ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, August 19, 2010
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Study shows gene's role in developing and maintaining cells key for a lifetime of memories (August 19, 2010) -- Researchers have shown that a gene named Prox1 is a key player in normal development of a brain structure crucial for learning and memory and remains active throughout life, nurturing the cells vital for making new memories. ... > full story
How genes hide their function (August 19, 2010) -- Researchers in Japan have illuminated mechanisms underlying the genetic robustness of metabolic effects in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Their findings reveal a key balance between the roles played by duplicate genes and metabolic network connectivity in functional compensation. ... > full story
Study explains why Alzheimer's drug is both safe and effective (August 19, 2010) -- The drug memantine improves Alzheimer's disease symptoms by blocking abnormal activity of glutamate, a chemical that transmits messages between nerve cells. In a new study, scientists unravel exactly how memantine helps Alzheimer's patients without causing serious side effects. ... > full story
Long-term entecavir therapy reverses fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients (August 19, 2010) -- Researchers have found that patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who received at least 3 years of cumulative entecavir (antiviral) therapy achieved substantial histologic improvement and regression of fibrosis or cirrhosis. ... > full story
Smart materials: Fully reversible functionalization of inorganic nanotubes (August 19, 2010) -- Scientists in Germany have devised a tool which allows fully reversible binding of metal oxides to inorganic nanotubes. ... > full story
Antidepressant can help treat major depression during perimenopause, menopause, study shows (August 19, 2010) -- An antidepressant can alleviate symptoms of major depression in women experiencing or about to experience menopause, according to a new study. ... > full story
Choosing healthier protein-rich foods instead of red and processed meats may reduce heart disease (August 18, 2010) -- American women who ate more protein-rich foods instead of red meat had a significantly lower risk of developing heart disease, according to a new study. Eating more fresh red meat, processed red meat and high-fat dairy carried an increased risk of heart disease in the study. Women who had two servings per day of red meat compared to those who had half a serving per day had a 30 percent higher risk of developing coronary heart disease. ... > full story
Meningitis research breakthrough could save children’s lives (August 18, 2010) -- Scientists have developed a rapid diagnostic test for meningococcal bacteria that can produce results within an hour. The speed of this new test is a vital factor in the treatment of young children with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia who become very ill over a short period. ... > full story
Can anthropology solve an economic crisis? (August 18, 2010) -- The field of anthropology is often associated with finding lost tribes, understanding ancient civilizations, and the study of indigenous peoples. However, researchers in Norway argue that anthropology has much more to offer than insights into small-scale societies, traditional cultures or arcane customs. They now argue that anthropology is an indispensable tool to complement others research fields, such as psychology and economics, in solving many diverse problems. ... > full story
Scientists closer to finding what causes the birth of a fat cell (August 18, 2010) -- Just what causes the birth of a human fat cell is a mystery, but scientists using mathematics to tackle the question have come up with a few predictions about the proteins that influence this process. The research is intended to increase understanding of how and why preadipocytes, or pre-fat cells, either lie dormant, copy themselves or turn into fat. ... > full story
Women with osteoporosis suffer more if they have previously broken a bone, say scientists (August 18, 2010) -- An international study of more than 60,000 women has drawn new light on the relationship between osteoporosis and fractures. Scientists call for more to be done to identify and treat patients at the highest risk of fractures. Osteoporosis is more common in women who have fractured bones when they were younger - and they experience a similar loss in health-related quality of life as those with arthritis, lung disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases. ... > full story
Early life influences risk for psychiatric disorders (August 18, 2010) -- For more than a century, clinical investigators have focused on early life as a source of adult psychopathology. Although the hypothesized mechanisms have evolved, a central notion remains: early life is a period of unique sensitivity during which experience confers enduring effects. ... > full story
Vitamin D may treat or prevent allergy to common mold (August 18, 2010) -- Vitamin D may be an effective therapeutic agent to treat or prevent allergy to a common mold that can complicate asthma and frequently affects patients with cystic fibrosis. ... > full story
SSRIs may pack more punch at the cellular level than believed (August 18, 2010) -- A new discovery about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors suggests that these drugs, used to treat mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, have multiple effects on our cells. Researchers used yeast cells to identify secondary drug targets or pathways affected by SSRIs. Such secondary pathways could help explain why different people taking the same drug can experience different effects, and could also lead to new types of drugs altogether. ... > full story
Men more likely to cheat if they are economically dependent on their female partners, study finds (August 18, 2010) -- The more economically dependent a man is on his female partner, the more likely he is to cheat on her, according to new research. ... > full story
Acupuncture not superior to sham acupuncture in knee osteoarthritis, study finds (August 18, 2010) -- Researchers have determined that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee who are treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) do not experience any more benefit than those receiving sham acupuncture (placebo). The team did find that the communication style of the acupuncturist could have a significant effect on pain reduction and satisfaction in patients. ... > full story
New link found between inflammation and cancer (August 18, 2010) -- Researchers have uncovered a new link between chronic inflammation and cancer. Although cancers do not always cause inflammation, chronic inflammation is known to help tumor cells grow. ... > full story
High definition diagnostic ultrasonics on the nanoscale (August 18, 2010) -- Scientists have built the world's smallest ultrasonic transducers capable of generating and detecting ultrasound. ... > full story
Why drunk drivers may get behind the wheel (August 18, 2010) -- A new study shows the impact of alcohol intoxication on reasoning and problem-solving abilities and may explain why some people feel they have recovered enough to drive after drinking. The research is the first to explore how cognitive abilities are impacted during both rising and declining blood alcohol concentrations, and how self-evaluation of recovery differs from actual recovery from impairment. ... > full story
Novel diabetes hope comes from Chinese herbs (August 18, 2010) -- Emodin, a natural product that can be extracted from various Chinese herbs including Rheum palmatum and Polygonum cuspidatum, shows promise as an agent that could reduce the impact of type 2 diabetes. New findings show that giving emodin to mice with diet-induced obesity lowered blood glucose and serum insulin, improved insulin resistance and lead to more healthy levels of lipid in the blood. It also decreased body weight and reduced central fat mass. ... > full story
Women who drink beer more likely to develop psoriasis (August 18, 2010) -- Regular beer -- but not light beer or other types of alcohol -- appears to be associated with an increased risk of developing psoriasis, according to a new study. ... > full story
People who cannot escape a system are likely to defend the status quo, study finds (August 18, 2010) -- The freedom of emigration at will is internationally recognized as a human right. But, in practice, emigration is often restricted, whether by policy or by poverty. A new study finds that people who are told that their right to emigrate will be restricted have what could be considered a strange reaction: they respond by defending their country's system. ... > full story
Repairing spinal cord injury with manipulated neural stem cells (August 18, 2010) -- One of the most common causes of disability in young adults is spinal cord injury. Currently, there is no proven reparative treatment. However, hope that neural stem cells might be of benefit to individuals with severe spinal cord injury has now been provided new research using a mouse model of this devastating condition. ... > full story
Cause of immune system avoidance of certain pathogens discovered (August 18, 2010) -- Researchers have discovered that a special set of sugars found on some disease-causing pathogens helps those pathogens fight the body's natural defenses as well as vaccines. This discovery may be a first step in understanding a disease family that includes tuberculosis for which there are currently no good vaccines or cures. ... > full story
Human activity eclipses Brazos River's native carbon cycle (August 18, 2010) -- Geochemists have found that damming and other human activity has completely obscured the natural carbon dioxide cycling process in Texas' longest river, the Brazos. The study is the first to document such an overwhelming influence of human activity on carbon dioxide in a major river. ... > full story
Antagonistic people may increase heart attack, stroke risk (August 18, 2010) -- Antagonistic people have greater thickening of neck artery walls than agreeable people, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Those deemed the least agreeable had a 40 percent increased risk of artery narrowing compared to those who were the most agreeable, according to a new study. ... > full story
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