science newsletter: Science News SciGuru.com

Δευτέρα 16 Απριλίου 2012

Science News SciGuru.com

Diesel Technologies Drastically Cut Emissions in Real-World Conditions
Salk scientists discover how plants grow to escape shade
Not taking gastroprotective drugs prescribed with anti-inflammatory medicines
Identified a Gene with a Key Role in Neuronal Survival
Large international study finds memory in adults impacted by versions of four genes
Despite obstacles, fine needle aspiration might be best diagnostic tool
Latest research confirms genetic susceptibility to lung cancer

Diesel Technologies Drastically Cut Emissions in Real-World Conditions

Posted: 16 Apr 2012 06:37 AM PDT

New research from North Carolina State University shows that federal requirements governing diesel engines of new tractor trailer trucks have resulted in major cuts in emissions of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) – pollutants that have significant human health and environmental impacts.

Salk scientists discover how plants grow to escape shade

Posted: 16 Apr 2012 06:18 AM PDT

Mild mannered though they seem, plants are extremely competitive, especially when it comes to getting their fair share of sunlight. Whether a forest or a farm, where plants grow a battle wages for the sun's rays.

A plant's primary weapon in this fight is the ability to grow towards the light, getting just the amount it needs and shadowing its competition. Now, scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have determined precisely how leaves tell stems to grow when a plant is caught in a shady place.

Not taking gastroprotective drugs prescribed with anti-inflammatory medicines

Posted: 16 Apr 2012 03:56 AM PDT

To relieve pain, arthritis sufferers are prescribed medications that may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, both of which can irritate the digestive tract. At times additional drugs are co-prescribed with NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors to prevent adverse gastrointestinal (GI) effects.

Identified a Gene with a Key Role in Neuronal Survival

Posted: 16 Apr 2012 03:46 AM PDT

Researchers at the Institute of Neurosciences at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (INc-UAB) identified the fundamental role played by the Nurr1 gene in neuron survival associated with synaptic activity. The discovery, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, allows scientists to study a new target that could help to understand the relationship between alterations in neural connections, which are known to cause early cognitive deficit, and the neurodegeneration characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

Large international study finds memory in adults impacted by versions of four genes

Posted: 15 Apr 2012 12:02 PM PDT

Two research studies, co-led by UC Davis neurologist Charles DeCarli and conducted by an international team that included more than 80 scientists at 71 institutions in eight countries, has advanced understanding of the genetic components of Alzheimer's disease and of brain development. Both studies appear in the April 15 edition of the journal Nature Genetics.

Despite obstacles, fine needle aspiration might be best diagnostic tool

Posted: 15 Apr 2012 11:55 AM PDT

Screening for lung cancer with low dose CT scans has been shown to save lives. However, research shows that when CT scans reveal nodules in the lungs, it is not cancerous 96 percent of the time. As a result, scientists are looking for ways to more accurately make a diagnosis. One way is by using a CT guided transthoracic fine needle aspiration. Research presented in the May 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer’s (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology shows that this highly sensitive technique might be the best way to diagnose pulmonary nodules.

Latest research confirms genetic susceptibility to lung cancer

Posted: 15 Apr 2012 11:47 AM PDT

Previous research has shown that Asian patients with lung cancer are more likely to harbor epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Furthermore, Asian patients with lung cancer are more likely to be non-smokers than Western patients with lung cancer. Research in the May 2012 issue of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer’s (IASLC) Journal of Thoracic Oncology goes deeper, investigated genetic factors and smoking exposure in Japanese lung cancer patients.