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Science News for December 6, 2011


Soy is on top as a high-quality plant protein

A recent study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry has evaluated a new method for determining protein quality. Soy protein was found to be a high-quality protein with a PDCAAS score of 1.00, comparable to animal-based proteins like eggs, dairy, and meat.

SourceSolae, LLC·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateDec 6, 2011

New predictive tool identifies gastrointestinal cancer patients most likely to benefit from additional treatment and could reduce overtreatment

A new predictive tool has been developed to assess the risk of recurrence in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) following surgery. The tool provides more accurate prognosis for individual GIST patients compared to conventional models, helping to identify those most likely to benefit from additional treatment.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateDec 6, 2011

Dental X-rays can predict fractures

A new study from the University of Gothenburg found that dental X-rays can predict who is at risk of fractures. The research used data from a long-running Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg and showed that people with sparse bone structure in their jaw are more likely to experience fractures, particularly as they age.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBone·DateDec 6, 2011

Fatty livers are in overdrive

Researchers found that patients with fatty livers burn more fat and produce glucose faster than those with healthy livers, potentially leading to organ damage. The study's findings challenge previous assumptions about the role of metabolism in fatty liver disease.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateDec 6, 2011

Changes in the path of brain development make human brains unique

A new study found that human brain development differs from chimpanzees and macaques, with hundreds of genes showing unique developmental patterns in the prefrontal cortex. MicroRNA activity patterns also showed significant differences, potentially linked to human-specific changes in cognitive abilities.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateDec 6, 2011

LSUHSC research finds many women not receiving recommended breast cancer adjuvant treatment

A significant number of women with breast cancer are not receiving guideline-recommended adjuvant treatment. The research found that socioeconomic factors such as poverty, insurance status, and education level significantly contribute to this disparity. Women from high-poverty areas were less likely to receive guideline therapy, highli...

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateDec 6, 2011

New tick-borne disease discovered in Gothenburg

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have discovered a brand new tick-borne infection, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, which causes Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in people with impaired immune systems. The infection has been reported in eight cases worldwide, three in the Gothenburg area.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalJournal of Clinical Microbiology·DateDec 6, 2011

Concussion testing makes everyone tired

Researchers found that long neuropsychological tests can induce mental fatigue in healthy, athletically active subjects. The study aims to establish a baseline measurement for concussion diagnosis and prevent re-injuries by testing athletes at the beginning of their season.

SourcePenn State·JournalClinical Neurophysiology·DateDec 6, 2011

Study finds side effects, complications, mastectomy more likely after partial breast irradiation

A retrospective study found that women treated with accelerated partial breast irradiation therapy have a two-fold increased risk for subsequent mastectomy, most likely due to tumor recurrence or local complications. APBI brachytherapy was also associated with higher incidence of acute and late toxicities compared to traditional whole ...

With mutation, you can have your cream and eat it, too

A study found that individuals carrying a mutant gene associated with high HDL cholesterol can more efficiently clear triglycerides from their system. This discovery provides new insights into the role of glycosylation in lipid metabolism and has implications for the treatment of heart disease.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateDec 6, 2011

Combating counterfeit medicines

Counterfeit medicines pose significant health risks, and experts argue that the World Health Organization (WHO) should play a key role in combating them. The authors propose an international treaty on medicine quality under WHO auspices to address this issue.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 6, 2011

Addressing pain and disease on the fly

Researchers at Brandeis University discover that fruit flies use two forms of TRPA1 to sense warmth and chemicals, providing potential solutions for chronic pain and disease control. The study's findings have implications for developing bug sprays and traps to combat mosquito-borne diseases.

SourceBrandeis University·JournalNature·DateDec 6, 2011

Study finds new triple drug combination increases tumour eradication in HER2-positive breast cancer by more than 50 percent compared with standard treatment

A new triple drug combination has been shown to increase tumour eradication in HER2-positive breast cancer by more than half, with 46% of patients achieving a pathological complete response. The treatment was well-tolerated and did not significantly increase side effects or cardiac risk compared to standard therapy.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateDec 6, 2011

Study suggests flexible workplaces promote better health behavior and well-being

A flexible workplace initiative improved employees' health behavior and well-being by increasing the amount and quality of sleep, better health management, and reducing work-family conflict. Employees participating in the initiative reported significant improvements in sleep quality, energy levels, and self-reported health.

SourceAmerican Sociological Association·JournalJournal of Health and Social Behavior·DateDec 6, 2011

Baby see, baby do?

Researchers from Concordia University found that infants can differentiate between trustworthy and untrustworthy sources. In a series of experiments, infants were shown to imitate actions from reliable adults more frequently than those from unreliable adults. This study contributes to the understanding of infant cognition and social le...

SourceConcordia University·JournalInfant Behavior and Development·DateDec 6, 2011

UK burden of injury is 2.6 times higher than previously thought

A study published in PLOS Medicine estimated that the absolute burden of injury in the UK is much higher than previously estimated, with 1,771,486 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) related to injury in 2005. The majority of injuries were unintentional, and home was the most frequent location of injury.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 6, 2011

Random noise helps make signals clearer

A new model shows that stochastic resonance occurs when the potential has sufficiently steep walls, but breaks down otherwise. This phenomenon could contribute to improving image resolution and understanding of biological systems.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateDec 6, 2011

Study of Yellowstone wolves improves ability to predict their responses to environmental changes

Researchers tracked wolf characteristics in Yellowstone National Park from 1998 to 2009, finding that some traits are related to population ecology, while others are genetically determined. The study developed a new model to predict wolf responses to environmental conditions, which suggests that mean environmental changes impact wolf p...