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Science News Archive February 2003 - Page 9


Page 9 of 9

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

Hurry up and wait

A study examining ambulance transport data in Toronto found that diversion can cause important delays for critically ill patients. The researchers used data from 3609 patients with chest pain in 1997 and 1999 to show a 28.4% increase in transport intervals during periods of high overcrowding.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateFeb 3, 2003

High sugar blood levels linked to poor memory

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found an association between impaired glucose regulation and reduced hippocampal volume, leading to poorer memory performance. This suggests that improving glucose tolerance may have significant treatment implications for age-related cognitive decline.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 2003

The dollars and sense of protecting the ocean

Groundbreaking studies show that marine protected areas can help maintain migratory species populations and increase fish catches, while also providing economic benefits for society. However, the optimal MPA size varies depending on specific situations, with estimates suggesting sizes of 25-70% of the total area.

SourceSeaWeb·JournalNatural Resource Modeling·DateFeb 3, 2003

Genetic heterogeneity of Icelanders

A recent study reveals that Icelanders are more genetically diverse than previously thought, with higher rates of nucleotide differences and population admixture. This contradicts earlier claims of genetic homogeneity, which were largely based on flawed data and errors in publicly accessible databases.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalAnnals of Human Genetics·DateFeb 3, 2003