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Science News for June 14, 2010


Recalculating cell sensing

Mobile cells may be more sensitive to chemical signals than thought, following trails with improved accuracy. Researchers found lower-than-expected noise levels in these cells, enabling them to detect and respond to chemical cues more effectively.

SourceAmerican Physical Society·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 14, 2010

New promising therapy against systemic sclerosis

Researchers at Catholic University of Rome have developed a promising new therapy against systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), an autoimmune disease characterized by skin hardening and organ dysfunction. The treatment targets the immune system's B-cells, reducing side effects associated with traditional immunosuppressive therapies.

SourceCatholic University of Rome·JournalArthritis Research & Therapy·DateJun 14, 2010

AGU journal highlights -- June 14, 2010

Researchers explored how prolonged droughts may affect California's water supply system. The study also revealed the first images of Saturn lightning, providing new insights into the planet's atmosphere. These findings suggest improved water management strategies could mitigate the effects of severe droughts on ecosystems and economies.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 14, 2010

Healthy diet associated with lower risk of cataracts in women

Women who follow a balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals have a lower risk of developing nuclear cataracts. A study of 1,808 women found that healthy diets, which reflect adherence to US dietary guidelines, are more strongly related to the occurrence of nuclear cataracts than other modifiable risk factors.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Ophthalmology·DateJun 14, 2010

New link between pollution, temperature and sleep-disordered breathing

A new study establishes a link between air pollution, temperature increases, and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), a known cause of cardiovascular diseases. The study found that short-term elevations in temperature were associated with increased severity of SDB, while particulate pollution was linked to poorer sleep quality.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJun 14, 2010

Internationally known neuroblastoma expert reviews progress versus challenging childhood cancer

Recent advances in neuroblastoma research have led to a better understanding of the disease's genetic landscape, including common DNA variations on chromosome 6 and mutations in the ALK gene. Innovative therapies such as immunotherapy trials using monoclonal antibodies and cytokines are also being explored.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 14, 2010

Flower power: Marking winners and losers

A new study reveals that a protein called Flower marks weaker cells for elimination, allowing fitter neighbors to dominate. This process of cell competition may provide insight into pathological conditions like cancer and aging.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJun 14, 2010

Adding nucleic acid testing to HIV screening may help identify more people with HIV

Researchers found that adding nucleic acid testing to HIV screening can detect the presence of HIV earlier, increasing detection yield by 23%. A large majority of study participants received negative test results via automated phone or internet systems. The findings suggest that such programs can help control the HIV epidemic.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 14, 2010

Heart pumps save lives

A new thesis from the University of Gothenburg reveals that mechanical heart pumps can significantly improve survival rates among patients with life-threatening heart failure. The treatment has been shown to be particularly effective for young and middle-aged patients, as well as those who are awaiting a heart transplant.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalScandinavian Cardiovascular Journal·DateJun 14, 2010

Study confirms favorable long-term prognosis of epilepsy

A 15-year follow-up study found that children with idiopathic new-onset epilepsy have a higher rate of remission compared to those with remote symptomatic epilepsy. The study concluded that the long-term prognosis of epilepsy is favorable in most children, especially for those with an idiopathic etiology.

SourceWiley·JournalEpilepsia·DateJun 14, 2010

How bacteria boost the immune system

Researchers discovered how bacteria aid digestion and enhance immune function by binding to B lymphocytes. This finding suggests the possibility of using bacterial spores to treat people with weakened or undeveloped immune systems.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Immunology·DateJun 14, 2010

Autism in a test tube?

A recent study from Tel Aviv University found a strong link between IVF treatments and mild to moderate cases of autism. The research suggests that IVF may be solving one problem by creating another. Dr. Ditza Zachor's ongoing research aims to separate out risk factors and investigate the rate of autism in IVF populations.

New study documents use of hormone progesterone in simple microscopic aquatic animals

A new study reveals that the chemical mediator for sexual reproduction in rotifers is progesterone, a molecule also found in humans and plays a vital role in regulating reproduction. The research has significant evolutionary implications and sheds light on how environment, metabolism, hormones, and behaviors interact.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2010

Discovery may aid remission of ulcerative colitis

Researchers at McMaster University have identified a chemical, prostaglandin D2, that may trigger remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. Elevated levels of this chemical were found in patients in long-term remission, suggesting it as a key factor in preventing new episodes.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2010

Turning a painkiller into a cancer killer

Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have discovered a new application for the painkiller Sulindac as a potential anti-cancer treatment. By binding to the truncated form of nuclear receptor RXRα, Sulindac shuts down cancer cell growth and initiates cell death.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalCancer Cell·DateJun 14, 2010

Podcasting language

Researchers suggest podcasting can foster a positive attitude towards learning English as a foreign language due to improved mobile device technologies. However, the factors influencing technology adoption remain crucial for its successful implementation.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Mobile Communications·DateJun 14, 2010

Raising the bar for biomolecular modeling

Researchers found that amino acid residues form a barrier to help electron transfer by keeping water molecules away from the bridge, reducing the rate of transfer. This discovery provides fundamental insight into biochemical reactions and has potential applications in genetically modified organisms.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2010

Spinal cord stimulation may benefit Parkinson's patients

Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital tested spinal cord stimulation in a single patient with Parkinson's disease, finding that low-frequency SCS worsened symptoms while high-frequency SCS improved motor function. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore potential benefits of this approach for PD patients.

Moon whets appetite for water

Scientists have found a much higher water content in the Moon's interior, with concentrations ranging from 64 parts per billion to 5 parts per million. The research suggests that water was preserved from the hot magma present when the Moon formed 4.5 billion years ago.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2010

JCI online early table of contents: June 14, 2010

Research on prion disease found that structural differences affect transmission between species, while gene therapy showed promise in nonhuman primates. Additionally, the protein periostin was discovered to promote heart valve degeneration by inducing angiogenesis and MMP production.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 14, 2010

Possible link between sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease revealed

Research reveals a significant association between sleep-disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease, with pro-thrombotic biomarkers PAI-1 and fibrinogen showing increases in relation to SDB severity. The study suggests that even mild levels of SDB may pose an enhanced risk for cardiovascular disease.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJun 14, 2010

Straw residue helps keep nitrogen on the farm

Research found that adding straw residue to hairy vetch cover crops can reduce legume nitrogen losses, but may lower crop yields. The study revealed that straw residue reduced soil inorganic nitrogen content by an average of 7.3% compared to treatments with only legume residues.

SourcePenn State·JournalAgronomy Journal·DateJun 14, 2010

Reinventing the wheel -- naturally

A Duke University engineer, Adrian Bejan, argues that animal movement is like a natural wheel, distributing stresses uniformly. As animals evolve to move better, they develop fewer legs, allowing them to rise higher with each stride and increase their speed.

SourceDuke University·JournalAmerican Journal of Physics·DateJun 14, 2010

Sequence and structure key to prion disease transmission

A study by Adriano Aguzzi and Christina Sigurdson found that the local structure of PrPC protein influenced prion transmissibility between different species. The researchers identified a molecular switch controlling interspecies prion disease transmission in mice, providing new insight into food safety risks associated with BSE.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 14, 2010

High yield crops keep carbon emissions low

A new report found that high-yield crop varieties developed during the Green Revolution have helped keep greenhouse gas emissions at bay, avoiding nearly 600 billion tons of CO2. The study estimated that agricultural research has averted carbon dioxide emissions at a cost of about $4 per ton of CO2.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2010

Study of severe asthma using CT scans

Researchers at the University of Leicester have found that CT scans can monitor progression of severe asthma and check how it responds to treatment. The study suggests that CT-derived measures of structural changes in lungs and airways may be used as a non-invasive marker for asthma.

Many clinicians may be screening for cervical cancer too frequently

Clinical guidelines recommend screening low-risk women every three years after age 30, but most primary care clinicians advocate for more frequent testing. Annual Pap testing has helped decrease cervical cancer burden, but cost-effectiveness models suggest overuse may increase costs with little improvement in outcomes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateJun 14, 2010

Getting to the root of nutrient sensing

Plants perceive nutrient availability through NRT1.1 nitrate transporter stimulation, inducing lateral root growth in nitrate-rich patches. This mechanism regulates root branching by controlling auxin accumulation, demonstrating a connection between nutrient and hormone signaling during organ development.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJun 14, 2010

Taking aim at metastatic lung tumors

A recent study uses genomic analysis to understand complex cellular signals driving lung cancer's deadly spread. The research identifies specific molecules linked to non-small cell lung cancer's (NSCLC) invasive and metastatic processes, providing a basis for effective therapies.

SourceCell Press·JournalCancer Cell·DateJun 14, 2010

Study: Adults take their physical activity on the road

A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that adults' moderate to vigorous physical activity is linked to neighborhood characteristics such as residential housing density and connected streets. Most physical activity occurs within a 1-kilometer buffer zone around their homes.

SourcePurdue University·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJun 14, 2010