Body | Page 4250 | Science Codex

Research team led by Cedars-Sinai identifies genes linked to ulcerative colitis

LOS ANGELES (March 16, 2010) – A study of the human genome led by Cedars-Sinai researchers has now identified genes linked to ulcerative colitis, offering clues as to what causes the condition and potential avenues for new therapies to treat the disease.

The study, published in Nature Genetics, examined genes of nearly 13,000 patients to determine which parts of the genome are linked to ulcerative colitis. The study demonstrated more than 30 regions of the genome are connected to the risk of developing ulcerative colitis.

New analysis points to ivory enforcement failures in parts of Africa, Asia

Doha, Qatar – Urgent law enforcement action by governments in Central and West Africa and South-east Asia is crucial to addressing the illicit ivory trade, according to a new analysis of elephant trade data released today.

Detailed regional summaries of the data held in the Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS), the world's largest database on ivory seizures, highlight the failure of law enforcement in key elephant range States facing an increasing threat from organised crime and the presence of unregulated markets.

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas or pancreatic endocrine tumor?

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas is relatively rare. There are some similarities between SPN and pancreatic endocrine tumor (PET), especially the non-functioning ones, in clinical and pathological manifestations. Even the results of immunohistochemistry reported in the literature showed that the expression profiles of the two tumors overlapped, which sometimes results in difficulty distinguishing the two entities.

Honeybee learning, invasive harlequin ladybirds, and more

Honeybee Associative Learning Performance and Metabolic Stress ResilienceAre Positively Associated

Staples lead to higher risk of infection after joint surgery than traditional stitches

Using metal staples to close wounds after orthopaedic (joint) surgery can lead to a greater risk of infection than using traditional nylon sutures, concludes a study published on bmj.com today.

Orthopaedic surgeons are therefore advised to reconsider their use of staples to close wounds after hip or knee surgery while further trials are carried out to confirm these findings.

Severe acid reflux: Stomach wraps effective in short to medium term

Stomach wrap operations may be more effective than acid suppression tablets in the treatment of severe acid reflux, according to a new Cochrane Systematic Review. The study shows a more pronounced improvement in symptoms shortly after surgery than with drug treatment.

Thrill-seeking holidaymakers are putting dolphins at risk

Tourists wanting to watch and swim with dolphins are now being urged to keep their distance in a bid to protect both the animals and the local communities whose livelihoods depend on them.

A study of bottlenose dolphins living off the coast of Zanzibar has found that the many tourist boats operating in the area are harassing the animals, preventing them from resting, feeding and nurturing their young.

Mastery of rare-earth elements vital to America's security

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Karl A. Gschneidner Jr., a senior metallurgist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory, today cautioned members of a Congressional panel that "rare-earth research in the USA on mineral extraction, rare-earth separation, processing of the oxides into metallic alloys and other useful forms, substitution, and recycling is virtually zero."

Unprecedented AIUM training guidelines speak to future of musculoskeletal ultrasound

Laurel, MD – March 16, 2010 – The AIUM is pleased to announce that 4 professional societies have collaborated with AIUM to endorse the recent AIUM Training Guidelines for the Performance of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Examinations. The guidelines allow for a several practitioners, including physicians, osteopathic physicians, podiatrists, and sonographers, to perform musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations, marking significant promise for the future of this growing field.

Revisiting the need to detect circulating tumor cells

PHILADELPHIA (March 16, 2010)—One of the most dangerous characteristics of cancer is its ability to metastasize, or spread through the body. For this reason, oncologists have a major need for better tests to detect cells that break away from primary tumors to travel to other parts of the body. Effective identification of these cells, referred to as circulating tumor cells (CTC's), could help guide treatment and improve quality of life for many cancer patients.

Bench to bassinet program seeks congenital heart disease treatments

What: To help speed the translation of scientific discoveries into usable treatments in congenital heart disease, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health launched the Bench to Bassinet Program (http://www.benchtobassinet.net/). This program, which involves several major research institutions across the country, will be highlighted in the March 23 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Gene expression-based prognostic signatures in lung cancer not ready for clinical use

A review of published articles on gene expression-based prognostic signatures in lung cancer revealed little evidence that any of the signatures are ready for clinical use. Serious problems in the design and analysis of the studies were also found. The review was published online March 16, 2010 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Blocking cancer in its path: New cellular defect discovered

UCSF researchers have discovered that a key cellular defect that disturbs the production of proteins in human cells can lead to cancer susceptibility. The scientists also found that a new generation of inhibitory drugs offers promise in correcting this defect.

According to the study team, this discovery has broad clinical implications in the fight against cancer and could affect treatment of lymphoma and many other forms of the disease, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, brain cancer and multiple myeloma.

ID physicians call for 10 new antibiotics by 2020

Arlington, Va. —As the deaths and suffering caused by antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections continue to rise around the world, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is urging a global commitment to develop 10 new antibiotics by 2020, known as the 10 x '20 initiative, to address this public health crisis and safeguard patients' health.

Preventive behaviors limited household transmission of H1N1 influenza during initial outbreak

Simple, common sense behaviors, including having a discussion at home about how to prevent influenza, can help limit the spread of H1N1 in a household, according to a study of the initial outbreak in New York City in 2009. Published in the April 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, the study is available online (http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/651145).