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Science News Archive July 2003 - Page 9


Page 9 of 9

Embryonic hope for damaged spines

Researchers have successfully treated rats with spinal cord injuries using embryonic stem cells, which can potentially treat paralysis and degenerative nerve diseases. The treated rats regained ability to walk after nine weeks, with analysis revealing new myelin sheaths and growth factors that stimulated neuron formation.

Leaf fall in ancient polar forests still a mystery

Researchers tested ancient tree species to disprove the carbon loss hypothesis, which suggested deciduous trees had an advantage in polar forests. The study found that deciduous trees actually lose more carbon than evergreen trees, challenging the long-held theory.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateJul 2, 2003

U. Iowa study adds to understanding of salt-taste

Researchers at U. Iowa identified two ion channel genes that detect low salt concentrations in fruit flies, a model organism for studying human salt-sensing mechanisms. Disrupting these genes impaired the ability of young flies to detect low salt, highlighting their role in the detection of salt.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalNeuron·DateJul 2, 2003

Habitat loss and reserve network selection

A novel method integrates habitat modelling and spatial population dynamics in reserve-network design to consider the impact of habitat loss on species survival. This approach represents a step towards more realistic consideration of species survival when selecting reserve networks.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEcology Letters·DateJul 2, 2003

Chemotherapy may suppress breast cancer risk in Hodgkin’s survivors

Women treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy had a 61% lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who received only radiation. The authors suggest that ovarian hormones play a role in promoting tumor growth after radiation, which may explain the increased breast cancer risk in young women exposed to radiation.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateJul 1, 2003

JCI table of contents, July 1 2003

A study published in JCI finds that PlGF-1 prevents oxygen-induced retinal vascular degeneration in retinopathy of prematurity, suggesting a potential therapeutic agent for the condition. Additionally, researchers identify Fgl2/fibroleukin as a critical prothrombinase involved in the pathophysiology of viral hepatitis.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 1, 2003

UCLA-led study challenges bipolar depression treatment guidelines

A UCLA-led study found that individuals with bipolar depression who continued taking antidepressants in conjunction with mood stabilizer medication after remission had a lower risk of depression relapse. The study's lead author, Dr. Lori Altshuler, suggests guidelines similar to those for unipolar depression may be more effective.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateJul 1, 2003

Gene mutation predicts outcome for lung cancer patients

Researchers found that the p53 gene plays a crucial role in distinguishing which lung cancer patients are most likely to survive four years or more. The study identified a sub-group of early-stage lung cancer patients without p53 mutations who had a significantly higher survival rate, providing hope for a new treatment approach.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateJul 1, 2003

Translate this!

Researchers at USC's Information Sciences Institute built a state-of-the-art machine translation system for Hindi in less than a month, achieving all aspects of the DARPA's 'Surprise Language' project. The system uses statistical models to find the most likely translations and can query Hindi databases using English questions.

Fibroleukin at fault in viral hepatitis

Researchers found that fibroleukin is a prothrombinase that contributes to the development of thrombosis in viral hepatitis. The study suggests a potential link between fibroleukin and the progression of viral hepatitis, highlighting the importance of further investigation into this area.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 1, 2003