Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive March 2011 - Page 8


Page 8 of 28

MRSA infection shown to be seasonal

A new study from Rhode Island Hospital found a significant increase in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections during the summer and autumn months, particularly among pediatric patients. The researchers attribute this seasonal variation to high temperatures and humidity promoting microbial growth on the skin.

SourceLifespan·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 24, 2011

Researchers reveal remarkable fossil

Researchers have discovered a remarkable 525-million-year-old fossil of a 'feathered helmet from beyond the clouds,' offering insights into ancient biology and evolution. The find belongs to a group called pterobranch hemichordates, related to starfish and sea urchins.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 24, 2011

Good news! Hope makes headlines

Researchers from McGill University found that cancer coverage has increased in Canadian newspapers over the past 20 years, with a greater emphasis on positivity and hope. However, the study also identified a gap in coverage of palliative care and psychological aspects of cancer.

SourceMcGill University·JournalSupportive Care in Cancer·DateMar 24, 2011

Closing in on the pseudogap

A team of scientists has found that the pseudogap in high-temperature superconductors is not a gradual transition to superconductivity, but rather a distinct phase of matter. This discovery challenges current understanding and opens up new possibilities for achieving superconductivity at higher temperatures.

Great Depression did not significantly improve life expectancy in the US

A new study by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found no significant impact of the Great Depression on mortality rates in urban US populations. The study suggests that government responses to economic crises can affect health outcomes, with protective effects observed during periods like the New Deal.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateMar 24, 2011

Around 25 percent of health messages in Spanish text books are not based on scientific evidence

A study by Baza Hospital found that 24.6% of health messages in primary and secondary school text books are not based on scientific evidence. The research analyzed 844 messages, with 61% classified as having an unknown level of evidence, and identified high levels of scientific proof in topics like oral health and pregnancy.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalBMC Public Health·DateMar 24, 2011

Rapid etching X-rayed

Researchers at Kiel University developed a method to track atomic-scale changes during etching and coating, revealing uniform metal removal. The technique enabled detection of reactions within milliseconds, providing insights into industrially employed processes.

SourceKiel University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 23, 2011

'Knowing it in your gut' is real

Researchers found that gut bacteria influence how the brain is wired for learning and memory, leading to anxiety-like behavior. The study also suggests that targeting the immune system and gut function could lead to new therapies for psychiatric illnesses.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalNeurogastroenterology & Motility·DateMar 23, 2011

Traumatizing your DNA

A Tel Aviv University researcher warns that environmental stressors like pollution and stress can alter gene expression in a way that affects the human genome. This epigenetic inheritance can be passed down to future generations, with potential long-term impacts on health.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalThe Quarterly Review of Biology·DateMar 23, 2011

The evolution of brain wiring: Navigating to the neocortex

A new study has provided insight into the evolutionary scenario guiding sensory information projections in different species. Researchers discovered that subtle changes in the migration of 'guidepost' neurons underlie major differences in brain connectivity between mammals and nonmammalian vertebrates.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateMar 23, 2011

Molecular muscle: Small parts of a big protein play key roles in building tissues

A team at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology found that tiny pieces of a protein called tenascin-C can bind to specific sites on another protein, helping to construct tissue. These small domains may help stop uncontrolled matrix deposition in conditions like fibrosis, making them potential tools for controlling diseases.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMar 23, 2011

Why salad helps you say yes to 'NO'

Researchers found that supplementing rats with nitrate before vessel injury limited damage, while a diet low in nitrate exacerbated it. The study suggests that leafy green diets may benefit vascular health through nitric oxide production.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 23, 2011

Long-term study: Robot-assisted prostate surgery is safe

A study of over 3,000 patients found robot-assisted prostate surgery to be safe, with a low major complication rate and no disease recurrence after five years for nearly 87 percent of patients. The study analyzed surgical outcomes from 2005 to 2009 and addressed the lack of standardized reporting in previous literature.

SourceHenry Ford Health·JournalEuropean Urology·DateMar 23, 2011

JCI online early table of contents: March 23, 2011

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh discovered a new nitric oxide pathway that protects against intimal hyperplasia in rats. The study found that supplementing rats with nitrate before vessel injury markedly limited damage, while a diet low in nitrate exacerbated it.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 23, 2011