science newsletter: Science News SciGuru.com

Δευτέρα 24 Ιουνίου 2013

Science News SciGuru.com

Targeted drug delivery could be transformed by microbubble technology
Genetic roots of migraine uncovered
Improve the sensitivity of gravitational-wave detectors
Addiction Relapse Might Be Thwarted By Turning Off Brain Trigger

Targeted drug delivery could be transformed by microbubble technology

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 06:36 AM PDT

Scientists have found a way to illuminate tiny bubbles which are used to track blood flow with medical imaging. In future such bubbles could also deliver targeted drugs in the body.

Until now, researchers have been unable to accurately study the flexibility of microbubble shells, which are injected into the bloodstream as an aid to ultrasound imaging. This lack of information meant that it was hard to predict exactly how the bubbles would behave under the ultrasound beams.

Genetic roots of migraine uncovered

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 05:18 AM PDT

In the largest ever study of migraines, researchers have found five genetic regions that for the first time have been linked to the onset of migraine. This study opens new doors to understanding the cause and biological triggers that underlie migraine attacks.

Improve the sensitivity of gravitational-wave detectors

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 05:11 AM PDT

Laser interferometers detect tiny distance changes with high precision. Stray light reduces and limits the measurement accuracy of these instruments. Researchers at the Albert Einstein Institute in Hannover have now shown for the first time how to discriminate between measurement signal and stray light using lasers with tailored quantum properties. The novel measurement concept circumvents the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and could enhance the precision of gravitational-wave detectors like GEO600 or the closely cooperating Advanced LIGO (aLIGO) detectors in the USA.

Addiction Relapse Might Be Thwarted By Turning Off Brain Trigger

Posted: 23 Jun 2013 04:44 PM PDT

Researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at UC San Francisco have been able to identify and deactivate a brain pathway linked to memories that cause alcohol cravings in rats, a finding that may one day lead to a treatment option for people who suffer from alcohol abuse disorders and other addictions.

In the study, researchers were able to prevent the addicted animals from seeking alcohol and drinking it, the equivalent of relapse.