Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive January 2006 - Page 9


Page 9 of 13

JCI table of contents: January 12, 2006

Researchers found that leptin blockade improved clinical symptoms of disease, slowed progression, reduced relapses, and reduced antigen-specific T cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Additionally, the study suggests that leptin neutralization may be a potential way to treat multiple sclerosis.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 12, 2006

Extinctions linked to climate change

A study published in Nature finds that climate change created favorable conditions for a pathogenic fungus, leading to widespread extinctions of harlequin frogs. The research highlights the complex relationship between global warming and disease transmission, underscoring the urgent need to understand the impacts on biodiversity.

SourceOregon State University·JournalNature·DateJan 11, 2006

Most behaviors preceding major causes of preventable death have begun by young adulthood

Young adults in the US exhibit declining healthy behaviors, such as regular exercise, healthy diet, and reduced substance use, between adolescence and early adulthood. This trend is particularly concerning given the high rates of smoking, obesity, and alcohol abuse leading to preventable deaths.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateJan 11, 2006

Advanced genomics and proteomics improve the diagnosis and treatment of a deadly lung disease

A University of Pittsburgh study suggests that standard anti-inflammatory therapy may not be appropriate for many interstitial lung disease patients. The research used DNA microarray chip technology to distinguish between gene expression patterns of different types of interstitial lung diseases, revealing two vastly different condition...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJan 11, 2006

The forgotten methane source

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics found that living plants emit significantly more methane than dead plant material, and this process is not hindered by oxygen. The discovery suggests that about 10-30% of global annual methane production comes from plants, with tropical regions being the largest contributors.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateJan 11, 2006

Why the brain has 'gray matter'

Researchers propose that brain regions like cerebral cortex and spinal cord are designed with low conduction delays in mind, allowing for efficient signal transmission. The study provides a mathematical framework for understanding the segregation of gray and white matter in the brain.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 11, 2006

APS Physics Tip Sheet #59

Researchers have successfully detected neutrons with energies typical of fusion reactions in a sonofusion experiment, eliminating earlier concerns about data accuracy. Meanwhile, water molecules have been found to form long, squirming filaments through electronic bonds, providing a clearer picture of their interactions.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 11, 2006

Brain plays key role in diabetes therapy

Researchers found that therapies targeting brain insulin receptors can significantly improve blood sugar control and reduce insulin dose requirements. Gene therapy interventions also increased the animals' response to insulin therapy about 2-fold.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJan 10, 2006

Mapping Orion's winds

Astronomers have mapped the outflow from two regions of star formation in the Orion Nebula, providing new insights into the process of star creation. The study used Hubble Space Telescope data to track shock waves and determine the duration of stellar winds, shedding light on how these winds shape the surrounding clouds.