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Science News for March 8, 2009


Addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy continues to increase survival in patients with brain tumors for up to 5 years

The EORTC-NCIC trial found that adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy significantly increases survival in glioblastoma patients, with improved outcomes seen across all clinical prognostic subgroups. The study suggests testing tumour MGMT gene methylation status to identify patients most likely to benefit from this treatment.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateMar 8, 2009

Pitt researchers describe molecular '2-step' leading to protein clumps of Huntington's disease

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine discovered a molecular '2-step' process that may lead to protein clumping in Huntington's disease. The study found that a slight lengthening of the polyglutamine sequence disrupts neighboring regions, initiating aggregation behavior. This discovery could provide new targets...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateMar 8, 2009

It's raining pentagons

Researchers at the London Centre for Nanotechnology have discovered a novel one-dimensional ice chain structure built entirely from pentagons, challenging the long-held assumption that hexagons are the building blocks of ice. This discovery has significant implications for understanding hydrogen bonding at interfaces and may lead to ne...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 8, 2009