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Science News Archive October 2011 - Page 22


Page 22 of 28

Drug prevents bone loss side effects of breast cancer medication

A new study has found that zoledronic acid can prevent and treat bone loss in postmenopausal breast cancer patients taking aromatase inhibitors. The five-year study showed significant increases in bone density when the drug was administered upfront, but also found that initiating treatment even after bone loss developed was beneficial.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateOct 10, 2011

Peanut allergy turned off by tricking immune system

Researchers have developed a method to create tolerance in the immune system by attaching peanut proteins onto blood cells and reintroducing them. This approach has shown promise in preventing life-threatening allergic reactions. By tricking the immune system, researchers hope to target multiple food allergies at once.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalThe Journal of Immunology·DateOct 10, 2011

Giant kraken lair discovered

Researchers have discovered a remarkable fossil site in Nevada where the remains of nine 45-foot-long ichthyosaurs suggest an even larger and more cunning sea monster existed: a Triassic kraken. The evidence implies that this ancient cephalopod was capable of intelligent manipulation of bones and preyed on these massive reptiles.

New technique unlocks secrets of ancient ocean

Researchers from Arizona State University developed a new geochemical technique to study the Earth's largest mass extinction event. The study found that the period of oceanic anoxia was much shorter than previously estimated, occurring at most tens of thousands of years before the extinction event.

SourceArizona State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2011

'SIRT(ain)' benefit of reducing calories

A team of researchers has identified Sirt1 as a crucial protein linking caloric restriction to improved insulin action in skeletal muscle. This finding provides new targets for therapeutics to reduce insulin resistance and lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 10, 2011

Mayo Clinic study identifies earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease

A Mayo Clinic study recommends adding categories to more effectively identify and treat people with preclinical Alzheimer's disease, a long latent stage of the disease. The researchers suggest two additional sub-groups: Stage 0 (normal biomarkers and no cognitive impairment) and SNAP patients (with suspected non-AD pathophysiology).

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateOct 10, 2011

Researchers study aging's effect on the brain

Research by biologists at the University of York has revealed that under stressful conditions, synapses can grow excessively, potentially contributing to dysfunction. This finding has strong implications for neuronal function as brains age and adds significantly to our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2011

Combination therapies for drug-resistant cancers

Researchers identified a potential combination therapy to effectively use receptor tyrosine kinases inhibitors for KRAS mutant colorectal cancers by combining with MEK/ERK signaling pathway inhibitors. This approach could offer new treatment options for individuals with KRAS mutant cancers.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 10, 2011

Progress in quantum computing, qubit by qubit

Researchers at Harvard University have successfully controlled the rate of photon emission from luminescent imperfections in diamond, a crucial step towards developing scalable quantum networks. The breakthrough uses nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond to emit red photons at room temperature.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Photonics·DateOct 9, 2011

If you don't snooze, do you lose?

A University of Wisconsin-Madison study suggests that short-term sleep restriction in adolescent mice prevented balanced growth and depletion of brain synapses, which may have lasting consequences for the wiring of the brain. The study's findings could be relevant to mental illnesses like schizophrenia that often start during adolescence.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 9, 2011

Smarter toxins help crops fight resistant pests

A UA-led team of researchers discovered a new edge in overcoming resistance to certain pests by modifying the structure of crop-protecting proteins called Bt toxins. The modified toxins were found to be effective against some resistant strains, but not always working as expected and requiring further testing.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateOct 9, 2011

Over past decade antiretroviral therapy has tripled the proportion of adults in western Europe achieving undetectable levels of HIV after failing all 3 original drug classes

Over the past decade, antiretroviral therapy has effectively managed HIV in adults with virological failure to all three original drug classes. Since 2000, nearly one in five patients achieved undetectable viral loads after treatment failure, increasing to nearly three in five by 2009.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateOct 9, 2011

Study shows how bookmarking genes pre-cell division hastens their subsequent reactivation

A recent study published in Nature Cell Biology has discovered that bookmarking genes before cell division accelerates their reactivation afterwards. By analyzing the kinetics of gene activation, researchers found that a histone molecule undergoes chemical modification and is preserved during mitosis, allowing for rapid reactivation.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateOct 9, 2011

Survey gives clues to origin of Type Ia supernovae

A new survey suggests that many Type Ia supernovae result from the merger of two white dwarf stars, challenging previous theories about their origins. The study, which analyzed data from distant exploding stars, found that these events may be more common than previously thought and could provide insights into the history of the universe.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 7, 2011