The News
Post-op dangers found with heart-surgery drug
By Carla K. Johnson The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 02/06/2007 06:31:35 PM MST
Chicago - A drug widely used to prevent excessive bleeding during heart surgery appears to raise the risk of dying in the five years afterward by nearly 50 percent, an international study found.
The researchers said replacing the drug - aprotinin, sold by Bayer AG under the brand name Trasylol - with other, cheaper medications for a year would prevent 10,000 deaths worldwide over the next five years.
The findings were more bad news for Trasylol: The same scientists found the drug raised the risk of kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes in a study published last year. Most of the deaths in the new study were related to those problems.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in The Journal of the American Medical Association
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
The News
Inbreeding has a positive effect for some
BONN, Germany, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Breeding between close relatives is believed unfavorable from an evolutionary standpoint, but a Germany study finds it might be good for some species.
Inbreeding is viewed negatively, in part because it allows harmful mutations to be more easily propagated, although theory predicts under some circumstances, the benefits of inbreeding might outweigh the costs.
University of Bonn researchers report gaining evidence in support of that theory. Studying an African chiclid fish species, Pelvicachromis taetiatus, in which both parents participate in brood care, the researchers found individuals preferred mating with unfamiliar close kin rather than non-kin.
One possible explanation for kin preference in breeding in that species is that it offers a benefit by facilitating parental cooperation, the researchers said.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal Current Biology
Inbreeding has a positive effect for some
BONN, Germany, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Breeding between close relatives is believed unfavorable from an evolutionary standpoint, but a Germany study finds it might be good for some species.
Inbreeding is viewed negatively, in part because it allows harmful mutations to be more easily propagated, although theory predicts under some circumstances, the benefits of inbreeding might outweigh the costs.
University of Bonn researchers report gaining evidence in support of that theory. Studying an African chiclid fish species, Pelvicachromis taetiatus, in which both parents participate in brood care, the researchers found individuals preferred mating with unfamiliar close kin rather than non-kin.
One possible explanation for kin preference in breeding in that species is that it offers a benefit by facilitating parental cooperation, the researchers said.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal Current Biology
Monday, February 5, 2007
The News
Study seeks to ID depression genes
STANFORD, Calif., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they might be close to identifying the gene or genes responsible for causing severe depression.
The Stanford University School of Medicine researchers say some people appear to be genetically predisposed to developing severe depression, but scientists have yet to identify the genes responsible.
Now Dr. Douglas Levinson, a professor of psychiatry, is leading a consortium of researchers in identifying a specific region rife with promise.
"This finding has a very good chance of leading to a discovery of a gene that could yield important information about why some people develop depression," said Levinson.
If problematic genetic variations could be identified, it would open the door to a whole new world of investigation, and eventually, treatment possibilities, he said.
The Research
Read the articles behind this story in the journal American Journal of Psychiatry
Homing in on depression genes.
Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Major Depression (GenRED): Final Genome Scan Report.
Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Major Depression (GenRED): Significant Linkage on Chromosome 15q25-q26 After Fine Mapping With Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers.
Study seeks to ID depression genes
STANFORD, Calif., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they might be close to identifying the gene or genes responsible for causing severe depression.
The Stanford University School of Medicine researchers say some people appear to be genetically predisposed to developing severe depression, but scientists have yet to identify the genes responsible.
Now Dr. Douglas Levinson, a professor of psychiatry, is leading a consortium of researchers in identifying a specific region rife with promise.
"This finding has a very good chance of leading to a discovery of a gene that could yield important information about why some people develop depression," said Levinson.
If problematic genetic variations could be identified, it would open the door to a whole new world of investigation, and eventually, treatment possibilities, he said.
The Research
Read the articles behind this story in the journal American Journal of Psychiatry
Homing in on depression genes.
Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Major Depression (GenRED): Final Genome Scan Report.
Genetics of Recurrent Early-Onset Major Depression (GenRED): Significant Linkage on Chromosome 15q25-q26 After Fine Mapping With Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
The News
Breakthrough In Nanodevice Synthesis Revolutionizes Biological Sensors
Science Daily — A novel approach to synthesizing nanowires (NWs) allows their direct integration with microelectronic systems for the first time, as well as their ability to act as highly sensitive biomolecule detectors that could revolutionize biological diagnostic applications, according to a report in Nature.
"We electronically plugged into the biochemical system of cells," said senior author Mark Reed, Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Engineering & Applied Science. "These developments have profound implications both for application of nanoscience technologies and for the speed and sensitivity they bring to the future of diagnostics."
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal Nature
Breakthrough In Nanodevice Synthesis Revolutionizes Biological Sensors
Science Daily — A novel approach to synthesizing nanowires (NWs) allows their direct integration with microelectronic systems for the first time, as well as their ability to act as highly sensitive biomolecule detectors that could revolutionize biological diagnostic applications, according to a report in Nature.
"We electronically plugged into the biochemical system of cells," said senior author Mark Reed, Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Engineering & Applied Science. "These developments have profound implications both for application of nanoscience technologies and for the speed and sensitivity they bring to the future of diagnostics."
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal Nature
Saturday, February 3, 2007
**Top Science News Stories for 2006**
Neanderthal Genome, Arctic Ice, Origin of the Solar System
In the top science news of 2006, scientists mapped sections of the genetic code of Neanderthals, discovered that arctic ice is melting at a faster rate than before, and found clues about the origin of the solar system by examining comet dust. Learn more about these stories in an exclusive interview with John Rennie, the editor of Scientific American magazine, and Andrew Revkin, science reporter for the New York Times and author of the book "The North Pole was Here."
Neanderthal Genome, Arctic Ice, Origin of the Solar System
In the top science news of 2006, scientists mapped sections of the genetic code of Neanderthals, discovered that arctic ice is melting at a faster rate than before, and found clues about the origin of the solar system by examining comet dust. Learn more about these stories in an exclusive interview with John Rennie, the editor of Scientific American magazine, and Andrew Revkin, science reporter for the New York Times and author of the book "The North Pole was Here."
The News
Flu Report
by Richard Knox
Audio for this story will be available at approx. 1:00 p.m. ET
Weekend Edition Saturday, February 3, 2007 · Researchers around the world are trying to figure out the crucial differences between a bird virus, like the H5N1 virus, and a flu bug that can spread explosively among humans. The report is in the latest issue of the journal Science.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal Science
Flu Report
by Richard Knox
Audio for this story will be available at approx. 1:00 p.m. ET
Weekend Edition Saturday, February 3, 2007 · Researchers around the world are trying to figure out the crucial differences between a bird virus, like the H5N1 virus, and a flu bug that can spread explosively among humans. The report is in the latest issue of the journal Science.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal Science
Friday, February 2, 2007
The News
No one strategy best for teaching reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Educators have long debated whether phonics is most effective in teaching reading but a U.S. researcher says an individualized program is best.
The Research
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science
No one strategy best for teaching reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Educators have long debated whether phonics is most effective in teaching reading but a U.S. researcher says an individualized program is best.
The Research
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science
The News
Climate Report Predicts Environmental Changes
Morning Edition, February 2, 2007 · Scientists and government officials from 113 countries issue a new report on climate change that blames humans for rising global temperatures. The report predicts changes in temperature, precipitation patterns and sea level over the next 100 years.
The Research
Report summary
Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change
Climate Report Predicts Environmental Changes
Morning Edition, February 2, 2007 · Scientists and government officials from 113 countries issue a new report on climate change that blames humans for rising global temperatures. The report predicts changes in temperature, precipitation patterns and sea level over the next 100 years.
The Research
Report summary
Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change
Thursday, February 1, 2007
The News
Air's grit found to be potent risk
While older women have appeared to be more susceptible to pollution, the large federal study quantifies the danger.
By Jeff Donn The Associated Press
Article Launched: 02/01/2007 01:00:00 AM MST
Boston - The fine grit in polluted air boosts the risk of heart disease in older women much more powerfully than scientists realized, a big federally funded study has found, raising questions of whether U.S. environmental standards are strict enough.
The Environmental Protection Agency tightened its daily limit for these tiny specks, known as fine particulates, in September. But it left the average annual limit untouched - 15 millionths of a gram for every cubic meter of air.
In this study of 65,893 women, the average exposure was 13 units, with two-thirds of the subjects falling under the national standard. But every increase of 10 units, starting at zero, lifted the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease by about 75 percent.
"There was a lot of evidence previously suggesting that the long-term standard should be lower, and this is adding one more study to that evidence," said Douglas Dockery, a pollution specialist at the Harvard School of Public Health.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal New England Journal of Medicine.
Air's grit found to be potent risk
While older women have appeared to be more susceptible to pollution, the large federal study quantifies the danger.
By Jeff Donn The Associated Press
Article Launched: 02/01/2007 01:00:00 AM MST
Boston - The fine grit in polluted air boosts the risk of heart disease in older women much more powerfully than scientists realized, a big federally funded study has found, raising questions of whether U.S. environmental standards are strict enough.
The Environmental Protection Agency tightened its daily limit for these tiny specks, known as fine particulates, in September. But it left the average annual limit untouched - 15 millionths of a gram for every cubic meter of air.
In this study of 65,893 women, the average exposure was 13 units, with two-thirds of the subjects falling under the national standard. But every increase of 10 units, starting at zero, lifted the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease by about 75 percent.
"There was a lot of evidence previously suggesting that the long-term standard should be lower, and this is adding one more study to that evidence," said Douglas Dockery, a pollution specialist at the Harvard School of Public Health.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal New England Journal of Medicine.
The News
Study Puts Bigger Focus on Binge Eating
by Allison Aubrey
Morning Edition, February 1, 2007 · A new survey by researchers at Harvard University finds that frequent binge eating is the nation's most prevalent eating problem, outpacing better-known disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. The results come from what researchers say is the first national census of eating disorders.
Harvard psychiatrist James Hudson says binge eating "absolutely" qualifies as a stand-alone mental disorder.
"An eating binge is when you eat a large amount of food in a short period of time and have a sense of loss of control over the eating," he says.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal Biological Psychiatry
Study Puts Bigger Focus on Binge Eating
by Allison Aubrey
Morning Edition, February 1, 2007 · A new survey by researchers at Harvard University finds that frequent binge eating is the nation's most prevalent eating problem, outpacing better-known disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. The results come from what researchers say is the first national census of eating disorders.
Harvard psychiatrist James Hudson says binge eating "absolutely" qualifies as a stand-alone mental disorder.
"An eating binge is when you eat a large amount of food in a short period of time and have a sense of loss of control over the eating," he says.
The Research
Read the article behind this story in the journal Biological Psychiatry
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