ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

It’s All In The Hips: Early Whales Used Well Developed Back Legs For Swimming, Fossils Show Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT 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.

Top-selling Cholesterol Drug Does Little For Women, Study Suggests Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT Lipitor has been the top-selling drug in the world and has accounted for over $12 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.

Criminals Who Eat Processed Foods More Likely To Be Discovered, Through Fingerprint Sweat Corroding Metal Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT 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.

Small Numbers Of Patients With Drug-resistant TB May Account For High Proportion Of New Infections Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT 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.

From Xbox To T-cells: Borrowing Video Game Technology To Model Human Biology Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT Researchers are harnessing the computing muscle behind the leading video games to understand the most intricate of real-life systems.

Signals From Blood Of Mother Enhance Maturation Of Brain Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT 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.

Scientists Turn Human Skin Cells Into Insulin-producing Cells Posted: 18 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT 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.

New Leukemia Signal Could Point Way To Better Treatment Posted: 18 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT 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.

Blanket Ban On Bushmeat Could Be Disastrous For Forest Dwellers In Central Africa, Says New Report Posted: 18 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT 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.

Almost 7 Million Pregnant In Sub-Saharan Africa Infected With Hookworms Posted: 18 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT 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.

Scavenger Birds Chew The Fat Posted: 18 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT 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.

Genetic Research Using Human Samples Requires New Types Of Informed Consent Posted: 18 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT 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.

Researchers Suppress 'Hunger Hormone' In Pigs: New Minimally Invasive Method Yields Result As Good As Bariatric Surgery Posted: 18 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT 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.

Viral 'Magic Bullet' Targets Cancer Cells With Help Of New Compound Posted: 18 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers report a significant breakthrough in the use of viruses to target and destroy cancer cells, a field known as oncolytic virotherapy.

Capturing Replication Strategies Used By SARS Viruses In Their Bid To Spread Posted: 18 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT 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.

Steroids Not As Effective In Obese Asthma Patients Posted: 18 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT 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.

Developing Pea Varieties Tolerant Of Drought And Effects Of Climate Change Posted: 18 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT 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.

Children Who Are Concerned About Parents Arguing Are Prone To School Problems Posted: 18 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT 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.

Improving Our Ability To Peek Inside Molecules Posted: 18 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT It's not easy to see a single molecule inside a living cell. Nevertheless, researchers are developing a new technique that will enable them to create detailed high-resolution images, giving scientists an unprecedented look at the atomic structure of cellular molecules.

How Often To Screen For Colon Cancer? Study Finds 5-year Risk Extremely Low Posted: 18 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT How frequently should symptom-free individuals at average risk for colon cancer undergo screening with colonoscopy? Researchers report that while there still is no definitive answer to the question, they now know the procedure need not be performed any sooner than every five years.

Coating Improves Electrical Stimulation Therapy Used For Parkinson's, Depression, Chronic Pain Posted: 18 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Researchers have designed a way to improve electrical stimulation of nerves by outfitting electrodes with the latest in chemically engineered fashion: a coating of basic black, formed from carbon nanotubes.

Blood Pressure Drug Combination Reduces Heart Attack Deaths Posted: 18 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Thousands of patients with high blood pressure could benefit from changing their drug treatment regimen to reduce their risk of cardiac death. Researchers analyzed data from existing clinical trials of diuretic drugs and found that combining a thiazide diuretic with a "potassium-sparing" drug to treat hypertension reduced both sudden cardiac death and total coronary mortality by 40 percent. The findings call into question the current treatment guidelines.

The Greening Of Sub-Saharan Africa Posted: 18 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT The green revolution that has led to food being far more abundant now than forty years ago in South America and Asia has all-but bypasses Sub-Saharan Africa as that region's population trebled over that time period. Now, researchers in The Netherlands point to possible causes for this disparity and offer hope of reversing the trend based on a technological approach.

Move Over Mean Girls -- Boys Can Be Socially Aggressive, Too Posted: 18 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT A new analysis contradicts the notion that "social" aggression, such as spreading rumors, is a female and not male form of aggression. The researchers analyzed 148 studies of social and physical aggression, encompassing 74,000 children and adolescents. Children who carry out one form of aggression (social or physical) were inclined to carry out the other form. Social aggression is related to delinquency and ADHD-type symptoms, while physical aggression is related to depression and low self-esteem.

Significant Increase In Alien Plants In Europe Observed Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT The number of alien plant species has more than tripled over the last 25 years. This is the finding of a study by European scientists who evaluated the data from 48 European countries and regions. A total of 5789 plant species were classified as alien. Of these, 2843 originating outside of Europe, according to the researchers. By contrast, in 1980 only 1568 alien species were registered.

New Oral Drug Shrinks Lung Cancers Before Surgery, Researchers Report Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Pazopanib, a new oral angiogenesis inhibitor, has demonstrated interesting activity in difficult to treat non-small-cell lung cancer, researchers report.

Pregnant Women With Bulimia Have More Anxiety And Depression, Study Finds Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Women who have bulimia in pregnancy have more symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to pregnant women without eating disorders. A new Norwegian study shows that they also have lower self-esteem and are more dissatisfied with life and their relationship with their partner.

New Results Help Predict Treatment Response In Colorectal Cancer Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Gene marker indicates doubling of survival time in advanced colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab. A study shows value of circulating tumor cells in patients on targeted therapy.

Bovine Mastitis: Could A Vaccine Be On The Way? Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT It is the most common infectious disease in farmed animals. Around one million cases occur each year in the UK. It is painful, occasionally life threatening, and costs the dairy industry £200m every year in lost production and treatments. Within the UK alone it has been estimated that around 12m doses of antibiotic are used annually to control and treat mastitis in cattle.

Troubled Girls From Poor Neighborhoods More Likely To Have Sex In Early Adolescence Posted: 18 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT A new study has found that girls living in poor neighborhoods were more likely to engage in sexual intercourse in early adolescence and to be doing so with older boys.

Nottingham Scientists To Develop Blood Test For Alzheimer’s Posted: 17 Sep 2008 11:00 PM CDT Researchers in the United Kingdom are joining forces to develop a simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease.

Even If Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hold Steady, Warmer World Faces Loss Of Biodiversity, Glaciers Posted: 17 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Even if greenhouse gas emissions are fixed at 2005 levels, a new analysis shows that irreversible warming will lead to biodiversity loss and substantial glacial melt.

Migraine Linked To Blood Clots In Veins Posted: 17 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT People with migraines may also be more likely to develop blood clots in their veins, according to a new study.

Drinking Water: The Need For Constant Innovation Posted: 17 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Most western countries' drinking water is of excellent quality, but there is no room for complacency. The challenges are growing: undesirable contaminants are found in rivers, lakes and groundwater. Climate change is also warming waterbodies, with implications for water quality, and in developing countries more and more people are reliant on groundwater containing natural contaminants. In industrialized countries water utilities are aging and need to be renewed.

Factors Associated With Poor Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass Surgery Identified Posted: 17 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Individuals with diabetes and those whose stomach pouches are larger appear less likely to successfully lose weight after gastric bypass surgery, according to new report.

High Grain Prices Are Likely Here To Stay Posted: 17 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT An ethanol-fueled spike in grain prices will likely hold, yielding the first sustained increase for corn, wheat and soybean prices in more than three decades, according to new research.

Parents Of Dying Newborns Need Clearer Explanation Of Options Posted: 17 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Parent-doctor discussions about whether to maintain or withdraw life support from terminally ill or severely premature newborns are so plagued by miscommunication and misunderstanding that they might as well be in different languages, according to a small but potentially instructive new study.

Fastest Flights In Nature: High-speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms Among Fungi Posted: 17 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Microscopic coprophilous (dung-loving fungi) make our planet habitable by degrading the billions of tons of feces produced by herbivores. But the fungi have a problem: survival depends upon the consumption of their spores by herbivores and few animals will graze on grass next to their own dung. Evolution has overcome this obstacle by producing mechanisms of spore discharge whose elegance transforms a cow pie into a circus of microscopic catapults, trampolines and squirt guns.

Nanomedical Approach Targets Multiple Cancer Genes, Shrinks Tumors More Effectively Posted: 17 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Nanoparticles filled with a drug that targets two genes that trigger melanoma could offer a potential cure for this deadly disease, according to cancer researchers. The treatment, administered through an ultrasound device, demonstrates a safer and more effective way of targeting cancer-causing genes in cancer cells without harming normal tissue.

Giant Grass Offers Clues To Growing Corn In Cooler Climes, Researchers Report Posted: 17 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT A giant perennial grass used as a biofuels source has a much longer growing season than corn, and researchers think they've found the secret of its success. Their findings should help develop cold-tolerant corn, significantly boosting per-acre yields.

Old And New Therapies Combine To Tackle Atherosclerosis Posted: 17 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Futuristic nanotechnology has been teamed with a decades-old drug to beat atherosclerotic plaques. The scientists found that drug-laced nanoparticles plus a statin could stop the growth of tiny blood vessels that feed arterial plaques. Their results suggest that the dual treatment also prevents the vessels from restarting their growth, which could shrink or stabilize plaques.

3-D MRI Technique Helps Radiologists Detect High-risk Carotid Disease Posted: 17 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Canadian researchers have used 3-D magnetic resonance imaging to accurately detect bleeding within the walls of diseased carotid arteries, a condition that may lead to a stroke. The results of the study suggest the technique may prove to be a useful screening tool for patients at high risk for stroke.

Older Problem Gamblers May Face Greater Suicide Risk Than Younger Counterparts, Study Finds Posted: 17 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Compared to their younger counterparts, older problem gamblers who ask casinos to bar them from returning are three to four times more likely to do so because they fear they will kill themselves if they don't stop betting, according to a new study.

Scientists Find Black Hole 'Missing Link' Posted: 17 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientists have found the "missing link" between small and super-massive black holes. For the first time the researchers have discovered that a strong X-ray pulse is emitting from a giant black hole in a galaxy 500 million light years from Earth. The pulse has been created by gas being sucked by gravity on to the black hole at the center of the galaxy.

An 'HIV-test' Equivalent For Early Detection Of Lung Cancer Posted: 17 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT A team of researchers led by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center reports online today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology the validation of a potential "HIV-test" equivalent for the early detection of lung cancer. The test, which relies on immune-system signals, much like an HIV test, can detect the presence of lung cancer a year prior to diagnosis, long before symptoms appear.

Roman York Skeleton Could Be Early TB Victim Posted: 17 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT The skeleton of a man discovered by archaeologists in a shallow grave on the site of the University of York's campus expansion could be that of one of Britain's earliest victims of tuberculosis.

New Drug Substantially Extends Survival In Pancreatic Cancer Posted: 17 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT A new form of chemotherapy that destroys new blood vessels that grow around tumors has produced excellent results in a phase II trial of patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, researchers report at the 33rd Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology in Stockholm.

Houses Made Of Hemp Could Help Combat Climate Change Posted: 17 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT Houses made of hemp, timber or straw could help combat climate change by reducing the carbon footprint of building construction, according to researchers at the University of Bath.

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