ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Friday, September 19, 2008
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Mother's Diet Can Affect Genes And Offspring's Risk Of Allergic Asthma, Rodent Studies Suggest (September 19, 2008) -- A pregnant mouse's diet can induce epigenetic changes that increase the risk her offspring will develop allergic asthma, according to researchers at National Jewish Health and Duke University Medical Center. Pregnant mice that consumed diets high in supplements containing methyl-donors, such as folic acid, had offspring with more severe allergic airway disease than offspring from mice that consumed diets low in methyl-containing foods. ... > full story
New Mechanism For Cardiac Arrhythmia Discovered (September 19, 2008) -- Virus infections can cause cardiac arrhythmia. Scientists have now discovered the molecular mechanism. They have demonstrated that the receptor which the virus uses to infect heart cells is normally necessary for regular heart beat. Likewise, when the receptor is absent, arrhythmia occurs. The researchers assume that the virus infection and the autoimmune disease can block the receptor which disrupts the heart's normal rhythm. ... > full story
Use Of Non-psychoactive Cannabinoids In The Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Diseases. (September 19, 2008) -- Scientists have studied the effects of a drug that reduces the progression of a disease similar to multiple sclerosis in animals. This discovery represents another step in the standing fight against the disease. ... > full story
Genes Capable Of Regulating Stem Cell Function Identified (September 19, 2008) -- An animal model provides insight on pathways used for adult tissue maintenance and regeneration; system for studying relationship between stem cells and cancer. Scientists have developed a new system in which to study known mammalian adult stem cell disorders. This research, conducted with the flatworm planaria, highlights the genetic similarity between these invertebrates and mammals in the mechanisms by which stem cell regulatory pathways are used during adult tissue maintenance and regeneration. ... > full story
Study Helps Stop Drugs Slipping Through Safety Net (September 19, 2008) -- Recent advances in genetic screening will lead to safer pharmaceutical drugs, with reduced adverse side effects, if the methods are incorporated in clinical development. A rallying call to bring key scientists into this growing field of pharmacogenics, the application of genetics to drug development and safety, was made recently at a major conference organized by the European Science Foundation in collaboration with the University of Barcelona. ... > full story
Early Parenting Plays Key Role In Infants' Physiological Response To Stress (September 19, 2008) -- physiological response to stress (measured by heart rate) when they were temporarily separated from their mothers. DNA was collected to determine which infants carried a gene related to risky behaviors in adolescence and adulthood. Among those with the "risk" gene, maternal sensitivity did not affect heart rate at 6 months, but those with sensitive mothers showed an effective cardiac response at 12 months. ... > full story
Astronomers Discover Most Dark Matter-dominated Galaxy In Universe (September 19, 2008) -- Astronomers have discovered the least luminous, most dark matter-filled galaxy known to exist. The galaxy, called Segue 1, is one of about two dozen small satellite galaxies orbiting our own Milky Way galaxy. The ultra-faint galaxy is a billion times less bright than the Milky Way, according to the team’s results. ... > full story
A Healthy Lifestyle Halves The Risk Of Premature Death In Women (September 19, 2008) -- Over half of deaths in women from chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease could be avoided if they never smoke, keep their weight in check, take exercise and eat a healthy diet low in red meat and trans-fats, according to a study published on the British Medical Journal website. ... > full story
Ship-induced Waves Affect Snails, Crabs And Insect Larvae In Sandy Lakes And Rivers (September 19, 2008) -- Snails, crabs, insect larvae - the shores of rivers and lakes are populated by thousands of small animals that play an important role in the food chain of the freshwater ecosystem. They eat the leaves which fall into the water, among other things, and help keep the waters clean. Scientists are now studying the impact that ship-induced waves can have on these small animals. ... > full story
Genes Linked To Blindness Produced By Corneal Oedema Identified (September 19, 2008) -- Scientists have identified genes linked to blindness produced by corneal oedema. The findings, published in the journal ‘Experimental Eye Research’ related to blindness caused by corneal oedema originated by the alteration of the cell barrier of corneal endothelium. When the endothelial cell barrier is unharmed, the cornea remains dehydrated and transparent. ... > full story
New Method For Building Multilingual Ontologies That Can Be Applied To The Semantic Web (September 19, 2008) -- Researchers have developed a new method for building multilingual ontologies that can be applied to the Semantic Web. An ontology is a structured set of terms and concepts underpinning the meaning of a subject area. Artificial intelligence and knowledge representation systems are the principal users of ontologies. ... > full story
Carrots And Sticks To Promote A Healthy Lifestyle? (September 19, 2008) -- When it comes to deciding whether paying people to make healthier lifestyle changes is a good thing, it seems patient opinion is split right down the middle. Unsurprisingly perhaps, those who smoke and are overweight are its greatest advocates. ... > full story
World Faces Global Pandemic Of Antibiotic Resistance, Experts Warn (September 18, 2008) -- Vital components of modern medicine such as major surgery, organ transplantation, and cancer chemotherapy will be threatened if antibiotic resistance is not tackled urgently, warn experts. ... > full story
Common Bronchodilator Drug Linked To Increased Deaths (September 18, 2008) -- A common bronchodilator drug which has been used for more than a decade by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been linked to a one-third higher risk of cardiovascular-related deaths. The drug is ipratropium. A new study found that veterans with recently diagnosed COPD using ipratropium were 34 percent more likely to die of a heart attack or of arrhythmia. ... > full story
COPD? Eat Your Veggies (September 18, 2008) -- You know it's good for you in other ways, but could eating your broccoli also help patients with chronic lung disease? It just might. Broccoli is known to contain a compound that prevents the degradation of a key component that protects lungs against oxidative damage and has been linked to the development and severity of chronic lung disease. ... > full story
Determining The Structure Of Nuclear Receptor Has Implications For A Host Of Diseases (September 18, 2008) -- Researchers have determined the molecular structure of a nuclear receptor, which regulates the expression of specific genes within cells, that may serve as a drug target for diseases related to heart and blood vessel development, human embryonic development and female infertility. Researchers also found that the receptor, named COUP-TFII, is activated by retinoic acid, a form of Vitamin A. ... > full story
Engineers Discover Nanoparticles Can Break On Through (September 18, 2008) -- In a finding that could speed the use of sensors or barcodes at the nanoscale, engineers have shown that certain types of tiny organic particles, when heated to the proper temperature, bob to the surface of a layer of a thin polymer film and then can reversibly recede below the surface when heated a second time. ... > full story
What Was I Doing? Interruptions Can Change Purchase Decisions (September 18, 2008) -- You're on your computer, about to buy a vacation package when the phone rings. According to a new study, when you return to the computer after the interruption, you may have a completely different mindset -- and make a different decision. ... > full story
Scientists Behind 'Doomsday Seed Vault' Ready World's Crops For Climate Change (September 18, 2008) -- As climate change is credited as one of the main drivers behind soaring food prices, the Global Crop Diversity Trust is undertaking a major effort to search crop collections -- from Azerbaijan to Nigeria -- for the traits that could arm agriculture against the impact of future changes. Traits, such as drought resistance in wheat, or salinity tolerance in potato, will become essential as crops around the world have to adapt to new climate conditions. ... > full story
Treatment With New Drug Might Make Tumor Cells More Sensitive To Therapy (September 18, 2008) -- Scientists have shown in that it might be possible to make tumor cells more sensitive to irradiation and some types of chemotherapy by treating them with a drug that cripples their ability to repair DNA damage caused by these therapies. ... > full story
Doppler On Wheels Deployed At Hurricane Ike (September 18, 2008) -- The only scientific team to successfully brave Hurricane Ike's knock-down winds and swells in Galveston was the DOW, the Doppler on Wheels mobile weather radar operated by the Center for Severe Weather Research in Boulder, Colo. ... > full story
RNA Interference Plays Bigger Role Than Previously Thought (September 18, 2008) -- IBM and the Genome Institute of Singapore have reported findings from a joint research study that provides new information on how stem cell differentiation is controlled by microRNAs. The two teams have shown that microRNAs -- small molecules that are an important regulatory component in the machinery of living cells -- have roles that go well-beyond what was previously thought. ... > full story
Nitrate Concentrations Of Ground Water Increasing In Many Areas Of The United States (September 18, 2008) -- A nationwide study of nitrate trends in the ground water of the United States was recently completed by scientists at the US Geological Survey. Nitrate is the most common chemical contaminant found in ground water, and is related to infant health and possible cancer risks. The study focused on 24 well networks in the US from 1988 to 2004, of which seven well networks showed statistically significant increases in concentrations of nitrate during this period. ... > full story
Replacing The Coach Doesn’t Solve Problems (September 18, 2008) -- Bringing in a new coach rarely solves problems, regardless of when it is done, according to a study of the hiring and firing coaches in the Swedish Elite Series ice-hockey league during the period 1975/76-2005/06. Despite this fact, coaches are nevertheless very publicly fired. ... > full story
More Than Skin Deep: There's No Such Thing As A 'Safe' Suntan, Researchers Warn (September 18, 2008) -- There may be no such thing as a 'safe' tan based on ultraviolet radiation, according to a series of papers published in the journal Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. ... > full story
New Synthetic Form Of Protein Holds Promise To Stop Cancer Spread (September 18, 2008) -- Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have a pending patent on a new synthetic form of a protein involved in certain types of cancers and immune system diseases. ... > full story
Small Glaciers -- Not Large -- Account For Most Of Greenland's Recent Loss Of Ice, Study Shows (September 18, 2008) -- The recent dramatic melting and breakup of a few huge Greenland glaciers have fueled public concerns over the impact of global climate change, but that isn't the island's biggest problem. A new study shows that the dozens of much smaller outflow glaciers dotting Greenland's coast together account for three times more loss from the island's ice sheet than the amount coming from their huge relatives. ... > full story
Researchers Invigorate 'Exhausted' Immune Cells (September 18, 2008) -- In battles against chronic infections, the body's key immune cells often become exhausted and ineffective. Researchers have now found a way to restore vigor to these killer T cells by blocking a key receptor on their surface, findings that may advance the development of new therapies for diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and cancer. ... > full story
Report Offers Advice To McCain, Obama On Science And Technology Appointments (September 18, 2008) -- The importance of research in solving many of our national challenges, including economic ones, was emphasized today in a new report titled "Science and Technology for America's Progress: Ensuring the Best Presidential Appointments In the new administration." The report, sent to John McCain and Barack Obama with guidance for whomever is elected president in November, provides suggestions on filling key science appointments after the election. ... > full story
Child Witnesses: How To Improve Their Performance (September 18, 2008) -- A study at the University of Leicester into how to improve child and young adult witnesses' evidence has looked at several issues that affect witnesses' accuracy. ... > full story
It’s All In The Hips: Early Whales Used Well Developed Back Legs For Swimming, Fossils Show (September 18, 2008) -- The crashing of the enormous fluked tail on the surface of the ocean is a "calling card" of modern whales. Living whales have no back legs, and their front legs take the form of flippers that allow them to steer. Their special tails provide the powerful thrust necessary to move their huge bulk. Yet this has not always been the case. Now newly found fossils from Alabama and Mississippi that pinpoint where tail flukes developed in the evolution of whales. ... > full story
Top-selling Cholesterol Drug Does Little For Women, Study Suggests (September 18, 2008) -- Lipitor has been the top-selling drug in the world and has accounted for over billion in annual sales. It has been prescribed to both men and women to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with common risk factors for heart disease. However, a new study was unable to find high quality clinical evidence documenting reduced heart attack risk for women in a primary prevention context. ... > full story
Criminals Who Eat Processed Foods More Likely To Be Discovered, Through Fingerprint Sweat Corroding Metal (September 18, 2008) -- The inventor of a revolutionary new forensic fingerprinting technique claims criminals who eat processed foods have 'sticky fingers,' which are more likely to corrode metal. This makes them more likely to be discovered by police. ... > full story
Small Numbers Of Patients With Drug-resistant TB May Account For High Proportion Of New Infections (September 18, 2008) -- Inadequate treatment of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis can leave patients highly infectious, and small numbers of such patients may drive transmission of the disease in the very health care facilities intended to treat it, according to research published in PLoS Medicine. ... > full story
From Xbox To T-cells: Borrowing Video Game Technology To Model Human Biology (September 18, 2008) -- Researchers are harnessing the computing muscle behind the leading video games to understand the most intricate of real-life systems. ... > full story
Signals From Blood Of Mother Enhance Maturation Of Brain (September 18, 2008) -- The maturation of the brain of unborn infants is given a gentle “prod” by its mother, according to new research. A protein messenger from the mother’s blood is transferred to the embryo and stimulates the growth and wiring of the neurons in the brain. ... > full story
Scientists Turn Human Skin Cells Into Insulin-producing Cells (September 18, 2008) -- Researchers have transformed cells from human skin into cells that produce insulin, the hormone used to treat diabetes. The breakthrough may one day lead to new treatments or even a cure for the millions of people affected by the disease, researchers say. ... > full story
New Leukemia Signal Could Point Way To Better Treatment (September 18, 2008) -- Cancer researchers have discovered a promising new chemotherapy target for a deadly form of leukemia. Their discovery hinges on a novel "double agent" role for a molecular signal that regulates cell growth. ... > full story
Blanket Ban On Bushmeat Could Be Disastrous For Forest Dwellers In Central Africa, Says New Report (September 18, 2008) -- A new report from the Center for International Forestry Research, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and partners warns that an upsurge in hunting bushmeat -- including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians -- in tropical forests is unsustainable, and that it poses serious threats to food security for poor inhabitants of forests in Africa, who rely largely on bushmeat for protein. ... > full story
Almost 7 Million Pregnant In Sub-Saharan Africa Infected With Hookworms (September 18, 2008) -- A new study reveals that between a quarter and a third of pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, or almost 7 million, are infected with hookworms and at increased risk of developing anemia. ... > full story
Scavenger Birds Chew The Fat (September 18, 2008) -- Humans aren't the only ones who like fatty foods -- bearded vultures do, too. The bearded vulture will discard less energy-dense bones and choose only the bones containing the highest fat content both for its consumption and delivery to its young. ... > full story
Genetic Research Using Human Samples Requires New Types Of Informed Consent (September 18, 2008) -- Genetic studies involving the long term storage and study of human samples hold great promise for medical research -- but they also pose new threats to individuals such as uninsurability, unemployability, and discrimination, say a team of researchers in this week's PLoS Medicine. ... > full story
Researchers Suppress 'Hunger Hormone' In Pigs: New Minimally Invasive Method Yields Result As Good As Bariatric Surgery (September 18, 2008) -- Johns Hopkins scientists report success in significantly suppressing levels of the "hunger hormone" ghrelin in pigs using a minimally invasive means of chemically vaporizing the main vessel carrying blood to the top section, or fundus, of the stomach. An estimated 90 percent of the body's ghrelin originates in the fundus, which can't make the hormone without a good blood supply. ... > full story
Viral 'Magic Bullet' Targets Cancer Cells With Help Of New Compound (September 18, 2008) -- Researchers report a significant breakthrough in the use of viruses to target and destroy cancer cells, a field known as oncolytic virotherapy. ... > full story
Capturing Replication Strategies Used By SARS Viruses In Their Bid To Spread (September 18, 2008) -- Biologists report how they have used virus-infected cell cultures and developed a sophisticated method to preserve and visualize the fragile replication structures of SARS-coronavirus, both in whole cells and in sections of cells. ... > full story
Steroids Not As Effective In Obese Asthma Patients (September 18, 2008) -- Researchers have shown that glucocorticoids, the primary controller medication for asthma, are 40 percent less effective in overweight and obese asthma patients than in those of normal weight. ... > full story
Developing Pea Varieties Tolerant Of Drought And Effects Of Climate Change (September 18, 2008) -- New research could help breeders to develop pea varieties able to withstand drought stress and climate change. The research also shows that the composition of crops is likely to change with the climate. ... > full story
Children Who Are Concerned About Parents Arguing Are Prone To School Problems (September 18, 2008) -- A new study charted how children's concerns about their parents' relationship may increase their vulnerability to later adjustment problems. Children who worry a lot about conflict between their parents were found to have school problems because of difficulty focusing and sustaining attention. These attention problems were noted by teachers in the year that the concern was reported and one year later. The findings have implications for mental health programs among children dealing with parental discord. ... > full story
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