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Science News Archive March 2011 - Page 17


Page 17 of 28

Surgical technique helps adult male survivors of childhood cancer regain fertility

A new study shows that a surgical technique called microdissection testicular sperm extraction (TESE) can effectively locate and extract viable sperm in over one-third of adult male childhood cancer survivors who were previously considered sterile. This technique enabled many men to father children with the help of in vitro fertilization.

SourceAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateMar 14, 2011

Zoo researchers provide African sanctuaries road map

Eleven Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) member facilities are facing increased demand for chimpanzee care, with a projected 56 new arrivals annually. The study provides a roadmap for resource, infrastructure, and financial planning to support their growth and ensure long-term sustainability.

SourceLincoln Park Zoo·JournalInternational Journal of Primatology·DateMar 14, 2011

JCI online early table of contents: March 14, 2011

Researchers have discovered that T cells from elite HIV controllers upregulate a protein called p21, which inhibits viral replication. This finding may inform the development of new treatments for patients susceptible to HIV's devastating effects. Meanwhile, two new studies shed light on pediatric brain tumors and lung cancer metastasis.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 14, 2011

Orchid wears the scent of death

Researchers have discovered that the orchid Satyrium pumilum uses carrion mimicry to attract specific species of flies for pollination. The study found that only female flesh-flies were attracted to the orchids, and that scent plays a crucial role in guiding them into the right position to pick up pollen.

SourceOxford University Press UK·JournalAnnals of Botany·DateMar 14, 2011

Host change alters toxic cocktail

A fundamental change in the genome of leaf beetles has emerged, resulting in the loss of salicylaldehyde-producing enzyme salicyl alcohol oxidase in birch feeders. This adaptation allows birch beetles to save resources by not producing the enzyme, which is only needed for willow feeders.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2011

Why are the elderly so vulnerable to pneunomia?

A study published in The Journal of Immunology reveals that the elderly are more susceptible to pneumonia and bacterial infections due to a decline in immune system cells. Researchers have found that macrophages and B cells, which fight bacteria, appear effective but are fewer in number, making them less effective. Developing targeted ...

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Immunology·DateMar 11, 2011

New technology to predict future appearance

A Concordia researcher has developed a highly effective computer program to age photographic images of people's faces, improving the accuracy of age-estimation for missing-child investigations and national security. The technique combines active appearance models and support vector regression to predict future facial appearance.

Extra iron doesn't help many pregnant women

A recent study found that daily iron supplements do not significantly increase hemoglobin levels in healthy pregnant women, but can help alleviate iron-poor blood conditions in Africa. Researchers followed over 1,000 pregnant women and discovered that all participants ended with similar iron levels after three months.

SourceInstitute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateMar 11, 2011

Simple blood test detects early emphysema in smokers before symptoms appear

A new blood test measures destruction of lung air sacs and can detect early emphysema in smokers, potentially preventing disease progression. The test is a low-cost screening tool that could help the 20% of American adults who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke understand their risk of developing this progressive lung disease.

SourceNewYork-Presbyterian·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateMar 11, 2011

Getting organized: Berkeley Lab study shows how breast cell communities organize into breast tissue

Researchers discovered that human mammary epithelial cells possess lineage-specific intrinsic abilities to self-organize into domains of lineage specificity, maintaining healthy bi-layered branching organization. The study provides insights into the coordination of stem cell differentiation and tissue architecture maintenance.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2011

Keys to long life

A groundbreaking study by University of California, Riverside researchers found that personality characteristics and social relations from childhood can predict one's risk of dying decades later. The Longevity Project followed over 1,500 bright children for 20 years, revealing that prudence and persistence are key to a long life.

Trapping prostate cancer cells to keep them from spreading provides hope

Trapping prostate cancer stem cells with self-assembling nanomaterials inhibits colony formation and cell division in vitro. The approach may offer a new treatment strategy for metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer by targeting cancer stem cells, which are thought to be the origin of tumor metastasis.