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Science News Archive January 2011 - Page 19


Page 19 of 22

Study of 'sarcoid-like' granulomatous pulmonary disease finds elevated rates in WTC responders

A Mount Sinai study found a significant increase in the rate of 'sarcoid-like' granulomatous pulmonary disease among World Trade Center (WTC) responders compared to pre-9/11 FDNY personnel. The condition was associated with environmental exposures and lung function abnormalities.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine·DateJan 6, 2011

British scientists head off on polar expedition

A team of British scientists are heading to the Antarctic Peninsula to collect rock samples and analyze their mineralogy, geochemistry, and isotopic character to determine how glaciers and ice sheets behaved in past climates. They aim to predict how these natural systems will react in years to come if temperatures continue to rise.

It's complicated: Despite the challenges, collaboration is key in kidney disease care

A study found that most primary care physicians and kidney specialists prefer shared care for patients with progressive chronic kidney disease, but their preferences on how and when to collaborate differ. Effective collaboration is crucial in slowing CKD progression or preparing patients for dialysis or transplantation.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateJan 6, 2011

Babies process language in a grown-up way

Researchers at UC San Diego found that babies over a year old process words with adult-like brain structures and meanings, challenging previous theories on infant language development. The study used MEG and MRI to map brain activity in infants and confirmed the same left frontotemporal areas activated in adults for word meaning.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateJan 6, 2011

Neural stem cells maintain high levels of reactive oxygen species, UCLA study finds

Researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research found that neural stem cells maintain high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to help regulate normal self-renewal and differentiation. The findings may have significant implications for brain repair and abnormal brain development.

Cancer in a single catastrophe

Researchers have discovered that cancer can arise rapidly after a single catastrophic event involving tens to hundreds of genomic rearrangements. This phenomenon, known as chromothripsis, is seen in at least two percent of all cancers and up to 25 percent of bone cancers.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJan 6, 2011

A blood test for Alzheimer's disease?

Researchers have created a potential method for detecting Alzheimer's disease with a simple blood test using synthetic molecules. The new technology may lead to blood tests for many important diseases if it proves successful.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJan 6, 2011

Packaging that knows when food is going off

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde are developing a new type of indicator made of 'intelligent plastics' that changes color when food is about to spoil, cutting unnecessary waste by up to 8.3 million tonnes in the UK each year. This technology aims to improve food safety and reduce the economic damage caused by food waste.

New study reveals impact of eating disorders on Native-Americans

A new study by Professor Ruth Striegel-Moore and team found that Native American (NA) women are more likely to report behavioral symptoms of eating disorders than men. Research also revealed a parallel between NA women and ethnically white women when considering binge eating, purging and eating disorder diagnoses.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders·DateJan 6, 2011

Different sources, same result

Scientists found that hepatocyte-like cells derived from iPS cells exhibit 80% similar gene expression to those from embryonic stem cells, but less than that of real human liver cells. The study suggests that further adaptation is needed for iPSC-derived hepatocytes to be used in treating liver diseases.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalStem Cells and Development·DateJan 5, 2011

Catfish study reveals multiplicity of species

Researchers found that communities of similar-looking catfish often comprise multiple species, highlighting the hidden diversity and complexity of neotropical freshwater ecosystems. The discovery has significant implications for environmental conservation, as many rivers are facing large-scale development and habitat destruction.

SourceBangor University·JournalNature·DateJan 5, 2011

Oxygen's challenge to early life

Researchers found evidence of oxygen-poor ocean conditions lasting 2-4 million years after the first appearance of animals, suggesting fluctuating oxygen levels may have driven rapid evolutionary turnover during the Cambrian Period. This study provides new insights into how early life evolved and flourished on Earth.

Antibiotic resistance is not just genetic

Researchers discovered interplay between genetic and persistence mechanisms in bacteria, leading to novel effective treatments for multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections. Persistence cells are temporarily hyper-resistant to antibiotics, causing treatment failure and contributing to chronic bacterial infections.

SourceMicrobiology Society·JournalJournal of Medical Microbiology·DateJan 5, 2011

Study confirms 2 vaccine doses protect children from chickenpox

A new study confirms that two doses of the varicella, or chickenpox, vaccine provide excellent protection in children against this highly contagious and, in some cases, severe disease. The study found that the effectiveness of two doses of vaccine was 98.3 percent in protecting against varicella, significantly higher than one dose.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateJan 5, 2011