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Science News for February 7, 2005


A Family's Guide to Living with HIV

A Family's Guide to Living with HIV is a comprehensive resource providing detailed information on the disease, its treatment, and its impact on daily life. The book also focuses on supporting psychological concerns, nutrition, education, and social activities for patients and their families.

Self-assembled nano-sized probes allow Penn researchers to see tumors through flesh and skin

The researchers created nano-sized probes using emissive polymersomes that can optically image tissue structures deep below the skin, with potential to target multiple cancer cell-surface markers simultaneously. The probes use near-infrared light to produce a bright signal detectable through imaging systems.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 7, 2005

Bone density appears to recover after adolescents discontinue injected contraceptive

After discontinuing DMPA, adolescent girls experienced significant gains in bone mineral density, with their levels comparable to those of other women in their age group. The study's findings suggest that DMPA use may not have a lasting impact on bone health in young women.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateFeb 7, 2005

Asthma gene clusters identified

Researchers have identified two distinct gene expression profiles in children with acute asthma, which could lead to customized treatments. The study's findings may enable targeted therapies for acute asthma attacks and help predict impending attacks by analyzing a patient's unique genetic profile.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateFeb 7, 2005

Opposing fat metabolism pathways triggered by a single gene

Researchers discover that the nuclear hormone receptor nhr-49 controls two opposing pathways regulating fat metabolism in nematodes. The discovery reveals a complex feedback system controlling fat consumption and composition, with potential implications for understanding human metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 7, 2005

Bone density returns when teens stop using Depo Provera, Group Health study finds

A new study has found that teenaged women who stop using Depo-Provera experience significant gains in bone density compared to those still taking the contraceptive. The research suggests that continuous use of Depo-Provera leads to a loss of bone mass, which appears to be reversible once the drug is discontinued.

SourceGroup Health Research Institute·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateFeb 7, 2005

Former UNC students report mindfulness meditation helps relationships

A study conducted by Dr. James Carson and his wife Kimberly found that mindfulness meditation can help couples reduce interpersonal stress and boost their satisfaction with each other by 50%. The eight-week training sessions taught couples how to become more aware of the present moment and direct positive feelings toward their loved ones.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalBehavior Therapy·DateFeb 7, 2005

When does a mole become a melanoma?

Researchers genetically engineered zebrafish to develop black-pigmented moles with mutated human BRAF and p53 genes. The study shows that BRAF mutations are necessary for mole development, but insufficient for cancer. The model provides insights into how gene mutations contribute to melanoma

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 7, 2005

Mailman School of Public Health researchers develop infectious disease diagnostic tool

Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have developed a new technology platform that can identify multiple pathogens simultaneously, providing high sensitivity and breadth. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize differential diagnosis and detection in various fields, including clinical medici...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateFeb 7, 2005

Birth size and adult cancer risk

A Swedish cohort study found that larger babies had a higher risk of certain adult cancers, including lymphatic and digestive cancers. Women who were large at birth were also more likely to develop breast cancer before age 50.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Cancer·DateFeb 7, 2005

Clues on cancer from a zebrafish model of melanoma

Researchers have developed a zebrafish model that shows human BRAF mutations can induce dramatic black pigmentation and aggressive melanomas. The study also found that p53 deficiency is crucial for melanoma development, providing new insights into melanoma genetics and drug development.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 7, 2005

Sexual frustration and learning in fruit flies

Researchers found that Drosophila males can be trained to avoid certain female pheromones associated with past failures in mating. This study demonstrates a complex learning mechanism involving hydrocarbon olfactory cues and memory consolidation.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateFeb 7, 2005