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Science News Archive June 2010 - Page 16


Page 16 of 24

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

How bacteria make syringes

Researchers elucidated the basic principles of bacterial transport channel assembly, a mechanism used by pathogens to deliver virulence factors. The discovery opens doors to developing anti-infective drugs that can target this process before antibiotics, offering a major advantage in infection treatment.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateJun 13, 2010

University Hospitals Case Medical Center cardiologists discover cancer risks in blood pressure meds

Cardiologists at University Hospitals Case Medical Center have discovered a significant association between angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) and an increased risk of new cancers. The meta-analysis found that patients taking ARBs had a 8-11% higher risk of developing new cancer compared to those taking control medications.

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateJun 13, 2010

Pumping up the heat for a climate-friendly future

A new high-temperature heat pump technology has been developed to tap into geothermal energy sources, providing a renewable and inexhaustible energy supply. The system uses waste water from geothermal wells, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and CO2 emissions in European towns.

SourceEUREKA·DateJun 11, 2010

New microbial genetic system dissects biomass to biofuel conversion

A new microbial genetic system has been developed to dissect biomass to biofuel conversion, allowing for the efficient extraction of sugar molecules from biomass polymers. This breakthrough enables researchers to study the functional significance of specific enzymes and understand how microorganisms carry out the complex process of pla...

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateJun 11, 2010