Gene associatied with lupus identified
A gene associated with lupus has been identified, suggesting a potential breakthrough in diagnosing and treating the disease. The discovery could lead to earlier intervention and more effective therapies.
Science News Archive 2004
Browse by Month - 2004
Page 54 of 135
Tumor cell levels in blood predict success of advanced-stage breast cancer treatment, study finds
A study using CellSearch technology found that women with high tumor cell levels in their blood had poor treatment outcomes. Women whose circulating tumor cell levels dropped after starting therapy fared much better.
University of Arizona leads effort to create Center for Mathematics Education of Latinos
The University of Arizona has been awarded a grant to establish the Center for Mathematics Education of Latinos/as (CEMELA), aiming to advance mathematics education by integrating cultural, social, and linguistic contexts. The center will develop leaders in mathematics education, focusing on working-class Latinos.
Researchers report new gene test for isolated cleft lip and palate
Researchers have developed a new gene test that can identify the risk of isolated cleft lip and palate in 12% of cases, opening up new possibilities for families affected. The test detects specific sequence variations associated with an increased chance of a child being born with a cleft.
Alpine fault in New Zealand not your average fault
The Alpine fault begins as a single fault, unlike most other strike slip faults which form from multiple small faults. It exhibits significant seismicity at the southern and northern ends but is relatively aseptic in the central portion.
Scientists studying desert air to understand weather and climate
Scientists use satellites, computer models, and ground stations to study the unique aerosol laboratory created by desert dust, smoke, and man-made emissions. The UAE2 mission aims to improve computer climate models and predictions of climate behavior in response to changes in aerosol concentrations.
Sweet success in targeting sugar molecules to cells in living animals
Researchers have created a chemical technique to tag sugars on cell surfaces, allowing for precise targeting and differentiation of specific cells in whole organisms. The method has implications for studying disease mechanisms, embryonic development, and the biology of organs.
Scientists visualise cellular handmaiden that restores shape to proteins
Researchers at Imperial College London have visualized the structure of the Thermus thermophilus chaperonin complex, a crucial molecule for protein folding. The complex's unique cavity accommodates large proteins and is driven by cellular energy source ATP.
Snake venom reveals clues about heart drug
Researchers studied snake venom and found it blocks integrin receptors like human drugs, but leaves some activated. This may explain why some oral medications increase patient deaths – they don't bind to receptors inside platelets.
Survival rates improve for some men with prostate cancer when combination therapies used
Using combination therapies that include 6 months of androgen suppression therapy (AST) alongside radiation therapy (RT) improves survival rates for patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. The study found significantly higher survival rates, lower prostate cancer-specific mortality, and a reduced need for salvage AST in the com...
NIAID taps Chiron to develop vaccine against H9N2 avian influenza
The NIAID Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Program supports the development and production of a candidate vaccine against H9N2 avian influenza. The vaccine will be produced by Chiron Corporation in Italy, with different dosages containing an adjuvant to boost its protective effect.
Teens with depression show most improvement when medication and therapy combined
A study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that teens with depression experience significant improvement when treated with a combination of medication and cognitive-behavior therapy. The treatment resulted in a 71% improvement rate, compared to 60% for those taking Prozac alone or 43% for those receiving only therapy.
Depressed teens helped with combination drug-behavioral therapy
A stage one trial found that fluoxetine plus CBT offered greater effectiveness in treatment than the drug alone for adolescents diagnosed with MDD. Combination therapy proved superior to fluoxetine and CBT alone, with a 71 percent response rate.
Study narrows search for genes placing men at increased risk for prostate cancer
A large family-based study identified specific genes associated with increased prostate cancer susceptibility, highlighting the potential for early detection and targeted surveillance. The study's findings also revealed that prostate cancers in genetically predisposed individuals tend to be more aggressive and fatal.
New model can aid in understanding immune system diseases
The study provides new insights into Epstein-Barr virus and its role in autoimmune diseases such as lupus, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Researchers found that the virus causes abnormal survival and activation of B cells, leading to excess auto-antibodies.
New mechanism for display of foreign proteins to immune system
A research team has identified a new pathway for the display of foreign proteins to the immune system, distinct from the conventional TAP-dependent pathway. This alternative pathway requires cysteine proteases and contributes to immunity against viruses and transplanted tissues.
Teacher-training for hospital residents improves medical students' education, UCI study shows
A UCI study found that specialized training for resident physicians significantly improves their teaching and mentoring skills. The 'residents-as-teachers' program was designed to enhance communication skills and model professional attributes.
Intervention studies that use cancer patients from high-risk clinics may be subject to bias
Researchers recruiting patients from high-risk clinics for cancer intervention studies risk introducing bias, as controls are more likely to receive interventions than some case patients. This can lead to a false impression of intervention efficacy or underestimate its harm.
Family structure impacts teens' academic success
Adolescents living with both biological or adoptive parents tend to have higher grades and greater college expectations. In contrast, adolescents from single-mother families often experience lower academic achievement due to economic deprivation. Single mothers face significant challenges in planning for their children's future education.
Parents' anti-asthma efforts may miss the mark
A new study found that only half of parents' anti-asthma efforts are likely to work, while the other half may be unproven or potentially harmful. The study highlights a need for better education and support for parents, as well as healthcare providers, to effectively manage childhood asthma.
Siberian forest fires partly to blame for Seattle area violating EPA ozone limit
Siberian forest fires significantly affected air quality in Seattle, exceeding EPA ozone limits. Climate change is expected to increase fire frequency and severity, posing a greater threat to human health across western North America.
University spin-out companies perform poorly in bid to create wealth
Researchers found that UK universities' focus on creating businesses rather than generating wealth is a significant issue. The success rate of university spin-out companies (USOs) is currently much lower than expected, with only a few spin-outs being sold or floated on the stock market.
TRMM sees rain from hurricanes fall around the world
The TRMM satellite has provided new insights into rainfall patterns in tropical cyclones, revealing that heaviest rains fall within 50km of a storm's center. This study improves forecast accuracy and can help with the development of better weather forecasts.
Personality tests could predict doctors' burnout
A twelve-year longitudinal study found that personality and learning style are key predictors of doctors' burnout and stress. Doctors with high neuroticism and lower conscientiousness tend to experience more burnout.
Short course of hormonal therapy improves survival in prostate cancer patients
A randomized clinical trial found that combining six months of hormone therapy with radiation therapy reduced the risk of death from prostate cancer by two-fold. Patients treated with this combination therapy had a lower risk of requiring salvage hormone therapy in the long term.
Vitamin E shows mixed effects against respiratory infections in nursing home residents
The study found that vitamin E had no significant effect on incidence or duration of respiratory tract infections, but significantly fewer participants acquired one or more respiratory tract infections. Vitamin E also showed a lower risk of common colds among those who completed the study.
Zap, bam: Light-activated glue holds and releases workpieces in a flash
A new workholding technology uses light-activated adhesive to hold and release workpieces, offering an alternative to mechanical clamping. The technology has a yield strength of over 5500 pounds per square inch and can be used with a wide variety of workpieces.
Teens with depression often respond to combination of antidepressant and behavioral therapy
The TADS study found that treatment combining fluoxetine with CBT was superior to each alone in improving rates of response for adolescents with MDD. Clinically significant suicidal thinking improved significantly in all four treatment groups, with the greatest reduction seen in those receiving fluoxetine and CBT.
Shock wave lithotripsy research expanded with NIH grant renewal
The Indiana University research team aims to reduce tissue damage from shock wave lithotripsy, a common treatment for kidney stones. They're developing protocols and mathematical models to make the procedure safer and more effective.
Other highlights in the August 18 JNCI
A new study has identified five chromosomal regions that are likely to harbor prostate cancer susceptibility genes. The study found evidence of a gene on the long arm of chromosome 17 and four other regions that might hold susceptibility genes. Additionally, researchers have discovered that men who carry a specific mutation in the MIC-...
Stress tests may miss latent heart disease
Researchers found that many patients with normal stress test results have extensive atherosclerosis, as revealed by coronary calcium scanning. Patients with scores above 100 are at increased risk for cardiac events, while those above 400 are at the highest risk.
Pollination find could lead to cordgrass control
A recent study found that wind pollination works more efficiently in solid meadow plants than when they are spread apart. This could explain why Spartina covers only 60 acres of Willapa Bay despite being present for a century. Inefficient wind pollination may also speed the extinction of rare plants.
Study justifies longer rehab for elderly hip fracture patients
Researchers found that extended outpatient rehabilitation therapy significantly improves functional abilities, strength, balance, mobility, and quality of life in elderly hip fracture patients. In contrast to standard home-based therapy, supervised rehabilitation with resistance training led to greater improvements.
Temple University researchers investigating new wound healing method
Researchers are exploring the potential of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and gelatin to promote blood vessel formation and heal wounds. The study aims to determine how LPA interacts with specific proteins, such as Hic-5, to enhance or inhibit migration.
Scientists closer to finding genes that affect prostate cancer risk
Researchers have identified strong evidence for a prostate cancer gene on chromosome 17, which is also known to harbor the breast cancer gene BRCA1. A separate study found that a variant of the MIC-1 gene, involved in inflammation, is associated with a decreased risk for prostate cancer.
Muscling their way into the food chain: Zebra mussels alter fish populations in the Hudson River
A study found that zebra mussel invasion leads to population declines in open-water fish like American shad, while sunfish species increase in abundance. The mussels' grazing on food particles and increased light penetration create more food for shoreline fish.
Antidepressants plus 'talk therapy' are effective therapy for teen depression
The TADS clinical trial found combined antidepressant and talk therapy treatment yielded the best results, followed by antidepressants alone. Talk therapy on its own was no more effective than placebo.
Possible new cure for psoriasis
Researchers at the University of Bonn have found a new effective therapy for psoriasis by blocking the division of epidermis cells. The treatment, which uses metalloproteinase inhibitors, has shown no toxic side effects and may provide a promising solution for the condition.
Progress in breast cancer progression
Researchers found that NF-kB is essential for the initial transition stage of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells. Inhibiting NF-kB after transition prevents cells from becoming invasive.
JCI table of contents, 16 August, 2004
Researchers found that AMPK plays a vital role in protecting cells under conditions of a heart attack, including glucose uptake and preventing cardiac dysfunction. In contrast, mice without functional AMPK exhibited impaired contractile function and increased cell death after blood flow reduction.
Ethnic solidarity doesn't give Mexican workers advantages in U.S. labor market
Researchers found that Mexican workers using family and friend networks as job leads earned higher wages than those relying on paisano networks. This challenges the theory of ethnic solidarity providing advantages to immigrant workers in the US labor market.
Pollen-blocking cream may help reduce allergy symptoms
Researchers found that a new ointment, applied inside the nose, significantly reduced symptom scores in patients with allergic rhinitis. The treatment improved airflow by nearly 20 percent and reduced symptoms by about 60 percent compared to a placebo.
Breast cancer screening underutilized by ethnic women
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that only 38.5% of Urdu- and Hindi-speaking women had undergone a clinical breast examination, despite 83% being aware of the procedure. The study highlights gaps in knowledge about breast cancer risk and screening methods among South Asian immigrant women.
VA beats managed care for diabetes, study finds
Researchers found VA patients received standard processes of care more often, including recommended tests and services, and had better diabetes control. The study suggests the VA's national system provides excellent quality care due to its integrated care and tracking mechanisms.
Rare mutations can significantly increase risk factor for heart disease
Researchers identified rare genetic mutations that significantly increase heart disease risk by focusing on individuals at the extreme ends of HDL levels. These findings provide direct evidence that rare variations in DNA can affect HDL levels, opening up new avenues for treatment and diagnostic targets.
Female aboriginal inmates get bum rap
Research by University of Toronto criminologists reveals a systematic bias against Aboriginal women prisoners, leading to unfair classification rates and reduced privileges. The study found that 60% of Aboriginal women were classified as medium security risks despite committing fewer infractions in prison.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital participates in ulcerative colitis study
Visilizumab shows promise in treating severe ulcerative colitis by blocking processes that lead to colon inflammation and damage. The new therapy offers an alternative to invasive surgery for patients with severe UC.
Retroviral gene therapy? ASLV, HIV, and MLV show distinct target site preferences
Researchers found that different retroviral vectors from ASLV, HIV, and MLV integrate into human chromosomes at varying sites. The study suggests ASLV may be a promising candidate for human gene therapy due to its distinct integration preferences.
Massage therapists have high prevalence of hand dermatitis
A recent study found that massage therapists have a high prevalence of hand dermatitis, with those using aromatherapy products being over three times as likely to experience the condition. The researchers suggest conducting an educational campaign to reduce this risk.
Forgetting, reminding, and remembering: The retrieval of lost spatial memory
A novel protocol distinguishes retrieval from new learning in spatial memory loss, with rats showing improved recall of original platform location despite partial hippocampal damage. This finding suggests that at least part of amnesia associated with hippocampal damage is a failure of retrieval.
Anxiety not a barrier to a satisfying life, study says
Research suggests that depression significantly impacts life satisfaction, while anxiety has a minimal effect. A disposition to be cheerful is more important for happiness than external factors like success or popularity.
Nerve cells 'guided' to repair spinal damage: Technique
A new technique developed by researchers at the University of Toronto has shown promise in guiding nerve cells to repair spinal damage. By using a series of fibrous rods with peptides, the team aims to stimulate cell adhesion and migration, bridging gaps between severed spine ends.
Wearing elastic compression stockings reduces complications after a blood clot in the leg
A new study found that wearing below-the-knee elastic compression stockings every day reduces the incidence of DVT complications from 49% to 26% and severe complications from 12% to 3.5% after a blood clot in two years. The study suggests that stocking therapy should be routine after a deep-vein blood clot.
MICs shed light on prostate cancer
Researchers found that prostate cancer cells shed immunostimulatory molecules, allowing them to evade the immune system's natural killer cell defense. Soluble MIC levels in serum correlated with high-grade and invasive tumor status, suggesting a potential biomarker for disease progression.
Sun protection declines between the first and second summers of children's lives
A study found that sun protection habits decreased in children between their first and second summers, with a 32% increase in skin damage. The decrease was attributed to lack of full protection, rather than increased sun exposure, highlighting the need for sustained sun protection efforts.
Putting energy into heart protection
A recent study published in JCI Journals reveals that AMP-activated protein kinase plays a crucial role in protecting the heart against ischemic stress. The kinase mediates increased glucose uptake in the heart during ischemia, which helps prevent post-ischemic cardiac dysfunction, apoptosis, and injury.
Annals of Internal Medicine, tip sheet, August 17, 2004
A meta-analysis found that cardiac resynchronization therapy improved the quality of life of people with heart failure, while a cost-effectiveness study showed it costs $90,000 per quality-adjusted life-year saved. Guidelines for follow-up colonoscopies were also criticized for being too often performed.
Gene duplication allowed pigs to have more babies
A study found that pigs have more babies due to gene duplication, which allowed them to adapt to climate change. The researchers used a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate the evolution of aromatase genes and their role in altering reproductive biology.
ASU researchers demonstrate new technique that improves the power of atomic force micrscopy
Researchers have developed a method that could vastly improve the ability of atomic force microscopes to 'see' the chemical composition of a sample, follow variations of the sample, and map its topographic structure. This new technique allows for molecular-scale imaging with increased sensitivity.
American Thoracic Society Journal news tips for August 2004 (second issue)
Researchers found that combination antibiotic therapy significantly improved survival rates among critically ill patients with severe pneumonia, with a mortality rate of 23.4% compared to 55.3% for those on monotherapy. A new test combining symptom questions, body weight data, and oxygen concentration measures shows a 91% predictive ra...