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Science News for July 11, 2007


Research team discovers gallstone gene

A recent study discovered a gene variant that significantly increases the risk of developing gallstones, with affected individuals being two to three times more likely to develop the condition. The relevant gene contains instructions for building a molecular pump that transports cholesterol into bile ducts.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalHepatology·DateJul 11, 2007

The flip side of p27

Researchers have discovered that p27 can act as both a CDK-dependent tumor suppressor and a CDK-independent oncogene. This finding has significant implications for understanding cancer growth and developing drugs to target p27 dysfunction.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateJul 11, 2007

Small molecules may explain psoriasis

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that microRNA molecules, specifically miR-203, are significantly upregulated in psoriasis and may be involved in regulating keratinocytes. This study suggests that microRNA therapies could become more effective than traditional medicines targeting individual proteins.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 11, 2007

New use for a cell toxin found to inhibit survival proteins in cancer cells

Scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center discovered a modified version of antimycin that selectively kills cancer cells with high levels of survival proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The compound's unique mechanism provides a therapeutic window, making it a potential targeted molecular therapy to enhance cancer treatment effectiveness.

SourceFred Hutchinson Cancer Center·JournalMolecular Cancer Therapeutics·DateJul 11, 2007

Could targeted food taxes improve health?

A daily pint of milk reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome by 62%, while regular dairy consumption lowers the risk by 56%. The study found that around one in seven men had the syndrome at entry into the study, with those who consumed more dairy produce having a lower risk.

SourceBMJ Specialty Journals·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateJul 11, 2007

How the brain and an iPhone differ

A team of UO researchers found that human memory has a four-item limit, varying from person to person, with high IQ individuals able to think about more things at once. The study contradicts the assumption that those who can remember more items have clearer memories.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalPsychological Science·DateJul 11, 2007

Plants uptake antibiotics

Food crops like corn, lettuce, and potato take up antibiotics from soils treated with manure containing the antibiotic Sulfamethazine. This raises concerns about the potential for contamination of the human food supply, particularly among vulnerable populations like young children who may experience allergic reactions.

SourceSoil Science Society of America·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateJul 11, 2007