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Science News for February 17, 2004


Clinical trial of new TB vaccine begins

A new TB vaccine, rBCG30, is being tested in a human clinical trial to assess its safety and immune response. The vaccine, developed by Dr. Marcus Horwitz and his team at UCLA, has shown promise in preclinical trials and could potentially reduce the TB disease burden worldwide.

SourceAeras·DateFeb 17, 2004

The future of drug development

Researchers Hubbard and Love propose a new system for funding drug development, separating R&D and product markets. This could lead to greater openness in drug research, reduced prices, and expanded access to new medicines.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 17, 2004

American Thoracic Society Journal news tips for February 2004 (second issue)

A study of influenza vaccination in children with asthma found no significant reduction in asthma exacerbations caused by the flu. In contrast, a separate study showed that maternal and personal smoking synergize to increase airflow limitation in offspring, increasing the risk of Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateFeb 17, 2004

DHEA boosts growth rate of human neural stem cells

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that DHEA significantly increases the division of human neural stem cells, leading to increased neurogenesis. The study's findings provide direct evidence of DHEA's effects on critical human cells, shedding light on the hormone's potential benefits and risks.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 17, 2004

Point well taken

Researchers found that referential gesturing improves identification of targets and reduces verbal cues when participants can see each other. The study published in Psychological Science shows that pointing facilitates the use of verbal descriptions by focusing the audience's gaze on a specific subregion of shared visual space.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateFeb 17, 2004

AGU Journal Highlights - 17 February 2004

Scientists found a possible link between increasing greenhouse gases and European heat waves, while also studying the transfer of energy from earthquakes through Earth's formations. Additionally, research revealed the Amazon River's strong impact on tropical Atlantic carbon levels and new insights into Martian drainage basins that may ...

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 17, 2004