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Science News for February 2, 2004


Mad cow has confidence stirred, but not shaken

A recent survey found that most Americans remain confident in the safety of their beef supply following a confirmed case of mad cow disease in Washington State. The study suggests that consumer confidence has been boosted by government actions and trust in food regulators, but some have expressed concerns about the risk of transmission.

Risk of stillbirth on weekends

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that infants born over the weekend had a slightly elevated risk of stillbirth and neonatal death compared to those born on weekdays. The researchers suggested that selective timing of low-risk elective deliveries may explain this difference.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateFeb 2, 2004

Physicists use fractals to help Parkinson's sufferers

Researchers developed a system using a tri-axial accelerometer and fractal analysis to study Parkinson's patients' walking patterns. The study reveals the complexity of body motion in both healthy elderly subjects and Parkinson's disease patients, with the latter exhibiting higher fractal measures indicating more complex symptoms.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalJournal of Neural Engineering·DateFeb 2, 2004

Scientists identify a human antibody that blocks SARS virus infection

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified a human monoclonal antibody that blocks SARS virus infection by neutralizing its entry into cultured cells. The antibody, isolated from a collection of 27 billion antibodies, shows promise in animal tests and could be developed for clinical trials to prevent and treat the disease.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 2, 2004

JCI table of contents, February 2, 2004

A novel assay reveals that T cells in patients with type 1 diabetes produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, driving an autoaggressive immune response. In contrast, healthy individuals' T cells produce regulatory cytokines, maintaining tolerance. The findings offer new approaches to immune modulation and tolerance.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 2, 2004

Understanding the autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes

Researchers developed a novel assay to examine T cell responses to autoantigens in islet cells, revealing distinct pathways of T cell differentiation and maturation in normal individuals versus patients with T1DM. These findings suggest proinflammatory polarization in diabetes but regulatory phenotypes in health.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 2, 2004

Cohabiting couples not likely to marry, study finds

A recent study by Ohio State University found that only about 40% of cohabiting couples eventually get married. The research also discovered that men with high economic prospects and similar couples were not more likely to tie the knot than others. In fact, consensus regarding marriage plans was a key predictor of whether cohabiting co...

SourceOhio State University·JournalSocial Science Research·DateFeb 2, 2004