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Science News Archive April 2014 - Page 16


Page 16 of 32

HIV+ women respond well to HPV vaccine

A clinical trial found that HIV-positive women build antibodies against HPV and experience no unusual safety issues after vaccination. The study's results counter doubts about the vaccine's effectiveness in this population, suggesting it is safe and beneficial for those with weakened immune systems.

SourceBrown University·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateApr 16, 2014

Researchers see hospitalization records as additional tool

A study by Tufts University researchers found that comparing hospitalization records with local health data provides a more accurate way to monitor disease outbreaks. The analysis revealed that some municipalities had significantly lower surveillance-to-hospitalization ratios, indicating potential underreporting of cases.

SourceTufts University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 16, 2014

How mothers help children explore right and wrong

A new study published in Developmental Psychology found that mothers' conversations with their children help them understand moral missteps and develop empathy. The study showed that these conversations have a significant impact on children's understanding of themselves as moral people, capable of both good and harm.

SourceConcordia University·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateApr 15, 2014

Drought hormones measured

Researchers at Carnegie Institution have developed a new method to measure abscisic acid levels in individual plant cells, shedding light on the hormone's role in plant stress responses. This breakthrough tool has the potential to improve crop yields and inform strategies for mitigating the impacts of drought and climate change.

Lifestyle determines gut microbes

Researchers analyzed the gut microbiota of Hadza hunter-gatherers, revealing a unique microbial profile that supports their adaptation to a foraging subsistence pattern. The study found differences in gut microbiota between sexes, reflecting sexual division of labor and having implications for fertility and reproductive success.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 15, 2014

Can refined categorization improve prediction of patient survival in RECIST 1.1?

A recent analysis by the RECIST Working Group found that modeling target lesion tumor growth did not improve prediction of overall survival beyond other components of progression. The study also revealed that new lesions and non-target progressive disease were linked with worse overall survival in multivariate models.

SourceEuropean Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer·JournalEuropean Journal of Cancer·DateApr 15, 2014

Astronomers: 'Tilt-a-worlds' could harbor life

Research reveals that a planet's tilt can increase its habitability by reducing the likelihood of freezing over. The study expands the habitable zone by 10-20%, doubling the number of potentially habitable planets in the galaxy. This discovery opens up new possibilities for life beyond Earth and its neighbor planets.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalAstrobiology·DateApr 15, 2014

Osteoporosis risk heightened among sleep apnea patients

A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that obstructive sleep apnea raises the risk of osteoporosis, especially among women and older individuals. The study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance program to track 1,377 people with obstructive sleep apnea and comp...

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateApr 15, 2014

Outcome of stroke worse for people with infection

A University of Manchester study reveals that infection after a stroke significantly worsens outcomes, with the immune system's response to the infection causing more damage. Researchers identified specific blood cells and molecules involved in this process, paving the way for potential anti-inflammatory therapies.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateApr 15, 2014

Potent, puzzling and (now less) toxic: Team discovers how antifungal drug works

Scientists have solved a decades-old medical mystery by understanding the mechanism of action of amphotericin, an antifungal drug that has been in use for over 50 years. The researchers found that most of the drug aggregates on the exterior of membranes, extracting sterols out of membranes like a sponge, leading to cell death.

The Lancet: Functional brain imaging reliably predicts which vegetative patients have potential to recover consciousness

A new study published in The Lancet found that functional brain imaging techniques, such as PET and fMRI, can reliably predict which vegetative patients have the potential to recover consciousness. The research suggests that these techniques can complement standard behavioral assessments to identify patients with a higher chance of lon...

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 15, 2014