ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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New Reasons To Avoid Grapefruit And Other Juices When Taking Certain Drugs (August 20, 2008) -- Scientists and consumers have known for years that grapefruit juice can increase the absorption of some drugs, causing potentially toxic effects. Now, researchers in Canada report new evidence that drinking grapefruit and other common fruit juices, including orange and apple, also can substantially decrease the absorption of some drugs, wiping out their potential beneficial effects. Their research will be presented in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia. ... > full story
Obesity Raises Risks Of Serious Digestive Health Concerns: Incidence Of GERD, Colorectal Cancer Increase With Body Mass (August 20, 2008) -- The prevalence of obesity and overweight in the United States coupled by the increased risk of gastrointestinal diseases related to obesity raises serious implications for the health of Americans. Several scientific studies in the August issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology examine the association between obesity and the risk of colorectal cancer and gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. ... > full story
Discovery Of Plant Protein Holds Promise For Biofuel Production (August 20, 2008) -- Scientists have identified a new protein necessary for chloroplast development. The discovery could ultimately lead to plant varieties tailored specifically for biofuel production. ... > full story
Obese Prostate Cancer Patients May Benefit More From Brachytherapy (August 20, 2008) -- Brachytherapy, also called seed implants, may be a more beneficial treatment than surgery or external beam radiation therapy for overweight or obese prostate cancer patients, according to a study published in the August issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology. ... > full story
Federally Managed Dams Need Better Security, Report Finds (August 20, 2008) -- Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, the Bureau of Reclamation, which operates and manages dams that provide water and power to millions of people, has invested significant resources in security and is better able to protect its facilities and personnel, says a new report from the National Research Council. ... > full story
'Chilling' Hardship Rates Among Families Raising Disabled Children (August 20, 2008) -- Families with disabled children are struggling to keep food on the table, a roof over their heads, and to pay for needed health and dental care. But according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, these challenges are now falling on middle-income households and not just on poor families as previous research has found. ... > full story
Many US Public Schools In 'Air Pollution Danger Zone' (August 20, 2008) -- One in three US public schools are in the "air pollution danger zone," according to new research. Researchers have found that more than 30 percent of American public schools are within 400 meters, or a quarter mile, of major highways that consistently serve as main truck and traffic routes. ... > full story
Chronic Lead Poisoning From Urban Soils (August 20, 2008) -- Chronic lead poisoning, caused in part by the ingestion of contaminated dirt, affects hundreds of thousands more children in the United States than the acute lead poisoning associated with imported toys or jewelry. Could treating contaminated soil with water prevent this public health scourge? ... > full story
Chemists Make Beds With Soft Landings: Researchers Create Stable, Highly Pure Helical Peptide Arrays (August 20, 2008) -- Bedsprings aren't often found in biology. Now, chemists have secured a layer of tiny protein coils onto a thin surface, much like miniature bedsprings in a frame. This thin film made of stable and very pure helices can help researchers develop molecular electronics or solar cells, or to divine the biology of proteins. The physical chemists pulled off this design trick using a "soft-landing" technique with a specially designed mass-selected ion deposition instrument. ... > full story
Rheb's Role In Cancer (August 20, 2008) -- Two independent papers identify the Rheb GTPase as a novel oncogene and a promising new chemotherapeutic target. ... > full story
New 52-city Report Examines Use Of Wastewater In Urban Agriculture (August 20, 2008) -- As developing countries confront the first global food crisis since the 1970s as well as unprecedented water scarcity, a new 53-city survey conducted by the International Water Management Institute indicates that most of those studied (80 percent) are using untreated or partially treated wastewater for agriculture. In over 70 percent of the cities studied, more than half of urban agricultural land is irrigated with wastewater that is either raw or diluted in streams. ... > full story
Suicide In Asian Americans: Family Conflict Increases Risk Of Suicide Attempts (August 20, 2008) -- Asian Americans whose families experience a high degree of interpersonal conflict have a three-fold greater risk of attempting suicide when compared with Asian Americans overall, according to a new study by University of California, Davis, researchers. The risk is tripled even among those who have never had a diagnosis of depression. ... > full story
Algae: Biofuel Of The Future? (August 19, 2008) -- Researchers have a plan to greatly increase algae oil yields by feeding the algae extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage, meaning the algae could simultaneously produce biofuel and clean up environmental problems. ... > full story
Ultrasound Used To Predict Heart Attack Risk (August 19, 2008) -- Repeat exams using widely available and inexpensive ultrasound imaging could help identify patients at high risk for a heart attack or other adverse cardiovascular events, according to a new study. ... > full story
Sweets Make Young Horses Harder To Train, Study Finds (August 19, 2008) -- Young horses may be easier to train if they temporarily lay off the sweets, says a Montana State University study. ... > full story
Scientists Discover What Drives The Development Of A Fatal Form Of Malaria (August 19, 2008) -- In a study described in Cell Host and Microbe, researchers reveal that when red blood cells are infected with the malaria parasite, they activate platelets to secrete the PF4 protein, which triggers the immune system to inflame blood vessels and obstruct capillaries in the brain; both are hallmarks of cerebral malaria. ... > full story
Experts Urge Industry To Broaden Carbon Footprint Calculations (August 19, 2008) -- Carnegie Mellon University researchers are urging companies to embrace new methods for following trail of dangerous carbon emissions. ... > full story
You've Got To Have Hope: Studies Show 'Hope Therapy' Fights Depression (August 19, 2008) -- A growing body of research suggests that there is a potent way to fight symptoms of depression that doesn't involve getting a prescription. This potent weapon? Hope. "We're finding that hope is consistently associated with fewer symptoms of depression. And the good news is that hope is something that can be taught, and can be developed in many of the people who need it," said Jennifer Cheavens at Ohio State University. ... > full story
Can Facial Structures, Brain Abnormalities Reveal Formula For Detection Of Autism? (August 19, 2008) -- Recently, Harvard researchers reported that children with autism have a wide range of genetic defects, making it nearly impossible to develop a simple genetic test to identify the disorder. Now, University of Missouri researchers are studying 3-D imaging to reveal correlations in the facial features and brain structures of children with autism spectrum disorder, which will enable them to develop a formula for earlier detection of the disorder. The researchers anticipate their work also will reveal genetic clues that can direct additional research. ... > full story
Oral Contraceptives May Ease Suffering Of Women With Severe PMS (August 19, 2008) -- A new clinical trial using a popular low-dose contraceptive could uncover a more effective treatment for the 5 to 10 percent of women who suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder. ... > full story
Novel Fungus Helps Beetles To Digest Hard Wood (August 19, 2008) -- A little known fungus tucked away in the gut of Asian longhorned beetles helps the insect munch through the hardest of woods according to a team of entomologists and biochemists. Researchers say the discovery could lead to innovative methods of controlling the invasive pest, and potentially offer more efficient ways of breaking down plant biomass for generating biofuels. ... > full story
Erectile Dysfunction Drug Shows Promise For Relief Of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated With Benign Prostate Disease (August 19, 2008) -- Men with signs of benign prostatic hyperplasia can be helped with a daily dose of erectile dysfunction drug tadalafil (marketed as Cialis) to relieve associated lower urinary tract symptoms, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Northwestern University and Lilly Research Laboratories report on a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of over 1,000 men in 10 countries. ... > full story
2007 Hurricane Forecasts Took Blow From Winds And Dry, Dusty Air From Sahara Desert (August 19, 2008) -- A new analysis of environmental conditions over the Atlantic Ocean shows that hot, dry air associated with dust outbreaks from the Sahara desert was a likely contributor to the quieter-than-expected 2007 hurricane season. ... > full story
Poor Teen Sleep Habits May Raise Blood Pressure, Lead To CVD (August 19, 2008) -- Poor sleep quality and shorter sleep periods in teens may increase the odds of elevated blood pressure. Researchers found poor sleep quality in teens may be more likely than shorter sleep periods to lead to pre-hypertension. Researchers say technology in bedrooms (i.e., music, phones, computers) may be part of the problem. ... > full story
Why Symmetry Predicts Bodily Attractiveness (August 19, 2008) -- The first ever 3D study identifies 'masculinity' traits associated with the attractiveness and symmetry of male and female bodies. High masculinity correlated with fewer departures from perfect bodily symmetry in males but with more asymmetry in females, suggesting that those with good development and health may have bodies that exaggerate sex-typical bodily features. ... > full story
New Technology Silences Genes: Suppressing Disease-causing Genes Is Now Within Reach (August 19, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a new gene silencing technology that could be used to target genes that can lead to the development of certain diseases. This technology could pave the way for preventing diseases where gene dysfunction plays a role. ... > full story
DEET's Not Sweet To Mosquitoes, Groundbreaking Research Shows (August 19, 2008) -- Spray yourself with a DEET-based insect repellent and the mosquitoes will leave you alone. But why? They flee because of their intense dislike for the smell of the chemical repellent and not because DEET jams their sense of smell, report researchers at the University of California, Davis. ... > full story
Urologists Report Success Using Robot-assisted Surgery For Urinary Abnormality (August 19, 2008) -- Urologic surgeon have reported success using robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery to repair abnormal openings between the bladder and vagina known as fistulas. This type of fistula can result in frequent urinary tract infections and the leakage of urine from the vagina and can be mistaken for continence. ... > full story
Computer Users Are Digitizing Books Quickly And Accurately With New Method (August 19, 2008) -- Millions of computer users collectively transcribe the equivalent of 160 books each day with better than 99 percent accuracy, despite the fact that few spend more than a few seconds on the task and that most do not realize they are doing valuable work, Carnegie Mellon University researchers report. ... > full story
Epilepsy Linked To Higher Risk Of Drowning (August 19, 2008) -- People with epilepsy appear to have a much higher risk of drowning compared to people without epilepsy, according to a study published in the Aug. 19, 2008, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Previous studies have shown a higher risk most likely due to seizures but this study is one of the first to show exactly how high the risk may be. ... > full story
Astronomers Find Unusual New Denizen Of The Solar System (August 19, 2008) -- A "minor planet" with the prosaic name 2006 SQ372 is just over two billion miles from Earth, a bit closer than the planet Neptune. But this lump of ice and rock is beginning the return leg of a 22,500-year journey that will take it to a distance of 150 billion miles, nearly 1,600 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun, according to a team of researchers from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-II). ... > full story
Chemical Liberated By Leaky Gut May Allow HIV To Infect The Brain, Scientists Find (August 19, 2008) -- A chemical released by the gut in HIV-infected patients appears to help the virus evade the blood brain barrier and infect the brain, researchers show. The finding could lead to strategies for preventing HIV-associated dementia. ... > full story
Light Finds A Way -- Even Through White Paint: Specially-prepared Light Moves Through 'Open Channels' (August 19, 2008) -- Materials such as milk, paper, white paint and tissue are opaque because they scatter light, not because they absorb it. But no matter how great the scattering, light is always able to get through the material in question. At least, according to the theory. Researchers have now confirmed this with experiments. By shaping the waveform of light, they have succeeded in finding the predicted 'open channels' in material along which the light is able to move. ... > full story
Chewing Gum Associated With Enhanced Bowel Recovery After Colon Surgery (August 19, 2008) -- Chewing gum is associated with enhanced recovery of intestinal function following surgery to remove all or part of the colon, according to an analysis of previously published studies in the August issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. ... > full story
Self-assembling Polymer Arrays Improve Data Storage Potential (August 19, 2008) -- A new manufacturing approach holds the potential to overcome the technological limitations currently facing the microelectronics and data-storage industries, paving the way to smaller electronic devices and higher-capacity hard drives. ... > full story
Piling On The Homework: Does It Work For Everyone? (August 19, 2008) -- While US students continue to lag behind many countries academically, national statistics show that teachers have responded by assigning more homework. But according to a joint study by researchers at Binghamton University and the University of Nevada, when it comes to math, piling on the homework may not work for all students. ... > full story
Mirror Self-recognition In Magpie Birds (August 19, 2008) -- Self-recognition, it has been argued, is a hallmark of advanced cognitive abilities in animals. It was previously thought that only the usual suspects of higher cognition -- some great apes, dolphins and elephants -- were able to recognize their own bodies in a mirror. Psychologists have shown evidence of self-recognition in magpies -- a species with a brain structure very different from mammals. ... > full story
Limbs Saved By Menstrual Blood Stem Cells (August 19, 2008) -- Cells obtained from menstrual blood, termed 'endometrial regenerative cells' are capable of restoring blood flow in an animal model of advanced peripheral artery disease. A new study demonstrates that when circulation-blocked mice were treated with ERC injections, circulation and functionality were restored. ... > full story
NASA Study Improves Ability To Predict Aerosols' Effect On Cloud Cover (August 19, 2008) -- Using a novel theoretical approach, researchers from NASA and other institutions have identified the common thread that determines how aerosols from human activity, like the particles from burning of vegetation and forests, influence cloud cover and ultimately affect climate. The study improves researchers' ability to predict whether aerosols will increase or decrease cloud cover. ... > full story
Good Long-term Prognosis After West Nile Virus Infection (August 19, 2008) -- The long-term prognosis of patients infected with West Nile virus is good, according to a new study. This is the largest study of the long-term outcomes of West Nile virus infection. ... > full story
Vegetable Scales With A Mind Of Their Own (August 19, 2008) -- What was the number you were supposed to enter for the chili-pepper on the self-service scales? Was it 67 or 76? And the number for the bananas? The latest self-service scales automatically recognize what the customer has placed on them. ... > full story
Suicidal Thoughts Among College Students More Common Than Expected (August 19, 2008) -- More than half of 26,000 students across 70 colleges and universities who completed a survey on suicidal experiences reported having at least one episode of suicidal thinking at some point in their lives. Furthermore, 15 percent of students surveyed reported having seriously considered attempting suicide and more than 5 percent reported making a suicide attempt at least once in their lifetime. ... > full story
Aboriginal Kids Can Count Without Numbers (August 19, 2008) -- Knowing the words for numbers is not necessary to be able to count, according to new research. The study of the aboriginal children -- from two communities which do not have words or gestures for numbers -- found that they were able to copy and perform number-related tasks. The findings suggest that we possess an innate mechanism for counting, which may develop differently in children with dyscalculia. ... > full story
New Method To Overcome Multiple Drug Resistant Diseases (August 19, 2008) -- Many drugs once considered Charles Atlases of the pharmaceutical realm have been reduced to the therapeutic equivalent of 97-pound weaklings as the diseases they once dispatched with ease have developed resistance to them. But researchers have developed a method to get around one of the most common forms of resistance, thereby opening up some if not many resistant diseases to the reinvigorated fury of the medications that once laid them low. ... > full story
Plastics Suspect In Lobster Illness (August 19, 2008) -- The search for what causes a debilitating shell disease affecting lobsters from Long Island Sound to Maine has led one Marine Biological Laboratory visiting scientist to suspect environmental alkyphenols, formed primarily by the breakdown of hard transparent plastics. ... > full story
Study Examines Association Of Smoking With Hemorrhage After Throat Surgery (August 19, 2008) -- Smoking appears to be associated with an increased rate of hemorrhage in patients who undergo uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP, a surgical procedure used to remove excess tissue from the throat) with tonsillectomy (a surgical procedure in which the tonsils are removed), but not in those who undergo tonsillectomy alone, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of OtolaryngologyHead & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. ... > full story
New 'Electrifying' Theory: Analysis To Improve Superconducting Fault-current Limiters (August 19, 2008) -- A new theory could help build future superconducting alternating-current fault-current limiters for electricity transmission and distribution systems. The work identifies design strategies that can reduce costs and improve efficiency in a bifilar fault-current limiter, a new and promising type of superconducting fault-current limiter. ... > full story
When The Patient Can't Decide: Study Looks At Physician Perspectives On Surrogate Decision-making (August 19, 2008) -- Researchers led by Alexia Torke, M.D., of the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute Inc., studied how physicians treating patients who are unable to make medical decisions interacted with surrogate decision-makers. ... > full story
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