Summaries | Headlines   Scientists Discover Dozens Of New Species In 'Lost World' Of Western New Guinea (February 8, 2006) — An expedition to one of Asia's most isolated jungles -- in the mist-shrouded Foja Mountains of western New Guinea -- discovered a virtual "Lost World" of new species, giant flowers, and rare wildlife that was unafraid of humans. The December 2005 trip by a team of US, Indonesian, and Australian scientists found dozens of new species including frogs, butterflies, and the first new bird from the island of New Guinea in more than 60 years. > full story
Low-fat Diet's Benefits For Women Less Than Expected (February 8, 2006) — Older women who simply reduce the amount of total fat in their diet won't generally lower their risk of breast or colorectal cancer or heart disease, according to the latest findings from the federally funded Women's Health Initiative. > full story  Gut Protein Found To Protect Against Infection And Intestinal Breakdown (February 8, 2006) — A protein that binds to bile in the small intestine may hold the key to preventing infection and intestinal breakdown in people with conditions such as obstructive jaundice or irritable bowel syndrome, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered. > full story
Research Into Soy Will Continue But Soy Is Not A Solution For Heart Disease (February 8, 2006) — Many soy food products carry health claims stating that they reduce the risk of heart disease. A review of the evidence, however, suggests that soy's cardiovascular benefits may have been overestimated by the early studies that formed the basis for its health claim. > full story Proteins' Subtle 'Backrub' Motion Could Have Important Implications (February 8, 2006) — Biochemists have detected a surprising, subtle new gyration that protein molecules undergo in the intricate, squirming dance that influences their activity in the cell. The researchers have also created a realistic geometrical model of the twisting "backrub" motion that could help scientists understand the basics of protein function and design proteins for medical use. > full story Depression May Be Lifelong Parent Trap (February 8, 2006) — Parenthood is wonderful, joyful, rewarding and ... depressing. A study by Florida State University professor Robin Simon in Tallahassee, Fla. and Vanderbilt University's Ranae Evenson found that parents have significantly higher levels of depression than adults who do not have children. > full story  Scientists Force Viruses To Evolve As Better Delivery Vehicles For Gene Therapy (February 8, 2006) — Evolution is typically a slow process. In the case of a common, benign virus, however, UC Berkeley scientists have speeded up evolution and directed it in a way to make the virus useful: as a gene delivery vehicle in gene therapy. This directed evolution generated a strain of adeno-associated virus better able to evade the immune system, but could help tailor other aspects of the virus to make it a more viable delivery vehicle. > full story
History Of Depression Linked To More Brain Plaques And Tangles, Rapid Decline In Alzheimer's Disease (February 8, 2006) — A lifetime history of depression is associated with increased plaques and tangles in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease and more rapid cognitive decline, according to a study in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. > full story  How To Steal A Million Stars? (February 8, 2006) — Based on observations with ESO's Very Large Telescope, a team of Italian astronomers reports that the stellar cluster Messier 12 must have lost to our Milky Way galaxy close to one million low-mass stars. > full story
High Blood Pressure And Kidney Disease Increase Risk For Heart Disease And Stroke In Older Americans (February 8, 2006) — Older Americans with high blood pressure and moderate to severe chronic kidney disease have a greater chance of developing heart disease than people with normal kidney function. These patients are also at higher risk for developing heart disease than kidney failure. And, the study found that new types of drugs such as ACE inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers are no better than older type diuretic drugs in preventing heart disease. > full story All Placebos Not Created Alike: In A Trial Of Sham Acupuncture Vs. Oral Placebo Pill, Patients Experienced Greater Pain Reduction From Sham Device (February 8, 2006) — While researchers usually use placebos in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of a new treatment, this trial pitted one placebo against another. "It's upside down research," said Ted Kaptchuk, assistant professor of medicine and associate director of the Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies and the Osher Institute at Harvard Medical School. "We investigated whether a sham acupuncture device has a greater placebo effect than an inert pill." > full story A Bathroom That Cleans Itself (February 8, 2006) — Cleaning bathrooms may be a thing of the past with new coatings that will do the job for you. Researchers at the University of New South Wales are developing new coatings they hope will be used for self-cleaning surfaces in hospitals and in homes. > full story < previous summaries | next summaries > Summaries | Headlines Scientists Discover Dozens Of New Species In 'Lost World' Of Western New Guinea (February 8, 2006) — An expedition to one of Asia's most isolated jungles -- in the mist-shrouded Foja Mountains of western New Guinea -- discovered a virtual "Lost World" of new species, giant flowers, and rare wildlife that was unafraid of humans. The December 2005 trip by a team of US, Indonesian, and Australian scientists found dozens of new species including frogs, butterflies, and the first new bird from the island of New Guinea in more than 60 years. > full story Low-fat Diet's Benefits For Women Less Than Expected (February 8, 2006) — Older women who simply reduce the amount of total fat in their diet won't generally lower their risk of breast or colorectal cancer or heart disease, according to the latest findings from the federally funded Women's Health Initiative. > full story Gut Protein Found To Protect Against Infection And Intestinal Breakdown (February 8, 2006) — A protein that binds to bile in the small intestine may hold the key to preventing infection and intestinal breakdown in people with conditions such as obstructive jaundice or irritable bowel syndrome, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered. > full story
Research Into Soy Will Continue But Soy Is Not A Solution For Heart Disease (February 8, 2006) — Many soy food products carry health claims stating that they reduce the risk of heart disease. A review of the evidence, however, suggests that soy's cardiovascular benefits may have been overestimated by the early studies that formed the basis for its health claim. > full story Proteins' Subtle 'Backrub' Motion Could Have Important Implications (February 8, 2006) — Biochemists have detected a surprising, subtle new gyration that protein molecules undergo in the intricate, squirming dance that influences their activity in the cell. The researchers have also created a realistic geometrical model of the twisting "backrub" motion that could help scientists understand the basics of protein function and design proteins for medical use. > full story Depression May Be Lifelong Parent Trap (February 8, 2006) — Parenthood is wonderful, joyful, rewarding and ... depressing. A study by Florida State University professor Robin Simon in Tallahassee, Fla. and Vanderbilt University's Ranae Evenson found that parents have significantly higher levels of depression than adults who do not have children. > full story Scientists Force Viruses To Evolve As Better Delivery Vehicles For Gene Therapy (February 8, 2006) — Evolution is typically a slow process. In the case of a common, benign virus, however, UC Berkeley scientists have speeded up evolution and directed it in a way to make the virus useful: as a gene delivery vehicle in gene therapy. This directed evolution generated a strain of adeno-associated virus better able to evade the immune system, but could help tailor other aspects of the virus to make it a more viable delivery vehicle. > full story History Of Depression Linked To More Brain Plaques And Tangles, Rapid Decline In Alzheimer's Disease (February 8, 2006) — A lifetime history of depression is associated with increased plaques and tangles in the brains of those with Alzheimer's disease and more rapid cognitive decline, according to a study in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. > full story How To Steal A Million Stars? (February 8, 2006) — Based on observations with ESO's Very Large Telescope, a team of Italian astronomers reports that the stellar cluster Messier 12 must have lost to our Milky Way galaxy close to one million low-mass stars. > full story High Blood Pressure And Kidney Disease Increase Risk For Heart Disease And Stroke In Older Americans (February 8, 2006) — Older Americans with high blood pressure and moderate to severe chronic kidney disease have a greater chance of developing heart disease than people with normal kidney function. These patients are also at higher risk for developing heart disease than kidney failure. And, the study found that new types of drugs such as ACE inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers are no better than older type diuretic drugs in preventing heart disease. > full story All Placebos Not Created Alike: In A Trial Of Sham Acupuncture Vs. Oral Placebo Pill, Patients Experienced Greater Pain Reduction From Sham Device (February 8, 2006) — While researchers usually use placebos in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of a new treatment, this trial pitted one placebo against another. "It's upside down research," said Ted Kaptchuk, assistant professor of medicine and associate director of the Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies and the Osher Institute at Harvard Medical School. "We investigated whether a sham acupuncture device has a greater placebo effect than an inert pill." > full story A Bathroom That Cleans Itself (February 8, 2006) — Cleaning bathrooms may be a thing of the past with new coatings that will do the job for you. Researchers at the University of New South Wales are developing new coatings they hope will be used for self-cleaning surfaces in hospitals and in homes. > full story < previous summaries | next summaries > |
