Little suckers: Putting leeches on a tight leash
FEATURE:08:00 04 January 2010
Wilful, pampered and easily confused – no wonder modern doctors are struggling with these medical marvels
G-spot 'doesn't appear to exist'
The elusive erogenous zone said to exist in some women may be a myth, say researchers who have hunted for it.
Monday, 4 January 2010
Public Release: 4-Jan-2010
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Gladstone scientists identify target that may inhibit HIV infectivity
Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology have discovered a new agent that might inhibit the infectivity of HIV. The agent, surfen, impairs the action of a factor in semen that greatly enhances the viral infection. Surfen might be used to supplement current HIV microbicides to greatly reduce HIV transmission during sexual contact
Giannini Foundation, NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Contact: Valerie Tucker
vtucker@gladstone.ucsf.edu
415-734-2019
Gladstone Institutes
Exotic stars may mimic big bang
17:21 04 January 2010
Instead of collapsing into black holes, some stars may become as dense as the universe was less than a billionth of a second after the big bang
Public Release: 4-Jan-2010
Annals of Internal Medicine
Smoking cessation may actually increase risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Cigarette smoking is a well-known risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but new research from Johns Hopkins suggests that quitting the habit may actually raise diabetes risk in the short term.
NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH/National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disorders
Contact: Stephanie Desmon
sdesmon1@jhmi.edu
410-955-8665
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Autism 'Clusters' Linked To Parents' Education
by Jon Hamilton January 6, 2010
All Things Considered
Clusters of children diagnosed with autism tend to occur in places where parents are older, more educated, and white, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Davis.
Public Release: 4-Jan-2010
  Clinical Cancer Research
Experimental drug shows promise against brain, prostate cancers
An experimental drug currently being tested against breast and lung cancer shows promise in fighting the brain cancer glioblastoma and prostate cancer, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in two preclinical studies.
Geron Corporation, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Defense, Southland Financial Corporation
Contact: Aline McKenzie
aline.mckenzie@utsouthwestern.edu
214-648-3404
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Public Release: 4-Jan-2010
  Geology
Spectacular Mars images reveal evidence of ancient lakes
Spectacular satellite images suggest that Mars was warm enough to sustain lakes three billion years ago, a period that was previously thought to be too cold and arid to sustain water on the surface, according to research published today in the journal Geology.
Science and Technology Facilities Council, The Royal Society, Leverhulme Trust
Contact: Colin Smith
cd.smith@imperial.ac.uk
207-594-6712
Imperial College London
Public Release: 4-Jan-2010
  Journal of Leukocyte Biology
A trip to the candy store might help ward off rare, but deadly infections
As it turns out, children were not the only ones with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads over this past holiday season. In a new research report published in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, a team of scientists show how a compound from licorice root might be an effective tool in battling life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections resulting from severe burns.
Contact: Cody Mooneyhan
cmooneyhan@faseb.org
301-634-7104
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Public Release: 4-Jan-2010
American Journal of Gastroenterology
St. John's wort not helpful treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, Mayo Clinic researchers say
A Mayo Clinic research study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology finds that St. John's wort is not an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While antidepressants are frequently used to treat IBS, to date, no study has examined the success of using the herbal supplement St. John's wort in treating IBS.
Contact: Amy Tieder
newsbureau@mayo.edu
507-284-5005
Mayo Clinic
Public Release: 4-Jan-2010
PM&R: The Journal of Injury, Function and Rehabilitation
Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips and ankles
Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the joints of the leg. In a study published in the December 2009 issue of PM&R: The journal of injury, function and rehabilitation, researchers compared the effects on knee, hip and ankle joint motions of running barefoot versus running in modern running shoes. They concluded that running shoes exerted more stress on these joints compared to running barefoot or walking in high-heeled shoes.
Contact: Joanne Constantine
jconstantine@aapmr.org
847-737-6014
Elsevier Health Sciences
Public Release: 5-Jan-2010
Molecular Psychiatry
Before or after birth, gene linked to mental health has different effects
Scientists have long eyed mutations in a gene known as DISC1 as a possible contributor to schizophrenia and mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder. Now, new research led by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that perturbing this gene during prenatal periods, postnatal periods or both may have different effects in mice, leading to separate types of brain alterations and behaviors with resemblance to schizophrenia or mood disorders.
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health, Autism Speaks, National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, Mortimer W. Sackler Foundation
Contact: Christen Brownlee
cbrownlee@jhmi.edu
410-955-7832
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Public Release: 5-Jan-2010
PLoS ONE
New virus is not linked to chronic fatigue syndrome, suggests UK research
New UK research, published today in PLoS ONE, has not reproduced previous findings that suggested chronic fatigue syndrome may be linked to a recently discovered virus. The authors of the study, from Imperial College London and King's College London, say this means that anti-retroviral drugs may not be an effective treatment for people with the illness.
Contact: Lucy Goodchild
lucy.goodchild@imperial.ac.uk
44-207-594-6702
Imperial College London
Study Says Women With Mate Get Heavier
It is widely known that women tend to gain weight after giving birth, but now a large study has found evidence that even among childless women, those who live with a mate put on more pounds than those who live without one.
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR Published: January 4, 2010
Public Release: 5-Jan-2010
Report suggests similar effectiveness among options for managing low-risk prostate cancer
A comprehensive appraisal of the management and treatment options for low-risk prostate cancer found that the rates of survival and tumor recurrence are similar among the most common treatment approaches, although costs can vary considerably. The report was prepared by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, a leader in comparative effectiveness research based at the Massachusetts General Hospital's Institute for Technology Assessment.
Contact: Sarah K. Emond
semond@icer‑review.org
617-724-5497
Massachusetts General Hospital
Atul Gawande's 'Checklist' For Surgery Success
Well Blog
New Health Rule: Quit Worrying About Your Health
By TARA PARKER-POPE
Women's health expert Dr. Susan Love makes the case that perfect health is a myth and that most of us are living far more healthful lives than we realize.
Using a Virus’s Knack for Mutating to Wipe It Out
By CARL ZIMMER
When a virus’s rate of mutation gets too high, mathematical studies suggest, it will suffer, and scientists hope this will aid in fighting diseases.
Public Release: 5-Jan-2010
PLoS ONE
Study suggests why circumcised men are less likely to become infected with HIV
Circumcision, which substantially lowers HIV risk in men, also dramatically changes the bacterial communities of the penis, according to a study led by scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Johns Hopkins University, and published Jan. 6 in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.
Contact: Steve Yozwiak
syozwiak@tgen.org
602-343-8704
The Translational Genomics Research Institute
Planet-hunter spots five worlds
Nasa's planet-hunting Kepler telescope spots its first five worlds beyond our Solar System, scientists report.
The Doctor's World
Public Release: 6-Jan-2010
  Nature
MIT neuroengineers silence brain cells with multiple colors of light
Neuroscientists at MIT have developed a powerful new class of tools to reversibly shut down brain activity using different colors of light. When targeted to specific neurons, these tools could potentially lead to new treatments for the abnormal brain activity associated with disorders such as chronic pain, epilepsy, brain injury and Parkinson's disease.
National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, McGovern Institute Neurotechnology, US Department of Defense, NARSAD, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Jerry and Marge Burnett, Society for Neuroscience, MIT Media Lab, Benesse Foundation, others
Contact: Jen Hirsch
jfhirsch@mit.edu
617-253-1682
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Public Release: 6-Jan-2010
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Cell phone exposure may protect against and reverse Alzheimer's disease
The millions of people who spend hours every day on a cell phone may have a new excuse for yakking. A University of South Florida-led study indicates long-term exposure to electromagnetic waves emitted by cell phones may protect against and reverse Alzheimer's disease.
 Florida Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute
Contact: Gary Arendash
arendash@cas.usf.edu
813-974-1584
University of South Florida Health
'Junk' DNA linked to aggressive cancers
20:11 06 January 2010
Some recurrent DNA sequences thought to be nothing more than molecular parasites appear to be active only in breast and colon cancer cells
Public Release: 6-Jan-2010
Chemistry of Materials
Nitric oxide-releasing wrap for donor organs and cloth for therapeutic socks
Scientists in Texas are reporting development of a first-of-its-kind cloth that releases nitric oxide gas -- an advance toward making therapeutic socks for people with diabetes and a wrap to help preserve organs harvested for transplantation. The study is in ACS' Chemistry of Materials, a bi-weekly journal.
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society
Public Release: 6-Jan-2010
Fancier fakes: Makers of bogus prescription drugs pose new challenges
Manufacturers of counterfeit prescription drugs are embracing new tactics to deal with an estimated $75-billion-year market in knockoffs, a battle that is far from being won. That's the focus of an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly news magazine. Counterfeiting ploys include embracing the same technology that pharmaceutical companies use to identify their products as genuine.
Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society
Public Release: 6-Jan-2010
Circulation Research
Old antidepressant offers promise in treating heart failure
A team of Johns Hopkins and other researchers have found in animal experiments that an antidepressant developed over 40 years ago can blunt and even reverse the muscle enlargement and weakened pumping function associated with heart failure.
Contact: David March
dmarch1@jhmi.edu
410-955-1534
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Public Release: 6-Jan-2010
Clinical Cancer Research
Johns Hopkins researchers say vaccine appears to 'mop up' leukemia cells Gleevec leaves behind
Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say preliminary studies show that a vaccine made with leukemia cells may be able to reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia patients taking the drug Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Vanessa Wasta
wastava@jhmi.edu
410-955-1287
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Public Release: 7-Jan-2010
Science
New approach precisely tracks evolution's footprints in the human genome
Fossils may provide tantalizing clues to human history but they also lack some vital information, such as revealing which pieces of human DNA have been favored by evolution because they confer beneficial traits -- resistance to infection or the ability to digest milk, for example. Now, researchers describe a method for pinpointing these preferred regions that offers greater precision and resolution than ever before, and the possibility of deeply understanding both our genetic past and present.
Burroughs Wellcome and Packard foundations, others
Contact: Nicole Davis
ndavis@broadinstitute.org
617-714-7152
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Public Release: 7-Jan-2010
Blood glucose self-monitoring: No benefit for non-insulin-dependent patients with type 2 diabetes
Contrary to the widely-held belief, there is no proof that non-insulin-dependent patients with type 2 diabetes benefit from glucose self-monitoring. Due to a lack of suitable trials, it remains unclear whether an additional benefit is displayed by the blood test compared to the urine test or vice versa. This is the conclusion of the final report of IQWiG, which was published in December 2009 and for which an English-language summary is now available.
Contact: Dr. Anna-Sabine Ernst
info@iqwig.de
49-022-135-6850
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care
Fossil tracks record 'oldest land-walkers'
The oldest evidence of four-legged animals walking on land has been discovered in southeast Poland.
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
6 January 2010
Egg white provides a puncture repair kit for fetuses
IN BRIEF:  16:31 07 January 2010
Better known for giving meringues their texture, egg white can also be used to patch leaks in the membrane that protects human fetuses
Public Release: 7-Jan-2010
Liver Transplantation
Liver donations from living donors increase 42 percent after educational intervention
A recent study found that living donation increased 42 percent and the number of individuals who presented for donation evaluation increased 74 percent at centers in New York. The surge in live donation and donor evaluation occurred after additional education was provided to liver transplant candidates. Details of the study are reported in the January 2010 issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, published by Wiley-Blackwell.
Contact: Dawn Peters
medicalnews@wiley.com
781-388-8408
Wiley-Blackwell
Viral phenomenon: Ancient microbe invaded human DNA
AFP\Yahoo News
Did We Mate Or Murder Neanderthals? Scientists Say Modern Humans' More Varied Lifestyle May Have Been Key To Survival
CBS News
Public Release: 8-Jan-2010
Gene Therapy
Sleeping Beauty hooks up with herpes to fight brain disease
Neuroscientists have forged an unlikely molecular union as part of their fight against diseases of the brain and nervous system, bringing together the herpes virus and a molecule known as Sleeping Beauty to improve gene therapy. The work has allowed scientists to reach a long-sought goal: shuttling into brain cells a relatively large gene that can remain on for an extended period of time.
  NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Contact: Tom Rickey
tom_rickey@urmc.rochester.edu
585-275-7954
University of Rochester Medical Center
Egyptian Eyeliner May Have Warded Off Disease
Science Magazine
Heavy Brows, High Art?: Newly Unearthed Painted Shells Show Neandertals Were Homo sapiens's Mental Equals
Scientific American
Public Release: 8-Jan-2010
Suzaku finds 'fossil' fireballs from supernovae
Studies of two supernova remnants using the Japan-US Suzaku observatory have revealed never-before-seen embers of the high-temperature fireballs that immediately followed the explosions. Even after thousands of years, gas within these stellar wrecks retain the imprint of temperatures 10,000 times hotter than the sun's surface.
NASA, JAXA
Contact: Francis Reddy
Francis.j.reddy@nasa.gov
301-286-4453
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Observatory
Human Ancestors May Have Been Seafarers
Science News