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Public Release: 10-Feb-2010
APA announces draft diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 The American Psychiatric Association today released the proposed draft diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The draft criteria represent content changes under consideration for DSM, which is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health and other health professionals, and is used for diagnostic and research purposes. Contact: Jaime Valora Public Release: 10-Feb-2010
Intense sweets taste especially good to some kids New research from the Monell Center reports that children's response to intense sweet taste is related to both a family history of alcoholism and the child's own self-reports of depression. The findings illustrate how liking for sweets differs among children based on underlying familial and biological factors. Contact: Leslie Stein Public Release: 10-Feb-2010
Making the case for the social sciences Issues such as redundancies, parenting and poverty often hit the headlines -- but the crucial research behind the stories rarely gets the same attention. Without the work of social scientists policymakers would not have the necessary research evidence to back up new policies. At a Whitehall event on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, the Academy of Social Sciences and the Economic and Social Research Council will launch a report "Making the case for the social sciences," which gives examples of social science in action. Contact: Press Office Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
New UC Davis study: Climate 'tipping points' may arrive without warning, says top forecaster A new University of California, Davis, study by a top ecological forecaster says it is harder than experts thought to predict when sudden shifts in Earth's natural systems will occur -- a worrisome finding for scientists trying to identify the tipping points that could push climate change into an irreparable global disaster. Contact: Alan Hastings Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Adapting to clogged airways makes common pathogen resist powerful drugs Mutations of a common environmental pathogen that causes chronic lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis are able to survive in oxygen-poor, nitrate-rich airway secretions. This same survival mechanism also enables the mutate bacteria to resist the effects of certain antibiotics -- even without any previous exposure to antibiotics. Contact: Leila Gray Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Communication breakdown: what happens to nerve cells in Parkinson's disease A new study from The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro - at McGill University is the first to discover a molecular link between Parkinson's disease and defects in the ability of nerve cells to communicate. The study, published in the prestigious journal Molecular Cell and selected as Editor's Choice in the prominent journal Science, provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease, and could lead to innovative new therapeutic strategies. Contact: Anita Kar Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Mescal 'worm' test shows DNA leaks into preservatives University of Guelph research team use the Mexican liquor mescal (the one with the worm) to prove that the DNA of a preserved specimen can be obtained from the preservative liquid. Contact: John Chenery Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Multicenter study finds little effect of soy isoflavones on bone loss in postmenopausal women Results from a new multicenter clinical trial of 224 postmenopausal women questions the value of consuming soy isoflavone tablets to help lessen bone loss and minimize the effect of osteoporosis. Contact: Mike Ferlazzo Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Cells can read damaged DNA without missing a beat Under certain growth-limiting conditions, enzymes that read DNA can skim through damaged DNA without skipping any letters in the genetic "text." This suggests a mechanism that can allow bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics. Contact: Vince Dollard Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Great tits: birds with character An important part of individual differences within species is due to variation in the underlying genes. One gene, the dopamine receptor D4 gene, however, is known to influence novelty seeking and exploration behaviour in a range of species, including humans and birds. Researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen now show that the gene's influence on birds' behavior differs markedly between wild populations of great tits. Contact: Bart Kempenaers Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Lymphoma Research Foundation announces publication of Mantle Cell report Highlights from the Lymphoma Research Foundation 2009 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium Scientific Workshop will be published in the March 2010 issue of Leukemia & Lymphoma. Traditionally accessible to subscribers for period of one year, Leukemia and Lymphoma has agreed to make this report available to the public for one month -- Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Report of the 2009 MCL Consortium Workshop. Contact: Marion F. Swan Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Resistant wheat goes for the gut to protect against Hessian flies Resistant wheat plants stave off attacks by Hessian fly larvae by essentially destroying the fly's midgut and its ability to absorb nutrients, according to a study by Purdue University and the US Department of Agriculture. Contact: Brian Wallheimer Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Research could lead to way to halt deadly immune response Scientists have published new details of their research into the complement reaction, an immune system response that kills thousands annually. The study is published in the journal Molecular Immunology. Contact: Doug Gardner Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
The biggest loser: Maternal obesity puts a load on her offspring that lasts a lifetime As if there are not enough reasons for obese people to lose weight, a research report recently published online in The FASEB Journal, adds several more. In a study involving rats, Duke University researchers found that obesity in mothers causes cellular programming in utero that predisposes offspring to inflammation-related disorders (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease and more) from birth, regardless of whether or not the offspring are obese themselves. Contact: Cody Mooneyhan Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Comprehensive study using bioinformatics predicts the molecular causes of many genetic diseases It is widely known that genetic mutations cause disease. What are largely unknown are the mechanisms by which these mutations wreak havoc at the molecular level, giving rise to clinically observable symptoms in patients. Now a new study using bioinformatics, led by scientists at the Buck Institute for Age Research, reports the ability to predict the molecular cause of many inherited genetic diseases. These predictions have led to the creation of a web-based tool available to academic researchers who study disease. Contact: Kris Rebillot Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Certain genetic profiles associated with recurrence-free survival for non-small cell lung cancer An analysis of genetic and clinical data for nearly 800 patients with non-small cell lung cancer has identified differences in genetic characteristics that are associated with age and sex specific patterns of increased or decreased recurrence-free survival, according to a study in the Feb. 10 issue of JAMA. Contact: Michelle Gailiun Public Release: 9-Feb-2010
Drinking milk during pregnancy may lower baby's risk of MS Drinking milk during pregnancy may help reduce your baby's chances of developing multiple sclerosis as an adult, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10-17, 2010. Contact: Rachel Seroka Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
Soft drink consumption may increase risk of pancreatic cancer Increased sugar intake may stimulate tumor growth through effects of insulin. Pancreatic cancer rates increased nearly twofold over the past several decades. Drinking two or more soft drinks a week led to an 87 percent increased risk. Contact: Jeremy Moore Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
Research reveals link between beer and bone health A new study suggests that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density. Details of this study are available in the February issue of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Society of Chemical Industry. Contact: Dawn Peters Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
Mediterranean diet may lower risk of brain damage that causes thinking problems A Mediterranean diet may help people avoid the small areas of brain damage that can lead to problems with thinking and memory, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10-17, 2010. Contact: Rachel Seroka Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
UC Davis study confirms link between advanced maternal age and autism Advanced maternal age is linked to a significantly elevated risk of having a child with autism, regardless of the father's age, according to an exhaustive study of all births in California during the 1990s by UC Davis Health System researchers. Contact: Phyllis Brown Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
More smokers than non-smokers accept HPV vaccination for their daughters A parent's existing health habits or behaviors, like cigarette smoking, may influence the likelihood that they will have their daughters vaccinated against HPV. Contact: Tara Yates Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
A potent suppressor of endometrial cancer is revealed Treatment of endometrial cancer has not advanced significantly in 30 years and there are no screening tests to promote early detection. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Harvard Medical School developed a new approach to specifically target genetic changes to the endometrial cells in mice. Using this new technique, they show that loss of an emerging tumor suppressor causes abnormal growth and widespread malignancy of cells lining the uterus. Contact: Kristy Kain Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
Mice shed new light on causes of childhood deafness Mice with a genetic change that causes progressive hearing loss in children, also have hearing loss because sound waves are not processed properly. The ear's attempts to compensate for hearing loss may, ironically, cause further damage leading to complete hearing loss. These mice will allow detailed research into many forms of deafness, and bring closer the prospects of therapies to slow or halt hearing loss in both children and adults. Contact: Kristy Kain Public Release: 8-Feb-2010
Few women take tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer Less than a quarter of one percent of women took tamoxifen in 2000 and 2005 to prevent breast cancer. Further research is recommended to explore explanations for the drug's low use. Contact: Tara Yates |