Body | Page 4153 | Science Codex

Team led by Scripps Research scientists discovers body's own molecular protection against arthritis

LA JOLLA, CA – May 17, 2010 – An international team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute in California and the National Research Institute for Child Health and Development in Japan has discovered that a natural molecule in the body counters the progression of osteoarthritis. The findings could one day lead to new therapies for some common diseases of aging.

The study was published in an advanced, online issue of the journal Genes & Development on May 13, 2010, and will be featured as the cover story of the June 1 print edition of the journal.

Scientists release biocontrol for water hyacinth

A new insect that will help control the invasive weed waterhyacinth has been released by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators.

Older Chinese consumers perceive themselves younger than actual age

COLUMBIA, Mo. ¬— Since the Chinese government enacted the one-child policy in 1978 as a form of population control, the average age of Chinese citizens has begun to get older quickly. After recognizing this trend, Rui Yao, a University of Missouri assistant professor in the Personal Financial Planning department of the College of Human Environmental Sciences, studied the self-perceived age of aging Chinese consumers and how those perceptions should affect marketing strategies aimed at those consumers.

Hearing loss and Viagra use studied

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Research by a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) professor shows an association between hearing loss and the use of the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.

Findings published May 18 in Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery indicate a potential for long-term hearing loss following use of Viagra, and possibly following use of other phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5i) drugs such as Cialis and Levitra, although results on those drugs are inconclusive.

Consumers and their rights: A new study from Australia

Consumers tend to be cynical about the motivations of credit card companies, yet they lack the time or motivation to engage in political action to protect their rights, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Azendohsaurus madagaskarensis gets demoted from dinosaur status

Azendohsaurus madagaskarensis gets demoted from dinosaur status

Hammerhead shark study shows divergent evolution affected size, head shape

Hammerhead shark study shows divergent evolution affected size, head shape

The ancestor of all hammerhead sharks probably appeared abruptly in Earth's oceans about 20 million years ago and was as big as some contemporary hammerheads, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Hope for patients with mild idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

ATS 2010, NEW ORLEANS— A new therapy shows promise for patients with mild idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. According to researchers in Japan, inhaled N-acetylcysteine (NAC) monotherapy preserves more lung function in some idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients than no therapy.

The findings will be presented at the 2010 American Thoracic Society International Conference in New Orleans.

What is the role of focal therapy in low-risk prostate cancer?

May 2010 -- In the July issue of European Urology, the scientific journal of the European Association of Urology (EAU), S. Eggener et al. discussed in a recent study the significance and impact of focal therapy for low-risk cancer patients.

Surprising infection inducing mechanism found in bacteria

A research appearing in Nature, with the participation of doctors Susana Campoy and Jordi Barbé from the Department of Genetics and Microbiology at UAB, demonstrates that bacteria have a surprising mechanism to transfer virulent genes causing infections. The research describes an unprecedented evolutionary adaptation and could contribute to finding new ways of treating and preventing bacterial infections.

PET scanning probes reveal different cell function within the immune system

A commonly used probe for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning and a new probe developed by researchers at UCLA reveal different functions in diverse cells of the immune system, providing a non-invasive and much clearer picture of an immune response in action.

Surgical options for female incontinence found to be effective but with different complications

MAYWOOD, Ill. -- Two popular procedures for female stress incontinence were found to be equivalent in efficacy but differed in side effects, according to data published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' 58th Annual Clinical Meeting. These surgical techniques, called mid urethral slings, are increasingly common for the treatment of stress incontinence or urine loss from physical activity such as coughing, sneezing or laughing.

9/11 terrorist attacks: Long-lasting sensory loss in World Trade Center workers

PHILADELPHIA (May 18, 2010) -- New research from the Monell Center and collaborating institutions reports that workers exposed to the complex mixture of toxic airborne chemicals following the 9/11 disaster had a decreased ability to detect odors and irritants two years after the exposure.

New breakthrough in fight against lethal CCHF virus

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is a rare but serious human infection that causes internal bleeding, organ failure and ultimately death. Scientists writing in the Journal of General Virology have developed a new model to study CCHF which should enhance the development of vaccines and antivirals against this deadly disease.

UTIs becoming harder to treat

Genes that make bacteria resistant to antibiotics can be transferred between humans and other animals, say researchers writing in this month's issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology. The findings will help health experts to assess how using antibiotics in food-producing animals can affect the treatment of common human infections.