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Science News for July 19, 2011


Positive teens become healthier adults

A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that teenagers with high positive well-being had reduced risk of engaging in unhealthy behaviors and reported excellent health in young adulthood. Positive psychological characteristics during adolescence are linked to improved long-term health outcomes.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateJul 19, 2011

Patients who use anti-depressants are more likely to suffer relapse, researcher finds

A meta-analysis by McMaster researcher Paul Andrews found that patients who have used anti-depressant medications can be nearly twice as susceptible to future episodes of major depression. The study suggests that people who have not been taking any medication are at a 25 per cent risk of relapse, compared to 42 per cent or higher for t...

SourceMcMaster University·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateJul 19, 2011

Mysterious fossils provide new clues to insect evolution

Scientists uncover ancient fossils of Coxoplectoptera, an insect order that defies classification, offering clues to the evolution of wings and lifestyle. The discovery presents a new hypothesis on the development of insect wings, suggesting they originated from thoracic backplates.

SourceBrill·JournalInsect Systematics & Evolution·DateJul 19, 2011

New mouse model for testing cancer drugs

Researchers developed a new mouse model to test cancer drugs by simulating gene inhibition, preventing rapid cell division in cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. The study published in Nature Communications validates the preclinical relevance and predictive value of the inducible RNAi-based mouse model.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 19, 2011

Falls may be early sign of Alzheimer's

A study found that participants with high levels of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's, had twice the typical annual rate of falls for their age group. This suggests that falls may be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease in people with preclinical symptoms.

Evolution of the evolutionarily minded

A new framework for the evolutionary analysis of the mind proposes that humans cannot be accurately portrayed as being adapted only to a Stone Age environment due to recent selection of genes. Experimental evidence suggests that humans utilize general learning rules rather than a modular account of cognition.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 19, 2011

Quick test to diagnose bacterial or viral infection developed by Ben-Gurion University researchers

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University developed a new test that distinguishes between bacterial and viral infections by measuring chemiluminescence. This timesaving method has predictive diagnostic value and could reduce antibiotic misuse and healthcare costs, as well as provide more accurate treatment.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalJournal of Analytical Chemistry·DateJul 19, 2011

Painful legacy of teen sports

Research reveals abnormal femur development in young athletes due to high-intensity sports, leading to osteoarthritis and hip deformity. Athletes are ten times more likely to experience impaired hip function than non-athletes.

SourceSpringer·JournalClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research·DateJul 19, 2011

How dairy farms contribute to greenhouse gas emissions

Agricultural Research Service scientists monitored emissions from a commercial dairy in southern Idaho, revealing that open-lot pens generate the majority of facility's ammonia, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions. The study provides detailed data on how large-scale dairy facilities contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Gradual bone reduction seen in some pill users

A study by Group Health Research Institute found that oral contraceptives can slow down bone gain in young women, especially those taking higher hormone doses. The study measured bone densities in 301 teen and 305 young adult women who used oral contraceptives, compared to similar women who did not use this method.

SourceGroup Health Research Institute·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJul 19, 2011

Memories may skew visual perception

Researchers found that holding a memory of a visual event can 'contaminate' visual perception, leading to exaggerated misperceptions. The study used a visual illusion to demonstrate this effect, showing participants reported more dramatic changes in motion direction than actually existed.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateJul 19, 2011

University of Maryland researchers discover possible drug targets for common non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found a complex molecular relationship between ERK and CHK2 proteins, which could lead to new treatments for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The study showed that inhibiting both proteins simultaneously killed more cancer cells than treating them separately.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Medical Center·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 19, 2011

Plenary speakers address challenges in the delivery of sustained antiretroviral therapy in developing countries, call for social scientists to take their place at the HIV/AIDS policy-making table, and stress the need for a long-term response to AIDS

Researchers stress need for long-term response to AIDS, citing financing, retention, and socio-political instability as major challenges. Social scientists urged to take part in policy-making table.

Vascular disease management increasingly important

The latest evidence-based vascular medicine provides comprehensive guidance on managing noncardiac vascular diseases, including PAD, carotid stenosis, renal artery stenosis, chronic mesenteric ischemia, and critical limb ischemia. The series of articles offers expert clinicians the tools they need to improve patient care.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalProgress in Cardiovascular Diseases·DateJul 19, 2011