May 21, 2008 Science NewsNew titanium manufacturing process saves energy, helps protect troops Whether for stopping cars or bullets, titanium is the material of choice, but it has always been too expensive for all but the most specialized applications. Possible biological explanation for C-Section-linked allergies and asthma found Scientists believe they may have identified a biological explanation for the link between cesarean-section delivery and risk of allergy and asthma in childhood. Research tool can detect autism at 9 months of age The ability to detect autism in children as young as nine months of age is on the horizon, according to researchers at McMaster University. Seeing clearly despite the clouds Satellites taking atmospheric measurements might now be able to see blue skies as clearly as optimists do. Researchers have found a way to reduce cloud-induced glare when satellites measure blue skies on cloudy days, by as much as ten-fold in some cases. How can we measure the emotional states of animals? Rats housed in standard conditions show a stronger response to the loss of an expected food reward than those housed in enriched conditions, perhaps indicating a more negative emotional state. Study reveals link among childhood allergies, asthma symptoms, and early life exposure to cats A study released by researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, shows that cat ownership may have a protective effect against the development of asthma symptoms in young children at age five. Mars Express mission controllers ready for NASA Phoenix landing ESA's Mars Express mission control team are ready to monitor Phoenix's critical entry, descent and landing onto the Martian surface on 26 May 2008. Protein key to neuro-regeneration Researchers at the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England, University College London, the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan and Cancer Research UK, have for the first time identified a protein that is key to the regeneration of damage in the peripheral nervous system and which could with further research lead to understanding diseases of our peripheral nervous systems and provide clues to methods of repairing damage in the central nervous system. Determining genetic signature of lung tumors can help guide treatment The first U.S. clinical trial using genetic screening to identify lung tumors likely to respond to targeted therapies supports the use of those drugs as first-line treatment rather than after standard chemotherapy has failed. Tuberculosis not the only risk from new immunological drugs A new survey cautions physicians that drugs commonly prescribed for patients suffering from immunological disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease may carry risks of serious infections other than the known risk of tuberculosis. Risk threshold of daily alcohol intake and drinking duration in liver injury? Alcoholic threshold effect rather than a dose-response effect on mortality from alcohol-related liver injury. Alcohol intake, rather than the type of alcoholic beverage, was more significant to liver injury. Joint NASA-French satellite to track trends in sea level, climate A satellite that will help scientists better monitor and understand rises in global sea level, study the world's ocean circulation and its links to Earth's climate, and improve weather and climate forecasts is undergoing final preparations for a June 15 launch from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. Intensive care units' prevention of pneumonia in critically-ill patients generally strong Mayo Clinic researchers found that the frequency with which critically-ill patients developed ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is approximately the same at a multidisciplinary medical center such as Mayo Clinic compared to the average VAP-risk rate for 211 hospitals in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Invasive methods unnecessary for prostate cancer radiation therapy treatment planning Modern 3-D computed tomography (CT) is an effective method for locating the prostatic apex for radiation therapy treatment planning in prostate cancer patients because it eliminates the need for an invasive procedure and the related side effects. Scientists Discover a Molecular Scaffold That Guides Connections Between Brain Cells Brain cells known as neurons process information by joining into complex networks, transmitting signals to each other across junctions called synapses. But "neurons don't just connect to other neurons," emphasizes Z. Josh Huang, Ph.D., "in a lot of cases, they connect to very specific partners, at particular spots." Iraq war service: A risk factor for bronchiolitis? A large group of soldiers returning from Iraq have been diagnosed with bronchiolitis, a disease affecting the small airways of the lung, according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center physicians who will present their findings at the American Thoracic Society's 2008 International Conference in Toronto on Wednesday, May 21. A potential route for human tumor gene therapy The type 1 Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE1) is a transmembrane protein found in all eukaryotic cells. One of its functions is to evacuate excessive H+ in the cytoplasm by means of Na+-H+ exchange, resulting in stable intracellular pH value. Study identifies trends of vitamin B6 status in US population sample In an epidemiological study, Tufts University researchers identified trends of vitamin B6 status in a sample of the United States population based on measures of plasma pyridoxal 5'- phosphate (PLP) levels in the bloodstream. Plasma PLP is the indicator used by the federal government to set the current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B6, a nutrient essential for red blood cell function and important for maintaining a healthy immune system and blood glucose levels. Is extra-corporal liver support with prometheus safe in patients with end-stage liver disease? Patients with end-stage liver disease would benefit from liver supportive liver therapy while waiting for stabilization of hepatic functions or to enable bridging to liver transplantation. Tool creates personalized catch-up immunization schedules for missed childhood vaccinations A new downloadable software tool will help pediatricians, parents and other health care professionals determine how to adjust complex childhood immunization schedules when one or more vaccine doses aren't received at the proper time. Low-intensity case management cuts COPD-related hospital visits in half A new study has found that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are at high risk for hospitalization or emergency room visits from exacerbations or complications benefit from simple low-intensity case management. Analysis of millions of US births shows association between birth defects and preterm birth Babies born preterm were more than twice as likely to have major birth defects as full-term infants, according to a new analysis of nearly 7 million U.S. live births published online this week in the Springer journal Maternal and Child Health Journal. Can pathological techniques help identify primary colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma? Primary colorectal signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare but distinctive malignancy of the large bowel. More than 96% of signet ring cell carcinomas arise in the stomach, with the rest arising from other primary organs. How to save cost for esophageal varices? Patients with cirrhosis of the liver develop abnormally dilated blood vessels in esophagus. These are called esophageal varices. Blood vomiting may occur from the rupture of these varices, which may be fatal, so it is important to eradicate these varices. How to diagnose and treat Gardner syndrome with gastric polyposis Gardner syndrome (GS) is a rare, autosomal, dominant inherited disorder with a high degree of penetrance characterized by the triad: intestinal polyposis and various bone and soft-tissue tumors. It is regarded as a clinical subgroup of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Which is accurate, CT or MRI? Paraaortic lymph node metastasis in patients with pancreatico-biliary carcinoma has been reported as a definite predictor of early recurrence and shorter survival term. Grocery boost Low-income neighborhoods that lack easy access to grocery stores could lead to a breakdown of food security for hundreds of thousands of people - not in the developing world, but in major urban areas of the U.S. That's the conclusion from a report to be published in the inaugural issue of the International Journal Behavioural and Healthcare Research produced by Inderscience Publishers. How to increase the chances of remaining virus free Pakistani patients with HCV? Hepatitis C is a health care problem all over the world, with 130 million patients infected the world over. The treatment is expensive and has variable results according to the genotype of the infecting virus. Heterotopic gastric tissue simulating acute appendicitis It is not uncommon to find tissue that normally lines the stomach in locations outside of the digestive tract. This "heterotopic" gastric tissue has been identified in such diverse locations as the scrotum, the gall bladder, and the spinal cord. Israeli study finds obstructive sleep apnea is health factor from day 1 Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in very young children may cause some of the adverse cardiovascular health consequences seen in older children and adults with the condition. How does sodium phosphate combined with bisacodyl affect small intestine? Capsule endoscopy is a well accepted tool for evaluation of small bowel pathologies (e.g., bleeding sources). However, it has some limitations due to restricted recording time and reduced visibility by air and residual material. New patient satisfaction study with budesonide/formoterol combination therapy A new open-label study evaluated patient satisfaction with budesonide/formoterol combination therapy and fluticasone/salmeterol combination therapy. A rare case of ischemic colitis caused by chronic venous insufficiency Ischemic injury to the bowel is a well known disease entity that has a wide spectrum of pathological and clinical findings. A sudden drop in the colonic blood supply is key to its development. |
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