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Science News for July 12, 2001


UF develops radiation-targeting system

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a new radiation-targeting system that uses advanced imaging and optic guidance techniques to precisely target tumors. The system, now commercially available, aims to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissues and potentially improve cure rates.

NYU researchers have transformed a virus into a better cancer killer

Researchers have isolated a new version of a herpesvirus that kills cancer cells but spares normal tissue, dramatically reducing prostate cancer tumors in mice. The new virus contains an extra genetic mutation that enables more robust reproduction and prevents the cell from mounting a response to stop viral replication.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2001

UF scientists say global warming could spread mosquito

Researchers found that warmer temperatures will allow the Asian tiger mosquito to breed faster and potentially spread farther north, possibly surviving year-round in areas where winter freezes now kill it off. The study also suggests that global warming may alter the distribution of other mosquito species, with potentially severe conse...

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalJournal of Medical Entomology·DateJul 12, 2001

Increased use of prescription drugs - especially new ones - outpaces price hikes as source of cost increase

A new University of Michigan study confirms that the utilization of prescription drugs, especially newly introduced ones, is the biggest reason for double-digit increases in overall prescription drug costs. Managed care insurance plans saw a 35% jump in prescription costs due to their members' rush on existing and new drugs.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe American Journal of Managed Care·DateJul 12, 2001

Father's alcohol abuse, depression and other problems shown to impact negatively on children's development

Research finds that fathers' alcohol abuse and depression are associated with emotional and behavioral problems in children, including anxiety and depression. The study also highlights the importance of considering maternal depression when evaluating the effects of paternal alcohol abuse.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalInfant Mental Health Journal Infancy and Early Childhood·DateJul 12, 2001

Concern over safety of yellow fever vaccine

Two fatal cases of haemorrhagic fever associated with yellow fever 17DD substrain vaccine were reported in Brazil, highlighting the need to review the vaccine's safety. The cases led Philippe Marianneau and colleagues from Institut Pasteur to emphasize the importance of investigating mechanisms of attenuation of yellow-fever virus.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJul 12, 2001

'The Dish' tests Einstein's warped space

A team of astronomers has confirmed a key aspect of Einstein's general theory of relativity by measuring the precise orbit of a pulsar. The study used sophisticated instruments to record over 50,000 Gigabytes of data and demonstrated the predicted delay in radio pulses traveling through curved space-time.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalNature·DateJul 12, 2001