Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive December 2010 - Page 16


Page 16 of 21

New UCLA study raises questions about genetic testing of newborns

A new UCLA study warns that mandatory genetic screening of newborns for rare diseases is creating unexpected upheaval for families whose infants test positive but show no immediate signs of the diseases. The study found that parents are often left in limbo, waiting months for conclusive evidence and facing trauma as a result.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJournal of Health and Social Behavior·DateDec 7, 2010

Sheathless transradial intervention highly successful in treating complex lesions

A novel approach to angioplasty using standard guiding catheters has shown a 90% success rate in treating complex coronary lesions through the radial artery. The procedure, known as sheathless transradial PCI, promotes widespread adoption of transradial PCI in the US and offers benefits for patients with even the most complex procedures.

SourceWiley·JournalCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions·DateDec 7, 2010

Medicaid-funded ADHD treatment for children misses the mark

A study found that Medicaid-funded ADHD treatment in primary care clinics was often infrequent and ineffective, with many children receiving inadequate follow-up visits and medication management. In contrast, specialty mental health clinics provided more comprehensive care, but still faced challenges in improving continuity of care.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateDec 7, 2010

Rocking the cradle after 45

Despite associated risks, newborns of older moms (45+ years) can overcome complications, research from Tel Aviv University reveals. The study found that most older women deliver healthy children with minimal health risks affecting the baby after three days.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateDec 7, 2010

JCI online early table of contents: Dec. 6, 2010

Researchers have discovered a link between decreased alpha-2 integrin expression and increased tumor dissemination in breast and prostate cancer patients. Additionally, targeting blood vessel growth has been found to alleviate psoriasis symptoms by reducing angiogenesis.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 6, 2010

Embargoed news from Annals of Internal Medicine

A recent study found that nearly half of men in this age group would like to have more sex, despite the common perception that elderly people are not capable of or interested in sex. Meanwhile, a meta-analysis of heart treatments failed to show significant differences between two commonly used medications. The American College of Physi...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 6, 2010

Low-dose aspirin reduces death rates from range of cancers by between 20 and 30 percent

A study published in The Lancet found that low-dose aspirin reduces mortality from various cancers, including oesophagus, lung, stomach, pancreas, and possibly brain cancer, by 20-30% regardless of dose or smoking status. Benefit is seen with increasing age and may require at least five years of use for significant impact.

Flu vaccination disparities exacerbated by supply problems

Research from the University of Rochester Medical Center reveals that gaps in seasonal influenza vaccination rates between elderly whites, African-Americans, and Hispanics widen when vaccine supply is delayed or decreased. The study found significant declines in vaccination rates among minority groups during years with shortages.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateDec 6, 2010

Drug prevents post-traumatic stress syndrome

Researchers have identified a molecular cause of post-traumatic stress syndrome and developed a treatment that calms brain chemicals. The new drug, MPEP, was found to prevent the condition when administered within five hours of a traumatic event, offering hope for early intervention.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateDec 6, 2010

How bacteria get from catheter to patient

Researchers have identified bacterial products that enable Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms to detach from surfaces, leading to infection. Inhibiting these mechanisms could provide a new approach to preventing biofilm-associated infections.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateDec 6, 2010

The worm that turned on heavy metal

Researchers use earthworms to treat wastewater and soil contaminated with nickel, chromium, vanadium, lead, arsenic, and mercury. The method shows promise as an inexpensive alternative to industrial cleanup methods.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Global Environmental Issues·DateDec 6, 2010

Europe leads the way to high-performance computing

The EUREKA ITEA 2 project developed advanced technologies to exploit multicore architectures, enabling substantial performance improvements for high-performance computing. The ParMA technology has established new goals in modelling and simulation, accelerating research in various domains.

SourceEUREKA·DateDec 6, 2010

Shy trout size it up

Studies on juvenile trout reveal distinct personality traits, with some exhibiting aggression and others hiding from new objects. Shy trout surprisingly outperform bold individuals in growth rate when released into the wild.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBehavioral Ecology·DateDec 6, 2010

Pure nanotube-type growth edges toward the possible

Rice University physicists have created a formula to calculate the energies of graphene cut at any angle, which could lead to controlling the chirality of nanotubes. This breakthrough has profound implications for nanotube growth and offers rational ways to control their symmetry.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 6, 2010