science newsletter: Science News SciGuru.com

Σάββατο 8 Ιουνίου 2013

Science News SciGuru.com

Scientists find that essential fatty acid found in vegetable oils does not promote inflammation in humans
Research Indentifies Bone Tumor in 120,000-Year-Old Neandertal Rib
Biomarker Identification May Lead to New Noninvasive Test for Colorectal Cancer Detection
Whispering light hears liquids talk

Scientists find that essential fatty acid found in vegetable oils does not promote inflammation in humans

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 04:01 PM PDT

A typical American consumes approximately 3 or more tablespoons of vegetable oil each day. Vegetable oils, like those from soy, corn and canola, are a significant source of calories and are rich in linoleic acid (LA), which is an essential nutrient. Since the 1970s, researchers have known that LA helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, and for decades, scientists have known that consuming LA can help lower the risk of heart disease. However, some experts have been claiming recently that Americans might be getting too much of a good thing.

Research Indentifies Bone Tumor in 120,000-Year-Old Neandertal Rib

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 03:55 PM PDT

The first-known definitive case of a benign bone tumor has been discovered in the rib of a young Neandertal who lived about 120,000 years ago in what is now present-day Croatia. The bone fragment, which comes from the famous archaeological cave site of Krapina, contains by far the earliest bone tumor ever identified in the archaeological record.

Biomarker Identification May Lead to New Noninvasive Test for Colorectal Cancer Detection

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 09:41 AM PDT

The average 5-year survival for colorectal cancer (CRC) is less than 10% if metastasis occurs, but can reach 90% if detected early. A new non-invasive test has been developed that measures methylation of the SDC2 gene in tissues and blood sera. This test detected 87% of all stages of colorectal cancer cases (sensitivity) without significant difference between early and advanced stages, while correctly identifying 95% of disease-free patients (specificity). The results are published in the July issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

Whispering light hears liquids talk

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 09:34 AM PDT

Ever been to a whispering gallery—a quiet, circular space underneath an old cathedral dome that captures and amplifies sounds as quiet as a whisper? Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Michigan are applying similar principles in the development optomechanical sensors that will help unlock vibrational secrets of chemical and biological samples at the nanoscale.