Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2002 - Page 32


Page 32 of 93

Pill-splitting can yield cost savings on common prescription drugs, Stanford researchers find

Researchers at Stanford University Medical Center have confirmed that pill-splitting can be a safe and viable cost-saving strategy for certain medications. By splitting higher-strength pills to achieve desired dosages, patients can reduce medication costs by up to 50%. However, the practice must be implemented with careful controls and...

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalThe American Journal of Managed Care·DateAug 29, 2002

Rainforest researchers hit pay dirt

Researchers have discovered that indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon improved the soil, rather than degrading it. The ability to reproduce this super-fertile soil could enable intensive agriculture in hot regions, making a significant impact on food production.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalScience·DateAug 29, 2002

Frigid South Pole atmosphere reveals flaw in global circulation models

Scientists have made groundbreaking measurements of upper atmosphere temperatures over the South Pole, revealing a significant discrepancy with global circulation model predictions. The findings suggest that wintertime warming due to sinking air masses is weaker than assumed, leading to extreme cooling in the lower stratosphere.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 28, 2002

The lancet specialty journals press releases

A review highlights the association between excess body weight and increased cancer risk, particularly in colon, breast, endometrium, oesophagus, and kidney. The study suggests that alterations in hormone metabolism may play a role in this link, emphasizing the importance of weight management for cancer prevention.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 28, 2002

Making individual health insurance market work

The article argues that guaranteed renewability pools risk and protects consumers from price increases without resorting to heavy regulation of the market or reduced consumer choice. It also prevents adverse selection by preventing those who know they are likely to get sick from buying more generous coverage.

SourceHealth Affairs·JournalHealth Affairs·DateAug 28, 2002

Mayo Clinic discovers one more downside to alcoholism

A recent study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that patients with alcoholic-liver disease are at a higher risk of developing confusion and delirium after liver transplant surgery. The study, which included 87 patients, revealed that the length of sobriety before surgery is directly correlated to the severity of these complications.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalNeurology·DateAug 27, 2002

Copper-oxide plane at surface of superconductor has surprising properties

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have found several new pieces to the puzzle of high-temperature superconductors by imaging the copper-oxide plane. They discovered that the surface behavior is different from when buried inside the crystal, offering additional insight into high-temperature superconductors.

Islet cell transplantation for diabetes turns corner

A new study demonstrates that pig cells can be transplanted into children with type 1 diabetes without the need for immunosuppressive drugs, resulting in some patients being off insulin. The use of embryonic stem cells and novel preservation methods also holds promise for increasing the availability of viable cells for transplantation.

SourceTransplantation Society·JournalTransplantation·DateAug 27, 2002