EurekAlert! - Breaking News

A face is more than the sum of its parts

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

In a new study published in the March 2010 issue of Elsevier's Cortex, researchers have found that the condition is linked to an inability to process faces as a whole, or holistically.

Are bees also addicted to caffeine and nicotine?

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Bees prefer nectar with small amounts of nicotine and caffeine over nectar that does not comprise these substances at all, a study from the University of Haifa reveals. "This could be an evolutionary development intended, as in humans, to make the bee addicted," states Prof. Ido Izhaki, one of the researchers who conducted the study.

Blocking cell movement for cancer, MS treatment

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

University of Adelaide researchers in Australia are finding new ways to block the movement of cells in the body which can cause autoimmune diseases and the spread of cancer.

APA announces draft diagnostic criteria for DSM-5

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Intense sweets taste especially good to some kids

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Study finds racial gaps continue in heart disease awareness

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Minority women's awareness remains behind that of white women. Only about half of women were aware of heart attack warning signs or said they would dial 9-1-1 if they thought they were having heart attack symptoms. Most women surveyed listed therapies to prevent cardiovascular disease that are not evidence based.

Making the case for the social sciences

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

A common cholesterol drug fights cataracts, too

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A broad new study from Dr. Gabriel Chodick of Tel Aviv University confirms that statins, often prescribed to lower cholesterol levels, also cuts the risks of cataracts in men by almost 40 percent.

March/April 2010 GSA Bulletin Highlights

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

GSA Bulletin spans the globe, from the Greater Caucasus Mountains separating Azerbaijan and Georgia from Russia; to the Altyn Tagh fault zone, Bohai Bay Basin, Yangtze craton, and Tian Shan of China; the collision zone between India and the Himalaya; the Southern Uplands of Scotland; and on to the western U.S., covering central Idaho, Mammoth Mountain and Long Valley caldera, California, the King Lear Formation, Nevada, the Grand Canyon, and the Fountain Formation of Colorado.

Communication breakdown: what happens to nerve cells in Parkinson's disease

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Mescal 'worm' test shows DNA leaks into preservatives

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Lymphoma Research Foundation announces publication of Mantle Cell report

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

New UC Davis study: Climate 'tipping points' may arrive without warning, says top forecaster

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Researchers discover new way to kill pediatric brain tumors

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized target, a protein called STAT3, at which they can aim new drugs for the treatment of cancer in neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1), a genetic condition that causes increased risk of benign and malignant brain tumors.

Young patients with chronic illnesses find relief in acupuncture

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Doctors at Rush University Medical Center are offering pediatric patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses acupuncture therapy to help ease the pain and negative side effects like nausea, fatigue and vomiting caused by chronic health conditions and intensive treatments. The confluence of Chinese and Western medicine at Rush Children's Hospital is part of a study to analyze and document how acupuncture might help in reducing pain in children and increase quality of life.

High-performance microring resonator developed by INRS researchers

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A new, more efficient low-cost microring resonator for high speed telecommunications systems has been developed and tested by Professor Roberto Morandotti's INRS team in collaboration with Canadian, American, and Australian researchers. This technological advance capitalizes on the benefits of optical fibers to transmit large quantities of data at ultra-fast speeds. The results of the team's work, just published in the prestigious journal Nature Photonics, will facilitate the transition from electronic to optical communications.

Early life stress may predict cardiovascular disease

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Early life stress could be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adulthood, researchers report.

Adapting to clogged airways makes common pathogen resist powerful drugs

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Neuroimaging study may pave way for effective Alzheimer's treatments

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Scientists have determined that a new instrument known as PIB-PET is effective in detecting deposits of amyloid-beta protein plaques in the brains of living people, and that these deposits are predictive of who will develop Alzheimer's disease.

Multicenter study finds little effect of soy isoflavones on bone loss in postmenopausal women

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Feeling blue? You'll shun the new

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A negative mood imparts a warm glow to the familiar. Happiness, on the other hand, makes novelty attractive (and can instead give the familiar a "blah" cast). This is the first time the effect has been experimentally demonstrated in humans.

Watch your step: Elevator-related injuries and older adults

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

In the first large-scale epidemiological study of elevator-related injuries in older adults in the United States, researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine report in January 2010 issue of the Journal of Trauma on the frequency, nature and opportunities for prevention of these injuries.

Cells can read damaged DNA without missing a beat

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Depression and lack of concentration do not necessarily go together

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A recent review has found that depression does not always lead to memory problems or difficulties concentrating.

Caltech researchers develop nanoscale structures with superior mechanical properties

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Researchers at Caltech have developed a way to make some notoriously brittle materials ductile -- yet stronger than ever -- simply by reducing their size. The work could eventually lead to the development of innovative, superstrong, yet light and damage-tolerant materials. These new materials could be used as components in structural applications, such as in lightweight aerospace vehicles that last longer under extreme environmental conditions and in naval vessels that are resistant to corrosion and wear.

Urbanization, export crops drive deforestation

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The drivers of tropical deforestation have shifted in the early 21st century to hinge on growth of cities and the globalized agricultural trade, a new large-scale study concludes. The observations starkly reverse assumptions by some scientists that fast-growing urbanization and the efficiencies of global trade might eventually slow or reverse tropical deforestation. The study, which covers most of the world's tropical land area, appears in this week's early edition of the journal Nature Geoscience.

Studies unclear on role of pre-surgery beta blockers

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

It's not unusual for patients to suffer a cardiac event before surgery, and in theory, beta blockers will reduce the risk by relieving stress on the heart. But the one-size-fits-all approach can harm some patients, and University of Michigan heart specialists write in this week's JAMA that clinical studies have been unclear about who should get perioperative beta blockers and at what dosage.

Great tits: birds with character

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Handling emergencies online

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Online social networking sites could solve many problems plaguing information dissemination and communications when disaster strikes, according to a report from US researchers in a recent issue of the International Journal of Emergency Management.

The Glass Cliff: Female representation in politics and business

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

How can women succeed in business and politics when encountering "a glass cliff"?

Single gene mutation induces endometrial cancer

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A mutation in a single gene can cause endometrial cancer that is responsive to a specific drug therapy, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in an animal study.

38 percent of world's surface in danger of desertification

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A team of Spanish researchers has measured the degradation of the planet's soil using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a scientific methodology that analyses the environmental impact of human activities, and which now for the first time includes indicators on desertification. The results show that 38 percent of the world is made up of arid regions at risk of desertification.

Research could lead to way to halt deadly immune response

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Role-playing games improve the attitude of secondary students towards physical education

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The practice of these games can make that exercise and healthy life habits are more attractive for teenagers, according to a work carried out at the University of Granada. Students of the 4th course of ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) between 15- and 16-years-old participated in the study.

High prevalence of AF found among cross-country skiers

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

At this year's Birkebeiner ski marathon, 12,000 cross-country skiers will line up for the 54 kilometres race, run almost every year since 1932. In 1976 almost 150 participants were invited to take part in a long-term study designed to discover the extent of latent heart disease in these elite cross-country skiers. Now, the results of the follow-up study have been published and suggest that long-distance competition skiers are at an unusually high risk of AF.

Resistant wheat goes for the gut to protect against Hessian flies

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Is hepatitis B virus genotype C independently associated with cirrhosis?

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most important risk factor of liver cirrhosis in HBV endemic areas. A research group in China performed a large epidemiological study to investigate the association of HBV genotypes with the development of probable cirrhosis in community-based population. They found that HBV genotype C was independently associated with probable cirrhosis in the hepatitis B antigen-negative subjects.

New finding of the expression of Helicobacter pylori in Chilean patients

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonize the human stomach and present genetic mechanisms to evade the host immune response allowing their persistence in this habitat for years. A study involving 130 H. pylori strains isolated from patients living in different Chilean cities revealed that, nearly half of them carry the hopE and hopV genes. The results suggest that these genes can be turned on and off, and are likely to be involved in avoiding immune recognition.

Helicobacter pylori and EBV in gastric carcinomas

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Mechanisms of gastric carcinogenesis are still not yet understood. Studies have linked genetic and epigenetic factors or microbiological agents to gastric cancer, but they didn't look for these events together. Dr. Ferrasi from Brazil verified the methylation profile, microsatellite instability (MSI), Helicobacter pylori status and Epstein Barr virus infection in gastric cancer samples. Intestinal and diffuse adenocarcinoma showed different methylation profiles and an association was found between methylation and Helicobacter pylori-cagA+.

The biggest loser: Maternal obesity puts a load on her offspring that lasts a lifetime

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Helicobacter pylori babA2 relates with atrophic gastritis in Costa Rica

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A research team from Costa Rica and Japan evaluated the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) babA2, babB and a recombinant gene between babA2 and babB (babA2/B), and their role in the development of atrophic gastritis in Costa Rican and Japanese clinical isolates. They found the status of babA2 and babA2/B shows geographic differences, and that babA2 has clinical relevance in Costa Rica.

New research reveals burglars have changed their 'shopping list'

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Research being undertaken at the University of Leicester highlights a career change for criminals from the more traditional household burglaries to personal muggings.

A useful tool to diagnose primary biliary cirrhosis

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A research team from United States evaluated the potential application of IgM and IgG immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the setting of autoimmune liver diseases, especially in the differential diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) from other conditions -- autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Their study showed that IgM and IgG IHC may be a useful tool when PBC is a diagnostic consideration.

Lactobacillus improves Helicobacter pylori infected gastritis

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A research team from China isolated two stomach originated lactobacillus strains, and screened their potential anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) activity and anti-inflammatory effects on mouse model of H. pylori-associated Balb/c gastritis. They found both lactobacillus strains have a significant anti-H. pylori activity; Lactobacillus fermenti (L. fermenti) displays more efficient antagonistic activity in vivo against H. pylori infection.

Which intestinal metapasia is closer with gastric cancer? Simple or atypical?

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The classification of intestinal metapasia (IM) is confusing. A research group in China observed IM in gastric biopsies and divided IM into simple IM (SIM) and atypical IM (AIM). By detecting three tumor-associated proteins, p53, c-erbB-2 and Ki67, in IM and gastric cancer, they compared two types of classification in intestinal metaplasia. They found that AIM may have a much more close relationship with gastric cancer.

Predicting effectiveness of flu vaccination campaigns

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Journal Vaccine publishes novel modeling approach for influenza pandemics.

IQ among strongest predictors of CVD -- second only to cigarette smoking in large population study

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

While lower intelligence scores have been associated with a raised risk of cardiovascular disease, no study has so far compared the relative strength of this association with other established risk factors. Now, a large study funded by Britain's Medical Research Council has found that lower intelligence scores were associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease and total mortality at a greater level of magnitude than found with any other risk factor except smoking.

A new 3-D map of the interstellar gas within 300 parsecs from the sun

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Astronomy & Astrophysics is publishing new 3-D maps of the interstellar gas in the local area around our sun. A French-American team of astronomers presents new absorption measurements towards more than 1800 stars. They were able to characterize the properties of the interstellar gas within each sight line.

Questions remain on bariatric surgery for adolescents

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding surgery can effectively treat obesity in adolescents and seems to offer a better alternative than gastric bypass surgery, but further study is needed to determine whether it's better than nonsurgical options, a UT Southwestern Medical Center surgeon writes.

Study: End-of-life care must reflect patient wishes and values

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

An analysis of more than a quarter-million hospital admissions of nursing home residents indicates that the decision to use feeding tubes is more a matter of hospital practice than patient preference. Findings of that study by Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University and her colleagues appear in the Feb. 10, 2010, issue of JAMA.

UH Case Medical Center researchers publish promising findings for advanced cervical cancer

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Researchers at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center, have published new findings that may lead to a new standard of care for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Published in the February issue of Clinical Cancer Research, the phase one study found that a new chemotherapy medicine, Triapine, was well tolerated in combination with standard-of-care cisplatin chemotherapy and radiation treatment in women with cervical cancer. This regimen provided both significant reduction in cancer disease and cancer control.

Comprehensive study using bioinformatics predicts the molecular causes of many genetic diseases

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Brain scans track hoop fans' happy memories

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

In a novel study that used historical tape of a thrilling overtime basketball game between Duke and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, brain researchers at Duke have found that fans remember the good things their team did much better than the bad.

Study identifies factors associated with growth of fetus in first trimester and subsequent outcomes

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Factors such as maternal high blood pressure and high hematocrit levels (the proportion of blood that consists of red blood cells) are associated with a greater likelihood of restricted fetal growth during the first trimester, with restricted growth linked to an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, according to a study in the Feb. 10 issue of JAMA.

Patients with advanced dementia more likely to receive feeding tube at larger, for-profit hospitals

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Despite being of questionable benefit for patients with advanced dementia, new research finds that hospitals with certain characteristics, such as those that are larger or for-profit, are more likely to have a higher rate of feeding tube placement, according to a study in the Feb. 10 issue of JAMA.

Obese teens who receive gastric banding achieve significant weight loss

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A higher percentage of severely obese adolescents who received laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding lost more than 50 percent of excess weight and experienced greater benefits to health and quality of life compared to those in an intensive lifestyle management program, according to a study in the Feb. 10 issue of JAMA.

Certain genetic profiles associated with recurrence-free survival for non-small cell lung cancer

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Molecular pathways linked to sex, age affect outcomes in lung cancer

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The biology of lung cancer differs from one patient to the next, depending on age and sex, according to scientists at Duke University Medical Center. The findings may help explain why certain groups of patients do better than others, even though they appear to have the same disease.

Low forms of cyclin E reduce breast cancer drug's effectiveness

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Overexpression of low-molecular-weight (LMW-E) forms of the protein cyclin E renders the aromatase inhibitor letrozole ineffective among women with estrogen-receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers, researchers from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in Clinical Cancer Research.

Drinking milk during pregnancy may lower baby's risk of MS

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

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.

Babies wise to what we really mean: York University study

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Researchers in York University's Faculty of Health have uncovered evidence that six-month-old babies can comprehend our intentions. This contradicts previous findings that infants develop this ability at nine months of age.

Study challenges bird-from-dinosaur theory of evolution - was it the other way around?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A new study just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides yet more evidence that birds did not descend from ground-dwelling theropod dinosaurs, experts say, and continues to challenge decades of accepted theories about the evolution of flight.

Herbal medicines can be lethal, pathologist warns

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A University of Adelaide forensic pathologist has sounded a worldwide warning of the potential lethal dangers of herbal medicines if taken in large quantities, injected, or combined with prescription drugs.

A study reveals how respiratory tubes and capillaries form

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and CSIC report on the formation of the small-diameter respiratory tubes of the fly Drosophila, a process that resembles the development of the finest blood vessels, the capillaries, in mammals. These tubes or capillaries, formed by a single cell, connect the main tubes of the respiratory system with organs and tissues, thereby providing oxygen. The study has been published in the journal Current Biology, part of the Cell group.

Perfectly shaped solid components

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

When metals are shaped, the materials they are made of are often damaged in the process. One cause of this is excessive press force, which cracks and perforates the material. By running simulations on a PC, research scientists can now calculate how to avoid component defects.

Hand has role in how we see objects in space, say Hebrew University researchers

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

We know exactly where an object is when we say it is "within the reach of our hand." But if we don't have a hand, can we still see the object just where it is?

Hebrew U. researcher creates 'boutique' fish farms to combat Lake Victoria's depleted fish supplies

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

In a unique project to combat depleted fish supplies in Lake Victoria, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Makerere University in Kampala, have established 'boutique' fish farms in small villages around the Lake's shore in Uganda.

Chocoholic mice fear no pain

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Ever get a buzz from eating chocolate? A study published in the open access journal BMC Neuroscience has shown that chocolate-craving mice are ready to tolerate electric shocks to get their fix.

Extra large carbon

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The nucleus of one form of carbon is much larger and more stable than expected.

Popular antidepressant blocks the beneficial effects of tamoxifen in breast cancer

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Women with breast cancer who take the antidepressant paroxetine at the same time as tamoxifen are at an increased risk of death, concludes a study published on bmj.com today.

Study carried out into biological risks of eating reptiles

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Reptiles are bred in captivity primarily for their skins, but some restaurants and population groups also want them for their meat. A study shows that eating these animals can have side effects that call into question the wisdom of eating this 'delicacy.'

Neighborhood socioeconomic status and diabetes

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Researchers from Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center have found a direct link between neighborhood socioeconomic status and risk for type 2 diabetes in African American women. The study, which appears in the online American Journal of Epidemiology, is the first prospective study to examine the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic status and incidence of type 2 diabetes in a large, geographically diverse cohort of African-American women.

Pay-for-performance in healthcare

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Practice popular among care providers may not be the most beneficial for patient.

Anorexics found to have excess fat-- in their bone marrow

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Researchers at Chidlren's Hopsital Boston have found that girls with anorexia, despite being emaciated, have strikingly high levels of fat in their bone marrow. This can be visualized in MRIs of the knee. The researchers believe that malnutrition causes hormonal alterations that push mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow to form fat cells rather than bone-forming cells. This may explain why patients with anorexia have bone loss.

New study examines the impact on children of food product placements in the movies

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

New research from the Hood Center for Children and Families at Dartmouth Medical School for the first time sheds light on the significant potential negative impact that food product placements in the movies could be having on children.

Researchers map all the fragile sites of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae's genome

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Dr. François Robert, a researcher at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, in collaboration with the team of Dr. Daniel Durocher (Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute and University of Toronto) accomplished a technical breakthrough: they mapped all the fragile sites of a living organism, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The method used by the researchers can be applied to humans. This study has been published online today Nature Structural and Molecular Biology.

New international satellite observations help assess future earthquake risk in Haiti

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Analyzing images captured using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) by Japan's ALOS satellite before and just after Haiti's earthquake on Jan. 12, University of Miami scientists are making new discoveries. The images show that the earthquake rupture did not reach the surface--unusual for an earthquake this size. More importantly, the images confirm that only the western half of the fault actually ruptured this time. Scientists are interpreting the data to establish the probability of another large quake in the next 20-30 years.

Flower power can still calm the masses

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Feeling stressed? Try chamomile! This 'traditional' remedy has been around for years, but how much truth is there behind this old wives' tale? In an evaluation for Faculty of 1000, Michael Van Ameringen and Beth Patterson draw attention to the first randomized controlled trial of chamomile for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

Animals cope with climate change at the dinner table

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Professor Yoram Yom-Tov of Tel Aviv University's Department of Zoology has been measuring the evolving body sizes of birds and animals in areas where climate change is most extreme. In higher latitudes, Professor Yom-Tov has identified a pattern of birds getting smaller and mammals getting bigger. The change, he hypothesizes, is likely a strategy for survival.

One-third of antimalarial medicines sampled in 3 African nations found to be substandard

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The first results from a large-scale study of key antimalarial medicines in ten Sub-Saharan African countries reveal that a high percentage of medicines circulating on national markets are of substandard quality and thus may contribute to the growth of drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent form of malaria.

Incidence of cerebral palsy on rise in US

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Cerebral palsy (CP) has increased in infants born prematurely in the United States, according to data presented by researchers from Loyola University Health System (LUHS). These findings were reported at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago. They also were published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

TV drama can be more persuasive than news program, study finds

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A fictional television drama may be more effective in persuading young women to use birth control than a news-format program on the same issue, according to a new study. Researchers found that college-age women who viewed a televised drama about a teen pregnancy felt more vulnerable two weeks after watching the show, and this led to more support for using birth control.

Soft drinks may increase risk of pancreatic cancer

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Consuming two or more soft drinks per week increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly two-fold compared with individuals who did not consume soft drinks, according to a report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Underdogs have more motivation? Not so fast, study says

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Members of a group or team will work harder when they're competing against a group with lower status than when pitted against a more highly ranked group, according to a new study. The results run contrary to the common belief that underdogs have more motivation because they have the chance to 'knock the higher-status group down a peg.'

Exposure to secondhand smoke among children in England has declined since 1996

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The most comprehensive study to date of secondhand smoke exposure among children in England is published today in the journal Addiction. The study, carried out by researchers from the University of Bath's School for Health, reveals that exposure to household secondhand smoke among children aged 4-15 has declined steadily since 1996.

Study: Cell-phone bans while driving have more impact in dense, urban areas

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A new study analyzing the impact of hand-held cell phone legislation on driving safety concludes that usage-ban laws had more of an impact in densely populated urban areas with a higher number of licensed drivers than in rural areas where there are fewer licensed drivers, according to a University of Illinois researcher.

Childhood obesity: It's not the amount of TV, it's the number of junk food commercials

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A new UCLA study published in the American Journal of Public Health finds that the association between television viewing and obesity is directly related to children's exposure to commercials that advertise unhealthy foods. The study is the first to break up the types of television viewing to which children are exposed to better determine whether different kinds of television content may exert different effects on obesity.

Research identifies gene with likely role in premenstrual disorder

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Some women are especially sensitive to the natural flux of hormones in the menstrual cycle. New research points to a gene that likely influences how women respond to swings in estrogen levels and could help diagnose and treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder and inform treatments during menopause, such as hormone replacement therapy, researchers say.

Racial disparities persist in the diagnosis of advanced breast cancer and colon cancer in the U.S.

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The incidence of advanced breast cancer diagnosis among black women remained 30 percent to 90 percent higher compared to white women between 1992 and 2004, according to new findings by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. In addition, the disparity in the incidence of advance colorectal cancer actually widened over this time period as rates fell among whites but increased slightly among blacks.

New era of pain drugs advanced by Barrow researcher

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Research led by a scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center has opened the door for the advancement of a new category of painkillers, called TRPV1 antagonists.

Scripps research team reveals how an old drug could have a new use for treating river blindness

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a potential new use for the drug closantel, currently the standard treatment for sheep and cattle infected with liver fluke. The new research suggests that the drug may be useful in combating river blindness, a tropical disease that is the world's second leading infectious cause of blindness for humans.

UAB research warns of risks of low potassium in heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) says low potassium levels produce an increased risk of death or hospitalization in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In findings reported in January in Circulation: Heart Failure, a journal of the American Heart Association, the researchers say that even a mild decrease in serum potassium level increased the risk of death in this patient group.

UB geographers help map devastation in Haiti

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

In the wake of the earthquake in Haiti, University at Buffalo geography students are participating in a global effort to enhance the international response and recovery effort by helping to assess damage, using images hosted by Google Earth and the Virtual Disaster Viewer, which shares imagery of disasters from various sources.

Autism Speaks presents the top ten autism research findings of 2009

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization has released its annual list of the 10 most significant research achievements to have impacted autism during the previous year, documenting progress towards the discovery of the causes and treatment for autism spectrum disorders. In 2009 clinical and epidemiological research together with advances in gene discovery and effective treatments combine to shape the future of autism research for 2010 and beyond.

Millimeter-scale, energy-harvesting sensor system developed

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A 9 cubic millimeter solar-powered sensor system developed at the University of Michigan is the smallest that can harvest energy from its surroundings to operate nearly perpetually.

Researchers reveal 3-D structure of bullet-shaped virus with potential to fight cancer, HIV

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

A recent UCLA study demonstrates that with advanced imaging technique, the vesicular stomatitis virus can be modified to serve as an anti-cancer agent because it displays high selectivity in killing cancer cells while sparing normal cells. It can also be engineered as a potent vaccine against HIV/AIDS.

Will earlier springs throw nature out of step?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

The recent trend towards earlier UK springs and summers has been accelerating, according to a study published today in the scientific journal Global Change Biology. The collaborative study, involving scientists from 12 UK research institutions, universities and conservation organisations, is the most comprehensive and rigorous assessment so far of long-term changes in the seasonal timing of biological events across marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments in the UK.

Drug shows promise for Huntington's disease

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

An early stage clinical trial of the experimental drug dimebon (latrepirdine) in people with Huntington's disease appears to be safe and may improve cognition. That is the conclusion of a study published today in the Archives of Neurology.

Study reveals new details on the dangers of third-hand smoke

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Nicotine in third-hand smoke, the residue from tobacco smoke that clings to virtually all surfaces long after a cigarette has been extinguished, reacts with the common indoor air pollutant nitrous acid to produce dangerous carcinogens. This new potential health hazard was revealed in a multi-institutional study led by researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Gadgets not related to teenagers' brain pain

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

Use of most electronic media is not associated with headaches, at least not in adolescents. A study of 1,025 13- to 17-year-olds, published in the open-access journal BMC Neurology, found no association between the use of computer games, mobile phones or television and the occurrence of headaches or migraines. However, listening to one or two hours of music every day was associated with a pounding head.