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Science News Archive May 2010 - Page 24


Page 24 of 26

Study documents geographic variation in childhood obesity

A study found significant geographic variation in childhood obesity rates across the US, with Southern states having higher rates than Western states. Obesity rates varied by state, with Mississippi and Arizona having the highest rates and Oregon and Utah having the lowest.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateMay 3, 2010

Study evaluates importance of timeliness of care in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that more than 90% of breast cancer patients had their expectations met or exceeded with regard to dates of service. The study highlights the importance of balancing timeliness with safety, effectiveness and equity in patient satisfaction.

SourceWeber Shandwick Worldwide·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateMay 3, 2010

Genetic makeup of Hispanic/Latino Americans influenced by Native American, European and African-American ancestries

A new study found that Hispanic/Latino individuals have varying genetic makeups due to the influence of multiple ancestral populations. The research discovered a significant sex bias consistent with the disproportionate contribution of European male and Native American female ancestry.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2010

Rescue NET for lupus patients

Scientists discovered that Lupus patients lack or have blocked DNase-1, an enzyme degrading NETs, leading to their accumulation in the kidneys. This impairs NET degradation, increasing kidney failure risk. A new test based on this finding may enable early diagnosis and treatment.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2010

CO2 effects on plants increases global warming

A new study by Carnegie Institution researchers found that CO2's direct effect on plants contributes to global warming, with evapotranspiration effects accounting for 16% of land surface warming globally. High carbon dioxide levels can lead to increased runoff and stronger climate predictions require considering plant responses.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2010

May's Cold Spring Harbor Protocols features plant gene expression methods, Xenopus imaging

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has published new methods for plant gene expression and Xenopus imaging, enabling faster and more efficient investigation of gene function. These protocols utilize Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and confocal microscopy to study cellular behavior and subcellular processes in plants and frog embryos.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalCold Spring Harbor Protocols·DateMay 3, 2010

Conquering a severe complication of celiac disease

A team of researchers has identified IL-15 as a key player in the development of enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma, a high-grade invasive lymphoma associated with severe celiac disease. Treatment with an antibody directed at IL-15 successfully wiped out intraepithelial lymphocytes in mice overexpressing human IL-15.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 3, 2010

JCI online early table of contents: May 3, 2010

A study found that the protein tPA protects nerve cells in the brain from death caused by reduced blood flow, leading to two proposed models for its protective effect. Another study identified IL-15 as a potential new target for treating type II refractory celiac disease.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 3, 2010

Cold-blooded mothers: Magpie parents seem to induce mortality of 'unwanted' chicks

Researchers found that magpies exhibit 'rarer-sex disadvantage,' where sons die more when daughters are present and vice versa. This phenomenon challenges previous hypotheses on nestling mortality and suggests that parents may adjust their brood sex ratio through sex-biased mortality.

A shrunken giant

A team of researchers from the University of Bonn has confirmed that Magyarosaurus dacus was a dwarf sauropod dinosaur, contrary to earlier theories that it was just a juvenile. The study reveals that dinosaurs on islands underwent the same ecological and evolutionary processes as modern mammals.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2010

Users believe electronic cigarettes can help you quit

A recent survey of e-cigarette users found that the devices are helpful in quitting smoking for most people. However, respondents expressed concerns about potential health risks and the lack of regulation surrounding e-cigarettes. The study highlights the need for further research on the efficacy and safety of e-cigarettes.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Public Health·DateMay 3, 2010

Earlier, later puberty may trigger aggression in boys

Research found that earlier puberty in boys triggers chemicals related to antisocial behavior, while later puberty is associated with higher levels of cortisol. This study suggests that parents should be aware of the potential impact of puberty on their children's behavior and provide sensitive support.

SourcePenn State·JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology·DateMay 3, 2010

ADA releases updated position paper on nutrition assistance programs for children

The American Dietetic Association's updated position paper highlights the importance of nutrition assistance programs for children, citing barriers to participation and the need for more research. The organization encourages programs like School Breakfast, School Lunch, and WIC to be available to all eligible children and adolescents.

SourceAmerican Dietetic Association·JournalJournal of the American Dietetic Association·DateMay 3, 2010

A new approach that saves eyesight and lives in the developing world

A new approach to boosting vitamin A levels in corn has been developed by US scientists, with potential to reduce child blindness and mortality in developing regions. The research identified genetic sequences linked to higher beta-carotene levels in corn and demonstrated an inexpensive method to identify and breed high-yielding varieties.

Stanford imaging study discovers brain development differences in kids with fragile X syndrome

A longitudinal study found that brains of young boys with fragile X syndrome differ from those without the condition, showing an overabundance of gray matter in certain regions and diminished presence in others. This knowledge can be used to monitor new therapies' effectiveness in restoring brain structure and function.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 3, 2010

Tags on, tags off

Researchers at EMBL identified a new Polycomb group complex, PR-DUB, which surprisingly removes the same gene-silencing tag as another complex. This unexpected behavior may be a case of fine-tuning to maintain optimal levels of chemical tagging.