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Science News Archive October 2006 - Page 11


Page 11 of 17

Mental tests reveal fall risk for older Australians

A pioneering study has found that people with lower or declining cognitive ability are at greater risk of falling. The research, which followed over 500 participants aged 70 over eight years, identified women and multiple fallers as being more likely to experience falls.

SourceResearch Australia·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateOct 13, 2006

Down syndrome: It's not just the age factor

Research by Markus Neuhäuser and Sven Krackow found that the number and age of existing siblings significantly influence Down Syndrome risk. The study suggests that older mothers with a larger gap between pregnancies are more likely to have children with developmental defects.

SourceSpringer·JournalZeitschrift für Didaktik der Naturwissenschaften·DateOct 12, 2006

Stroke rates falling in the West

Research finds stroke incidence decreasing in Perth by 43%, largely due to prevention strategies and reduced risk factors like hypertension and smoking. The study suggests successful implementation of healthy lifestyles is contributing to the decline.

Penn researchers provide insights into how the immune system avoids attacking itself

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have made a breakthrough discovery about how T cells become active or inactive. They found that small fatty acids called diacylglycerols (DAGs) play a critical role in this process, and that enzymes called diacylglycerol kinases can make T cells tolerant to foreign substa...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Immunology·DateOct 12, 2006

Mayo Clinic study could lead to safer pesticides

A Mayo Clinic researcher has identified a unique enzyme residue in greenbugs and aphids that could be targeted by a new generation of pesticides. This discovery opens the door to creating safer pesticides that would not harm humans and animals.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalBioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters·DateOct 12, 2006

JCI table of contents: Oct. 12, 2006

Researchers discovered that caveolin-3 inhibits myostatin signaling, preventing muscle wasting. Additionally, elevated PTTG1 levels triggered mitotic mischief, causing aneuploidy in thyroid cancer cells. Understanding these mechanisms can lead to potential therapies for muscular dystrophy and thyroid cancer.

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

Killing resistant germs

Researchers have successfully synthesized platensimycin, a new antibiotic that inhibits bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis and paralyzes Gram-positive bacterial strains. This breakthrough offers hope against multiresistant bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium.

SourceWiley·DateOct 12, 2006

It's 2006, but 'coming out' is still difficult for Korean American daughters

A University of Illinois study finds that Korean-American lesbian daughters often struggle with 'coming out' due to Confucian and Christian values imposed by their parents. The study, conducted by Ramona Oswald and master's degree candidate Grace Chung, aims to provide culturally competent support for these families.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of GLBT Family Studies·DateOct 12, 2006

Algae provide new clues to cancer

Scientists at the Salk Institute discovered a link between cell size and growth in algae, which may provide new clues to cancer. They found that cells need specific proteins to divide on schedule once they reach a critical size.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 12, 2006

Fossilized liquid assembly: Nanomaterials research tool

Researchers create experimental models of hierarchical topologies by mixing components in a fluid and then 'freezing' them in place. This method allows for the study of self-assembly at the nano-scale, enabling diverse industries to generate new materials with enhanced properties such as super adhesion and low friction.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalMacromolecular Rapid Communications·DateOct 12, 2006

Comparing chimp, human DNA

Researchers identified 202 'highly accelerated regions' of DNA that have undergone rapid evolution since humans and chimps diverged, with most not coding for genes. These regions are conserved across multiple species, suggesting they play important roles in controlling gene expression and development.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 12, 2006

Updates on pandemic flu vaccine trials to be presented at 44th annual IDSA meeting

Researchers found that a prime-boost strategy using different subtypes of H5N1 vaccines significantly boosted immune responses in individuals with prior exposure. Additionally, an intradermal approach to delivering the vaccine showed promise but did not improve the immune response. These findings suggest pre-pandemic priming with exist...

Comparing chimp and human DNA

A new study published in PLoS Genetics has identified specific DNA regions that have accelerated their evolution in humans compared to chimpanzees. These 'Human Accelerated Regions' (HARs) are located near genes involved in growth and development, suggesting they may play important roles in human evolution.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 12, 2006

USC-led study suggests little benefit from antipsychotics in Alzheimer's

A nationwide study led by USC professor Lon Schneider found that most Alzheimer's patients prescribed antipsychotic drugs discontinue use due to severe side effects, despite showing some effectiveness in managing delusions and agitation. The study suggests that these medications should be used with caution and only when necessary.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 11, 2006

A ruler of gold and DNA

A team of scientists created a molecular ruler using gold nanoparticles and DNA to measure protein-DNA interactions at high resolution. This tool promises to accelerate research into genetic information processing by detecting initial protein-DNA binding interactions.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateOct 11, 2006

Antipsychotic medications used to treat Alzheimer's patients found lacking

A large-scale clinical trial funded by the NIH found that commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications for Alzheimer's patients with delusions and aggression have limited effectiveness, while increasing the risk of severe side effects. The study suggested that alternative treatments may be more suitable for this vulnerable population.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 11, 2006