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Science News Archive November 2007


Page 1 of 19

Ibuprofen associated with slower lung function decline in children with cystic fibrosis

A new study found that treatment with ibuprofen is associated with a significantly slower rate of decline in lung function in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. The study showed a 29 percent reduction in loss of lung function compared to those who did not use the anti-inflammatory drug.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateNov 30, 2007

Between water and rock -- a new science

Scientists are discovering that aquatic nanoparticles influence natural and engineered water chemistry differently than similar materials of a larger size. The review considers nanoparticles formed by natural processes in water and as unintended consequences of human activity, such as mining or water treatment.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalJournal of Environmental Monitoring·DateNov 30, 2007

Aging improves parent, child relationships, research shows

Research by Purdue University associate professor Karen Fingerman found that a majority of parents and children reported positive changes in their relationship as parents transitioned to old age. Despite declining health, many parents felt appreciated and nurtured, while children expressed gratitude for increased help from their parents.

SourcePurdue University·JournalAdvances in Life Course Research·DateNov 30, 2007

More on HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment

A recent study reveals that CMV retinitis is causing blindness in young people with HIV in the developing world, often leading to fatal outcomes. Successful management of the disease requires decentralizing diagnostic capacity and making valganciclovir medication affordable.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateNov 30, 2007

String of fullerene pearls

Researchers have produced molecular chimeras by binding fullerene receptors to a fullerene molecule, forming short chains of linked nanopearls. These aggregates exhibit special binding interactions between electrons, making them promising for efficient optoelectronic components.

SourceWiley·DateNov 30, 2007

Levels of prion protein in brain may not be reliable marker for disease

Researchers found that abnormally folded prion protein in brain tissue does not reliably predict disease infectivity; some highly infectious samples had nearly undetectable levels of abnormal PrP. This suggests alternative mechanisms or specific conformation of abnormal PrP may be responsible for prion diseases.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 30, 2007

Women with AIDS face cervical cancer threat

A study by Dr. Groesbeck Parham found that 90% of HIV-infected women presenting for antiretroviral therapy harbor cervical cell abnormalities, increasing the risk of cervical cancer. Access to screening and treatment is crucial to prevent this life-threatening condition in women living with AIDS.

SourceCIDRZ Foundation·JournalGynecologic Oncology·DateNov 30, 2007

Alcohol may amplify chronic rejection in lung transplants

A recent study found that chronic alcohol consumption by lung donors promotes scarring and airway injury after transplantation. The research, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, raises questions about human lung donors with a history of alcohol abuse.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateNov 30, 2007

How our ancestors were like gorillas

Research from University College London found that some of our closest extinct relatives had more in common with gorillas than previously thought. The study discovered that males continued to grow well into adulthood, leading to a significant size difference between males and females, similar to what is seen in gorillas.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·DateNov 29, 2007

Having the climate cake and eating it, too

A recent paper suggests that reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) could be key to addressing climate change. By including REDD in the Kyoto Protocol, developing countries can claim compensation for sustainable forest management, potentially earning $630 million annually.

SourceWiley·JournalAfrican Journal of Ecology·DateNov 29, 2007

Small RNA plays parallel roles in bacterial metabolism

A team from the University of Illinois identified SgrS, a 200-nucleotide-long RNA molecule, which performs two functions to regulate glucose metabolism in bacteria. The molecule binds to messenger RNA to inhibit new glucose transporter production and codes for a protein that retards existing transporter activity.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 29, 2007

Recipe for a storm: The ingredients for more powerful Atlantic hurricanes

University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists have found that a basin-wide circulation pattern drives Atlantic hurricane activity. The study reveals that Atlantic hurricanes will be more sensitive to climate changes than storms in other ocean basins, with warmer oceans indicating ideal conditions for development. Understanding this relati...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateNov 29, 2007

MRE could provide a definitive diagnosis for people with muscle pain, Mayo Clinic study shows

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a new imaging technology called magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) that can provide images of affected muscles with greater clarity than traditional MRI. This technology measures tissue elasticity and can detect abnormal hardening of tissues, which is a hallmark of myofascial pain syndrome.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·DateNov 29, 2007