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Science News for April 22, 2004


Hopkins scientists overcome main obstacle to making tons of short, drug-like proteins

Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have overcome a major obstacle to creating large libraries of drug-like peptides. By modifying naturally occurring amino acids with a methyl group, they can produce up to 10 billion stabilized peptides in a single reaction. This breakthrough enables the rapid testing of potential medicines and has s...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalChemistry & Biology·DateApr 22, 2004

Something old, something new

Researchers Drs Sun and Arceci find that loss of PASG gene results in reduced genomic methylation and premature aging in mice. The study reveals a potential model for studying aging and epigenetic regulation, with implications for cancer predisposition and therapeutic targeting.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateApr 22, 2004

Smoking linked to more than 60 percent of overall cancer death burden in black men

A study found that tobacco smoke exposure is responsible for more than half the non-lung cancer death rate in African-American males, and up to two-thirds of their overall cancer death rate. The excess cancer burden can be clearly linked to smoking, with significant declines in mortality rates observed when smoking declined.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalPreventive Medicine·DateApr 22, 2004

Outbreak of skin infections sheds light on risk factors for bacterial resistance

A 1999 outbreak of furunculosis in rural Alaska identified individuals with MRSA who received more antibiotics, highlighting a link between antibiotic use and increased risk of skin infections. The study found that Panton-Valentine leukocidin virulence factor was present in nearly all methicillin-resistant isolates.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateApr 22, 2004

Challenges facing a changing rural America

The book Challenges for Rural America in the 21st Century examines rural social change, economic transformation, and policy implications. Key findings include unevenly spread gaming benefits, elder care challenges, and the need for rural communities to adapt to a decentralized system.

UF study: Sibling violence leads to battering in college dating

A University of Florida study found that sibling violence is a predictor of dating violence, particularly among those who experienced physical abuse as children. The survey of over 500 participants revealed that siblings who were abused or perpetrated violence towards each other were more likely to engage in abusive behavior in their r...

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalAmerican Journal of Health Behavior·DateApr 22, 2004