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Science News for February 16, 2006


Estrogen-progestin menopausal hormone therapy and risk of lobular and tubular breast cancer

A population-based case-control study found that women using medium potency estrogen-progestin combination therapy had a higher risk of developing lobular or tubular breast cancer. The risk was more pronounced for those who used the therapy for over five years, with a notable increase in the incidence of tubular and lobular cancers.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBreast Cancer Research·DateFeb 16, 2006

Beaming pain relief

Millimeter wave therapy has been used in Eastern Europe to alleviate over 50 conditions, including heart disease and cancer. A new Temple University study aims to investigate its effectiveness for pain relief, immune system modulation, and chemotherapy improvement, with the goal of introducing a non-invasive treatment option.

India could be facing alarming rise in tobacco use

A recent survey of 11,600 students in India found that sixth-grade students are using tobacco at a rate two to four times that of their eighth-grade peers. This trend suggests an initial wave of increased tobacco use among Indian youth, which warrants early intervention. The proportion of all deaths attributed to tobacco is expected to...

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateFeb 16, 2006

UCLA finds cancer drug may improve progeria; genetic disease causes accelerated aging in children

A new UCLA study published in Science suggests that a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) may be useful in treating progeria, a genetic disease causing accelerated aging in children. The majority of FTI-treated mice showed improvements in body weight, bone integrity, grip strength, and survival compared to untreated control mice.

Training benefits brains in older people, counters aging factors

The study found that training increases neural activation in areas associated with executive control, countering the idea that opposite brain areas compensate for cognitive decline in aging. Older adults who received training showed increased activity in brain regions tied to scheduling and planning, similar to younger participants.

Study finds no safe level for ozone

A nationwide study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that even very low levels of ozone increase the risk of premature death. The study suggests that further reductions in ozone pollution would benefit public health, even in areas that meet current regulatory standards.

SourceYale University·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateFeb 16, 2006

Unexpected high rates of tobacco use

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey found nearly 9% of students aged 13-15 were current smokers, with high exposure to secondhand smoke and non-cigarette tobacco use among young girls. Reduction efforts require preventing initiation and promoting cessation, with strong smoke-free policies necessary to combat the growing toll of tobacco use.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateFeb 16, 2006

Science and the end of poverty

Researchers explore how science can help understand and alleviate poverty, with a focus on biophysical parameters and energy services. They find strong correlations between disaster vulnerability, soil fertility, drought frequency, and malaria exposure, highlighting the need for tailored solutions.

Overseas NOx could be boosting ozone levels in US

Research finds large amounts of nitrogen oxides (NOx) transported to North America from the Pacific Ocean in May contribute to significant increases in ozone levels over the region. The discovery will help build better models to understand how pollutants affect other regions, with potential implications for air quality and human health.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 16, 2006

Sex, cleaner of genomes

Research using Daphnia pulex reveals that sexual reproduction efficiently removes deleterious gene mutations, suggesting it is a key mechanism for maintaining population health. Asexual species, in contrast, accumulate bad mutations at an increased rate, supporting the idea that sex plays a crucial role in purifying genomes.

SourceIndiana University·JournalScience·DateFeb 16, 2006

JCI table of contents, February 16, 2006

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation reveals that expression of CXCR2 on blood vessel wall cells mediates neutrophil influx into the lung during acute bacterial infection. Additionally, researchers found that FoxO1 plays a critical role in regulating beta cell numbers during insulin resistance and inhibiting acety...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 16, 2006

Gone but not forgotten

Despite losing some predators, anti-predator behavior can persist due to co-adapted suites with multiple predators. Studies of wallabies show that retention of anti-predator behavior is possible even after isolation from all predators.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEthology·DateFeb 16, 2006

Phytoplankton bounce back from abrupt climate change

Researchers found that phytoplankton communities transiently disappear and then recover during abrupt climate changes, with most species adapting to new niches. The study suggests that phytoplankton are more resilient than previously thought, with only specialized and deeper-dwelling species being unable to survive sudden changes.