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Science News for February 4, 2003


JCI Table of Contents, February 3, 2003

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that HIV protease inhibitors directly promote atherosclerosis in mice. In humans, researchers propose a mechanism by which these drugs might contribute to heart disease, suggesting ways to disrupt it.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 4, 2003

HAART and heart disease

Researchers found that HIV protease inhibitors directly promote atherosclerosis in mice by inducing changes in macrophages. A commentary article proposes a mechanism and suggests ways to disrupt this process. The study has significant implications for the long-term use of these drugs in managing chronic HIV infection.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 4, 2003

Sex, flounder and donuts

Researchers at North Carolina State University have successfully produced all-female cultured stocks of Southern flounder using controlled-breeding methods and warm water temperature manipulation. This method has significant economic potential, as female flounder can grow up to two times larger than males within two years.

BRCA2 mutations may be associated with some hereditary pancreatic cancers

Researchers identified BRCA2 germline mutations in 19% of families with familial pancreatic cancer. The presence of specific frameshift mutations was found in 12% of the families studied. These findings suggest an important role for BRCA2 mutations in a subpopulation of families with familial pancreatic cancer.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateFeb 4, 2003

Artemis: a little bit is not enough

Individuals with reduced functional Artemis protein are prone to mild immunodeficiency and increased risk of developing lymphomas. This finding suggests that mutations in Artemis or other DNA repair genes may be responsible for immune deficiency and/or lymphoma cases.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 4, 2003

American Civil War newspapers subject of new scholarship

The new Civil War Newspapers website will feature scanned documents of selected newspapers from both North and South, providing detailed indexes and a comprehensive master index. This project aims to provide a valuable resource for historians, allowing them to access a vast amount of information on various topics related to the era.

UT Southwestern researchers developing new procedures to make bone-marrow transplants safer

Researchers at UT Southwestern are developing a new procedure to eliminate graft-versus-host disease in bone-marrow transplants while retaining anti-leukemic activity. The approach uses immunotoxins to selectively target and eliminate harmful immune cells, with promising results in clinical trials.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 4, 2003