Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive January 2013 - Page 12


Page 12 of 27

New drug protects against side effects of chemotherapy

A new drug called calmangafodipir has been developed to protect healthy cells from side effects of cancer treatments while enhancing the anti-tumor effect. The compound was derived from a contrast media used in magnetic resonance scans and shows promise in reducing white blood cell counts and preventing infections.

SourceLinköping University·JournalTranslational Oncology·DateJan 22, 2013

2013 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine

Michael Stratton and Peter Hegemann received the 2013 Louis-Jeantet Prize for their discovery of ion channels activated by light, known as optogenetics, which holds promise for treating neurological diseases. They will use the prize money to continue their research on proteins that can be activated by light.

SourceEMBO·DateJan 22, 2013

A diffusion trap

Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research have made crucial discoveries about the development of cell polarity. They found that diffusion traps, created by sticky regions on the membrane, play a crucial role in maintaining cell polarity.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 22, 2013

Monkeys stressed from longer foraging times

In endangered Mexican howler monkeys, habitat disturbance leads to increased 'travel time' foraging and high levels of stress hormones. Researchers found that fruit is a crucial component of their natural diet, and lack of fruit availability forces them to spend more time seeking out nutritious foliage.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalInternational Journal of Primatology·DateJan 21, 2013

Human-tiger conflict: Are the risks overestimated?

A new study published in Springer's Human Ecology journal explores the complex web of factors increasing perceived risk of tiger attack in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh. The researchers found that poverty-related issues, such as low incomes and poor infrastructure, significantly influence villagers' perceptions of risk from tigers.

SourceSpringer·JournalHuman Ecology·DateJan 21, 2013

New findings on mortality of individuals with schizophrenia

Researchers found individuals with schizophrenia have shorter life expectancy due to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Women with schizophrenia were particularly vulnerable, facing a threefold higher risk of cardiovascular disease and a 1.7 times greater chance of cancer-related death.

SourceLund University·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateJan 21, 2013

Enzyme helps cancer cells avoid genetic instability

Researchers found that cancer cells lacking BRCA1 compensate by reducing 53BP1 levels, which allows them to resume homologous recombination and grow. The study suggests a new pathway for how breast cancer cells lose 53BP1, enabling resistance to chemotherapy and potentially identifying patients who respond to cathepsin inhibitors.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateJan 21, 2013

Study finds linchpin of skin response to UVA light

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that human melanocytes rely on the TRPA1 ion channel to detect UVA light and trigger the production of melanin. This discovery strengthens the evidence of a parallel between the skin's response to UVA light and the eye's detection of light.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 21, 2013

Perfectionism and eating disorders: A complex issue

A study of over a thousand women reveals that both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism contribute to body dissatisfaction, increasing the risk of developing an eating disorder. Women who desired lower BMIs showed greater concern about making mistakes and self-doubt, highlighting the need for addressing 'all or nothing' attitudes.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalJournal of Eating Disorders·DateJan 21, 2013

Researchers analyse 'rock dissolving' method of geoengineering

A new study published in Environmental Research Letters analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of dissolving particles in ocean surfaces to increase marine uptake of carbon dioxide. The researchers find that this approach would only compensate for around 9% of present-day anthropogenic CO2 emissions, highlighting its inefficiency.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJan 21, 2013

New technology shows diabetes

Researchers at Umeå University have developed a new imaging method using optical projection tomography (OPT) in the near-infrared spectrum to study insulin-producing cells in diabetes. This technology allows for the examination of larger organs, including the rat pancreas, and can track specific cell types simultaneously.

SourceUmea University·JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments·DateJan 21, 2013

Cleaning jobs linked to asthma risk

A new study from Imperial College London found that cleaning jobs are strongly associated with an increased risk of developing asthma. Researchers tracked over 9,000 people born in Britain and found that nine percent developed asthma by age 42, with workplace risks responsible for one in six cases.

SourceImperial College London·JournalThorax·DateJan 21, 2013

Overlooked ugly cholesterol causes heart disease

A new study of 73,000 Danes found that 'ugly' cholesterol, a type of remnant-like particle cholesterol, is the direct cause of arteriosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease. High levels of ugly cholesterol triple the risk of heart disease, emphasizing the need for preventive treatment and lifestyle changes.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJan 21, 2013

New way to kill lymphoma without chemotherapy

Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a new nanoparticle that kills B-cell lymphoma cells by depriving them of natural HDL cholesterol. The nanoparticle, which mimics the size and shape of HDL particles, blocks cholesterol from entering cancer cells, leading to cell death.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 21, 2013

A relative from the Tianyuan Cave

A study of ancient DNA from a 40,000-year-old human from Tianyuan Cave near Beijing found that the individual shared a common origin with present-day Asians and Native Americans. The genetic profile also revealed that this early modern human diverged genetically from present-day Europeans and did not carry a larger proportion of Neande...

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 21, 2013