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Science News for January 9, 2006


An engineer, a dentist, a veterinarian build bone tissue

Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new bone tissue engineering material using amorphous calcium phosphates, which they believe could lead to faster and higher quality bone formation. The team's work, in collaboration with the American Dental Association, is currently in press for several scientific journals.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Biomedical Materials Research·DateJan 9, 2006

Patient safety monitoring at Hopkins Hospital finds law of unintended consequences at work

A Hopkins investigation found that a newly introduced catheter valve was linked to a spike in bloodstream infections in the pediatric intensive care unit. The team identified mechanical issues with the device as the likely source of infection, highlighting the need for closer monitoring of technology's safety.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateJan 9, 2006

Fatigue and breast cancer survivors

A longitudinal study found that breast cancer survivors experience persistent fatigue in a minority of cases, highlighting their resilience. Factors associated with fatigue include depressive symptoms, pain control problems, and treatment with radiation and chemotherapy.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateJan 9, 2006

Rewriting glacial history in Pacific North America

A recent study found that glaciers in Pacific North America underwent a regionally-extensive expansion during the first millennium AD, contradicting previous assumptions about past glacier activity. This discovery suggests that regional climate cycles have cycled from warmer to colder intervals several times over the last 10,000 years.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalGeology·DateJan 9, 2006

Face perception is modulated by sexual orientation

Research suggests that sexual orientation influences how people perceive individual faces, particularly in the brain's reward circuitry. The study found that heterosexual women and homosexual men responded more strongly to male faces, while heterosexual men and homosexual women responded more to female faces.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 9, 2006

Tumor cells that border normal tissue are told to leave

Tumor cells that border normal tissue exhibit distinct behavior, losing surface proteins and gaining the ability to dissolve matrix surrounding cells. This change signals activation of proteins allowing tumor cells to migrate, posing a risk for metastasis. The discovery highlights the importance of tumor environment in cancer progression.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJan 9, 2006

Role models influence ethical behavior

College students who have positive role models such as clergy, Boy Scout leaders, friends, and college advisers exhibit less willingness to adopt questionable ethical behavior in negotiations. In contrast, those with negative role models like journalists and coaches tend to be more accepting of unethical tactics.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Business Ethics·DateJan 9, 2006

Administering stem cells to patients with myocardial infarction leads to a reduction of the infarct

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, administering bone marrow stem cells to patients with acute myocardial infarction resulted in a significant reduction of the infarct size and improved regional left ventricle function. The findings suggest potential benefits for targeted clinical and pre-clinical research.

New drug lets thyroid cancer patients avoid nasty side effects during treatment

Researchers have discovered a new treatment option for thyroid cancer that allows patients to continue their thyroid hormone replacement therapy while undergoing radioiodine treatment, reducing unpleasant side effects. This breakthrough could improve the overall quality of life for thyroid cancer patients during treatment.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJan 9, 2006

Evolutionary shifts in olfactory sensitivities in fruit flies

Researchers found that fruit fly species D. sechellia develops a specialized olfactory system to detect the morinda fruit, which is toxic to other species. This unique system involves increased numbers and sensitivity of specific olfactory hairs, suggesting an evolutionary adaptation in just a limited time span.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 9, 2006

UCLA develops new method to track neuron cell death leading to Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at UCLA have developed a new method to track neuronal cell death in the hippocampus, a key memory center, which may lead to early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The study found that 49% of Alzheimer's patients and 24% of mild cognitive impairment patients showed significant density decreases.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 9, 2006

Zebra finches remember songs dad sang

Researchers discovered that zebra finches store auditory memories of caregivers' songs in a specific part of the brain involved in hearing, which may underlie vocal learning in songbirds and provide clues to human speech acquisition. This finding supports independent evidence from Patricia Kuhl's work on infant language development.

SourceRutgers University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 9, 2006

Avian flu transmission to humans may be higher than thought

A large epidemiological study in Vietnam suggests that avian flu transmission to humans is more common than previously recognized, with symptoms often mild and requiring close contact with infected poultry. The study found that direct contact with sick or dead poultry was the highest risk factor for developing flu-like illness.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateJan 9, 2006

Screening for prostate cancer may not reduce men's risk of death

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that screening for prostate cancer does not necessarily prolong survival. The research, which included over 72,000 veterans, showed that even men who received screenings were not at lower risk of death from prostate cancer.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateJan 9, 2006

Family influences breast cancer treatment among older Hispanics

A study of 257 breast cancer patients aged 55+ found that Hispanic women were more likely to identify a family member as the final decision-maker for treatment. This led to lower rates of breast-conserving surgery compared to mastectomy in these patients. The study highlights the importance of acknowledging patients' family members in ...

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateJan 9, 2006

Treating glaucoma early lowers economic burden

A study published in Archives of Ophthalmology found that patients with end-stage glaucoma consume approximately $2,511 per year in healthcare resources, compared to $623 for those with early-stage disease. Effective treatments at earlier stages can slow or halt disease progression, saving both patients and society from greater economi...

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalArchives of Ophthalmology·DateJan 9, 2006

New data show Ferriprox is more efficacious than deferoxamine

Ferriprox has been shown to provide significantly better cardio-protection compared to deferoxamine, reducing heart iron concentrations and improving cardiac function in thalassemia patients. The study findings suggest that Ferriprox's small structure provides a greater potential to chelate intracellular iron in the heart.

SourceKetchum UK·JournalBlood·DateJan 9, 2006

Trusted head injury prevention technique debunked

A new study published in the Journal of Athletic Training found that traditional neck muscle resistance training does not reduce a player's head acceleration during impact, contrary to popular thinking in athletics. The eight-week program did improve neck muscle strength but failed to enhance head stabilization.

SourceTemple University·JournalJournal of Athletic Training·DateJan 9, 2006