A USGS study published in Atmospheric Environment reveals that air in Washington's Mount Rainier National Park contains higher concentrations of ozone than nearby urban areas. This poses a threat to park visitors and the beautiful forests, wetlands, and alpine meadows within the park.
Researchers identify a genetic marker associated with panic disorder, linked to variations in cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor function. The study found that this variation could be a risk factor for panic attacks and may be useful in diagnosis and therapeutic approaches.
Researchers found a novel natural, very dense polymorph of silica in the Shergotty meteorite, which challenges the accepted composition of Earth's lower mantle. The discovery suggests that free dense silica polymorphs could exist in the Earth's deep interior.
The US FDA approves ENBREL, a biologic response modifier, for moderately to severely active polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in patients with an inadequate response to other treatments. The treatment has shown a clinical response in 74% of study participants.
Researchers may consider a new concept proposing the immune system responds only to foreign substances causing damage, rather than traditional views. This approach could lead to better understanding of hypersensitivity reactions and development of predictive tests for drug interactions.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found a strong correlation between high weekend ozone levels and one degree Celsius higher temperatures. This challenges the assumption that ozone has a minor impact on greenhouse warming compared to carbon dioxide.
A symposium on bioprospecting was held at the American Society for Microbiology meeting, exploring microbial diversity and the search for novel natural products. Experts discussed the potential of bioprospecting to develop new drugs and chemicals, as well as its role in conservation and cultural diversity.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have induced the growth of severed adult mammalian spinal cord fibers across the site of injury without implanted cells or tissues. The study calls into question current assumptions about barriers to spinal cord regeneration and points towards a promising new direction for achieving this goal.
HHMI researchers found a molecule called lynx1 in the brain of mice that is similar to a major component of deadly snake toxins. Lynx1 may be involved in pathways linked to memory and muscle function.
Researchers propose a revolutionary new theory about cell communication, suggesting that cytonemes relay messages between cells. The theory challenges conventional thinking on morphogen transmission and could fundamentally change our understanding of developmental biology.
Researchers at the University of Iowa report improved survival rates for women with stage IV breast cancer using a four-drug, high-dose chemotherapy treatment followed by a bone marrow transplant. The study found an overall survival rate of 38 percent, compared to projected rates of 32-30 percent in other studies.
Researchers developed a vaccine that protects mice against multiple strains of Staphylococcus aureus, including resistant strains. The vaccine uses a bacterial molecule produced during infection, and has shown promise in preventing infections.