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Science News Archive July 2011 - Page 11


Page 11 of 25

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

Study examines factors in pediatric kidney transplant rejection

A retrospective cohort study examines the relationship between HLA-DR mismatching and rejection in pediatric kidney transplant patients. The study found that patients with 1- or 2-HLA-DRB1 mismatches had a 70% increased risk of allograft rejection, while those with a history of rejection had a 7.7 times greater odds of graft failure.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Surgery·DateJul 18, 2011

Trastuzumab and chemotherapy improved survival in HER2-postive breast and brain cancer patients

A study published in Clinical Cancer Research found that trastuzumab, chemotherapy, and surgery significantly improved overall survival in HER2-positive breast and brain cancer patients. Treatment with these therapies led to improved survival rates of up to 20 months for those with central nervous system metastases.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateJul 18, 2011

Keeping it together

Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory have discovered a protein complex called condensin that keeps chromosome arms folded and easy to transport. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of how chromosomes are organized during cell division, with implications for our own cells' ability to divide properly.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateJul 18, 2011

WHOI scientists analyze, explain the chemical makeup of Gulf plume

A research team led by WHOI has determined the chemical makeup of a deep hydrocarbon-containing plume in the Gulf of Mexico, shedding light on its composition and potential effects on ocean life. The study found that the plume contained high concentrations of BTEX compounds, which can be toxic to aquatic organisms.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 18, 2011

JCI online early table of contents: July 18, 2011

Researchers have identified a protein called MYLIP as a potential new target for lowering LDL cholesterol levels, which are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Additionally, platinum-based drugs have been found to promote anticancer immune responses by disrupting the mechanisms used by tumors to inhibit immune cells.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 18, 2011

MIT: The tallest tree in the land

The MIT model takes basic meteorological data and computes how tall a tree is likely to grow under those conditions. The team's results have been published in PLoS One and match up well with actual measurements from the US Forest Service, except for two geographic regions: the arid Southwest and parts of New England.

Face value

A new study by MIT researchers reveals that low-information voters are most influenced by candidate appearances, with the effect being stronger among those who watch a lot of television. The study found a nearly 5% increase in votes for candidates with a 10-point advantage in appearance ratings among uninformed voters.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAmerican Journal of Political Science·DateJul 18, 2011

Personalized medicine

Despite genomics' promise in treating cancer and cardiovascular disease, personalized medicine's complexities limit tailored interventions. The authors advocate for a more holistic approach focusing on the person as a whole, rather than abstract scientific manipulations.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateJul 18, 2011

Promising developments in vaccine research, development of a vaginal gel and PrEP lead to calls for a combination of biomedical and non biomedical approaches to HIV prevention policy

Researchers call for integrated strategies to prevent HIV infection, building on progress in vaccine research and the development of a vaginal gel. A combination of biomedical and non-biomedical approaches is seen as crucial to address the evolving landscape of HIV prevention.

Cancer stem cells recruit normal stem cells to fuel ovarian cancer, U-M study finds

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that mesenchymal stem cells, normally used for wound healing, are recruited by cancer stem cells to fuel ovarian cancer growth. By blocking this process with a protein called BMP2, researchers may have discovered a potential therapy for ovarian cancer.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJul 18, 2011

Launch of the Rome Statement for an HIV Cure

The Rome Statement for an HIV Cure aims to accelerate HIV cure research by building a global consensus on the state of HIV reservoirs and defining scientific priorities. The strategy recognizes the importance of developing a safe, accessible, and scalable HIV cure as a therapeutic and preventive strategy against HIV infection.