ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines
for Thursday, July 8, 2010
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Genetic ancestry data improve diagnosis in asthma and lung disease (July 8, 2010) -- Americans with lung disease may face a far greater level of lung damage than either they or their doctor suspect, depending on their individual genetic heritage, according to a new study. The research implications range from diagnosing the severity of asthma, to disability decisions or eligibility for lung transplants, researchers say. ... > full story
Women with gestational diabetes: Common glucose test also accurately predicts adult-onset diabetes, study finds (July 8, 2010) -- New research shows that pregnant women who "fail" the common glucose challenge test, a series of four blood tests conducted over a single four-hour period, have a higher chance of developing adult onset diabetes later in life. ... > full story
Muted emotions misleading in Alzheimer's disease, study suggests (July 8, 2010) -- A new study suggests that when Alzheimer's patients are asked to place an emotional value on pictures, they measure the pleasant images as less pleasant and the negative scenes as less negative compared with a control group of normal elderly people. This emotional flatness could be incorrectly interpreted as a symptom of depression. ... > full story
Hospital hyperglycemia may predict future diabetes (July 8, 2010) -- Hyperglycemia during critical illness may be used as a warning of future diabetes. Researchers have found a significant association between acute illness complicated with hyperglycemia and the future development of type II diabetes or glucose intolerance. ... > full story
First transoral and transvaginal gallbladder removals performed as part of US multicenter human trial (July 8, 2010) -- The first transoral and transvaginal cholecystectomies (gallbladder removal) using Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) have been completed in a multicenter human trial in the United States. NOTES is performed by using the patient's natural openings for surgery. These human trials are the first in the world comparing oral and transvaginal NOTES to traditional laparoscopy. ... > full story
Road surface purifies air by removing nitrogen oxides, researchers in the Netherlands find (July 8, 2010) -- Road surfaces can make a big contribution to local air purity. This conclusion can be drawn from the first test results on a road surface of air-purifying concrete. This material reduces the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 25 to 45 per cent. ... > full story
Link between brain activity and Parkinson's disease symptoms: New strategy for treating movement disorders identified (July 7, 2010) -- Scientists have shown how key circuits in the brain control movement. The research not only establishes the function of these circuits, but offers promise for treating movement related disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. ... > full story
New method for identifying the causes of X-linked genetic disorders (July 7, 2010) -- Scientists have identified previously unknown potential disease genes in humans and mice. Genes on the X chromosome, which regulate embryonic development, are the focus of the current study. Men have only one X chromosome, and therefore mutations on this chromosome disproportionately affect males, frequently leading to serious diseases such as hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and mental retardation. ... > full story
Reversible watermarking for digital images (July 7, 2010) -- Every picture tells a story, but how do you know that a digital photo has not been manipulated to change the tale being told? A new approach to adding an encrypted watermark to digital images allows the an image to be validated against a pass key, according to new research. ... > full story
Suicide attempt method affects prognosis, study finds (July 7, 2010) -- The method used for a suicide attempt is highly significant for the risk of subsequent successful suicide, reveals a long-term study. The results may be of help in acute risk assessment following a suicide attempt. ... > full story
High blood levels of vitamin E reduces risk of Alzheimer's, Swedish study finds (July 7, 2010) -- High levels of several vitamin E components in the blood are associated with a decreased risk for Alzheimer's disease in advanced age, suggesting that vitamin E may help prevent cognitive deterioration in elderly people, according to a new Swedish study. ... > full story
New target for treatment of advanced prostate cancer (July 7, 2010) -- A recent study provides demonstrates that expression of one of a group of genes found only in humans and non-human primates can promote androgen receptor activity in concert with other proteins called coregulators. ... > full story
Shocking results from diamond anvil cell experiments (July 7, 2010) -- Physicists are using an ultra-fast laser-based technique they dubbed "nanoshocks" for something entirely different. In fact, the "nanoshocks" have such a small spatial scale that scientists can use them to study shock behavior in tiny samples such as thin films or other systems with microscopic dimensions (a few tens of micrometers). In particular they have used the technique to shock materials under high static pressure in a diamond anvil cell. ... > full story
Cancer deaths continue to drop (July 7, 2010) -- The continued drop in overall cancer mortality rates over the last 20 years has averted more than 767,000 cancer deaths, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. ... > full story
Autism-related study discovers how drug interferes with neuronal cell function (July 7, 2010) -- A new study has shown for the first time how the drug misoprostol, linked to neurodevelopmental defects associated with autism, interferes with neuronal cell function. It is an important finding because misoprostol is similar in structure to naturally occurring prostaglandins, the key signaling molecules produced by fatty acids in the brain. The study examined mouse neuronal cells to see how the drug interferes at a molecular level with prostaglandins. ... > full story
Gender gap persists at highest levels of math and science testing, 30-year study finds (July 7, 2010) -- A study that examined 30 years of standardized test data from the very highest-scoring seventh graders has found that performance differences between boys and girls have narrowed considerably, but boys still outnumber girls by more than about 3-to-1 at extremely high levels of math ability and scientific reasoning. ... > full story
Bilingualism associated with brain reorganization involving better efficiency in executive functions, research finds (July 7, 2010) -- Researchers in Spain report that bilinguals are faster and more efficient in certain tasks in which executive functions are used due to a different form of cerebral control. ... > full story
Scientists design new delivery device for gene therapy (July 7, 2010) -- Scientists have designed a nanoparticle that appears to effectively deliver genetic material into cells with minimal toxic effects. In lab experiments, the researchers have found that this device, a vector, is able to deliver DNA deeply enough into a cell to allow genetic material to be activated -- a critical step in gene therapy. This vector is between two and a half and 10 times more effective than other experimental materials, according to the research. ... > full story
Protein must exist in specific brain cells to prevent diet-induced obesity (July 7, 2010) -- A protein found in cells throughout the body must be present in a specific set of neurons in the brain to prevent weight gain after chronic feeding on high-calorie meals, new findings suggest. ... > full story
Rhythm of life: Music shows potential in stroke rehabilitation (July 7, 2010) -- Music therapy provided by trained music therapists may help to improve movement in stroke patients, according to a new review. A few small trials also suggest a wider role for music in recovery from brain injury. ... > full story
Want to slow aging? New research suggests it takes more than antioxidants (July 7, 2010) -- A new study casts doubt on the theory that oxidative stress shortens lifespan. Researchers have identified mutations in 10 different genes of worms (genes believed to have counterparts in humans) that extend their lifespan without reducing the level of oxidative stress the worms suffer. The results contradict the popular theory that production of toxic reactive oxygen species in tissues is responsible for aging. ... > full story
Brain chemical boosts body heat, aids in calorie burn, UT Southwestern research suggests (July 7, 2010) -- New findings suggest that an enzyme in the brain known as PI3 kinase might control the increased generation of body heat that helps burn off excess calories after eating a high-fat meal. ... > full story
New adhesive for tape, label industry, developed (July 7, 2010) -- An incidental discovery in a wood products lab has produced a new pressure-sensitive adhesive that may revolutionize the tape industry -- an environmentally benign product that works very well and costs much less than existing adhesives based on petrochemicals. ... > full story
Rudeness at work causes mistakes (July 7, 2010) -- If someone is rude to you at work or if you witness rudeness you are more likely to make mistakes, according to one expert. ... > full story
Fetal X-ray exposure interferes with memory in adulthood, monkey study finds (July 7, 2010) -- Learning and memory impairments are important contributors to the disability associated with schizophrenia. These functional impairments emerge long before the onset of other symptoms associated with schizophrenia, suggesting that they are a consequence of a disturbance in brain development. In order to investigate the impact of early life disturbances in brain development upon learning and memory, researchers exposed fetal monkeys to x-rays and then examined their behavior when they were adults, approximately 5 years later. ... > full story
New insights into link between anti-cholesterol statin drugs and depression (July 7, 2010) -- Scientists are reporting a possible explanation for the symptoms of anxiety and depression that occur in some patients taking the popular statin family of anti-cholesterol drugs, and reported by some individuals on low-cholesterol diets. These symptoms could result from long-term, low levels of cholesterol in the brain, the report suggests. ... > full story
New type of light-matter interaction: Advance in quantum computing and energy conversion technology (July 7, 2010) -- Using a unique hybrid nanostructure, researchers have shown a new type of light-matter interaction and also demonstrated the first full quantum control of qubit spin within very tiny colloidal nanostructures (a few nanometers), thus taking a key step forward in efforts to create a quantum computer. ... > full story
Suicide barriers may fail to cut suicide rates as people go elsewhere (July 7, 2010) -- Suicide barriers on bridges might not reduce overall suicide rates by jumping from heights, as people may change location for their suicide attempt, according to a new study. ... > full story
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