to various pre-existing health conditions. According to a new study published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, those complications are less likely to occur when a diabetic patient has glucose levels under control.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Infants should be screened for hip trouble
Developmental hip dysplasia is the most common congenital defect in newborns. The condition occurs when a hip joint is shallow, unstable or when the joint is dislocated. Infants with the condition are often at risk of developing arthritis of the hip as a young adult. A new study published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery finds that screening all infants for hip dysplasia can significantly decrease their chance of developing early arthritis.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
The 'other' cruciate ligament: Newer treatments for PCL tears
While major advances have been made in the understanding of posterior cruciate ligament anatomy and reconstruction, a literature review published in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons finds that there must be continued advances in basic science research in order to determine the best course of treatment for those with PCL injuries.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Emerging techniques put a new twist on ankle repair
People with ankle injuries who do not respond successfully to initial treatment may have a second chance at recovery, thanks to two new procedures.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Study shows that a combination of common genetic variations can lead to schizophrenia
The finding suggests that schizophrenia is much more complex than previously thought, and can arise not only from both rare genetic variants but also from a significant number of common ones.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
UNC study rewrites textbook on key genetic phenomenon
A new UNC study appearing online July 1 in the journal Nature disputes current scientific belief by showing that X-inactivation can occur even in the absence of a gene previously thought to be the trigger of the process.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Scientists: Salamanders, regenerative wonders, heal like mammals, people
The salamander is a superhero of regeneration, able to replace lost limbs, damaged lungs, sliced spinal cord -- even bits of lopped-off brain.
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT
Chromosomal problems affect nearly all human embryos
For the first time, scientists have shown that chromosomal abnormalities are present in more than 90 percent of IVF embryos, even those produced by young, fertile couples