SciNews20071231

Public Release: 25-Dec-2007
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Chemotherapy and tamoxifen reduce risk of second breast cancer
Among breast cancer patients, both chemotherapy and tamoxifen independently reduced the risk of developing a second cancer in the other breast, according to a study published online Dec. 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The risk reduction persisted for at least 10 and 5 years, Contact: Andrea Widener
jncimedia@oxfordjournals.org
301-841-1287
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Public Release: 25-Dec-2007
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Anthracyclines improve survival in HER2-positive breast cancer patients
Treatment with the class of chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines improves survival in women with HER2-positive breast cancer who have previously had surgery, but it may not offer any benefit for women with HER2-negative tumors, according to a study published online Dec. 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Contact: Andrea Widener
jncimedia@oxfordjournals.org
301-841-1287
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Public Release: 25-Dec-2007
JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association
Varying prevalence among ethnic groups of gene mutation that increases risk of breast cancer
Among several US racial/ethnic groups examined, Hispanic women were found to have the highest prevalence of the cancer-associated gene mutation BRCA1 at 3.5 percent, with Asian Americans having the lowest prevalence (0.5 percent), according to a study in the Dec. 26 issue of JAMA.
Contact: Rachael Vander Martin
510-608-5160
JAMA and Archives Journals
Public Release: 25-Dec-2007
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Neglected tropical diseases burden those overseas, but travelers also at risk
A new paper by NIAID scientist Thomas Nutman, M.D., and colleagues reviews network data collected between 1997 and 2004 to determine demographic and travel characteristics of travelers diagnosed with parasitic worm (filarial) infections.
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Contact: Anne A. Oplinger
niaidnews@niaid.nih.gov
301-402-1663
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Public Release: 25-Dec-2007
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Poor Americans in the United States suffer hidden burden of parasitic and other neglected diseases
In an article titled "Poverty and Neglected Diseases in the ‘Other’ America," Professor Peter Hotez (George Washington University and the Sabin Vaccine Institute) says that there is evidence that the parasitic diseases toxocariasis, cysticercosis and toxoplasmosis as well as other neglected infections are very common in the United States, especially among poor and underrepresented minority populations living in inner cities and poor rural areas.
Contact: Mary Kohut
Press@plos.org
Public Library of Science
Public Release: 25-Dec-2007
Journal of Neuroscience
Why fish oil is good for you
UCLA researchers report that omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid, found in fish oil, increases the production of LR11, a protein that is found at reduced levels in Alzheimer's patients and which is known to destroy the the "plaques" associated with the disease.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NIH/National Institute on Aging
Contact: Mark Wheeler
mwheeler@mednet.ucla.edu
310-562-8843
University of California - Los Angeles

Observatory
Even Top Performers Have Flaws, and That Might Be a Good Thing
A virtuoso musician may seem to nail every note, but there are tiny variations in even the most skilled performance. These variations may represent the equivalent of a bit of static on a phone line. But subtle variability might be useful, because it forces the nervous system to adjust, thus maintaining an optimal performance.
By HENRY FOUNTAIN
Published: December 25, 2007
Vital Signs
Hazards: More Transfusions Mean More Risk for Women
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Published: December 25, 2007
Women are more likely than men to die after heart surgery, and one reason may be the use of a common medical procedure: blood transfusions.
Public Release: 26-Dec-2007
Neurology
High triglycerides, other cholesterol raise risk of stroke
People with high triglycerides and another type of cholesterol tested but not usually evaluated as part of a person's risk assessment have an increased risk of a certain type of stroke, according to research published in the Dec. 26, 2007, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Contact: Angela Babb
ababb@aan.com
651-695-2789
American Academy of Neurology
Public Release: 26-Dec-2007
New England Journal of Medicine
New clinical trial results show how personalized medicine will alter treatment of genetic disorders
In the latest edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, Eric Hoffman, PhD, posits that the results of a clinical trial involving a new treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy provides a proof-of-principle for personalized molecular medicine. He writes that advances allowing for systemic delivery of such drugs and provide proof of no long term toxicity for recipients are necessary but will likely come in short order. Moving forward, FDA regulations will prove critical for appropriate labeling and marketing of such personalized treatments.
Contact: Jennifer Leischer
jleische@cnmc.org
202-476-4500
Children's National Medical Center
Public Release: 26-Dec-2007
Cortex
1 person out of every 1,000 has synaesthesia, in which an individual can smell a sound
The research field has grown from grapheme-color synaesthesia to include other forms of synaesthesia in which flavors are evoked by music or words (lexical-gustatory synaesthesia), space structures by time units, colors by music, etc. Experts on experimental psychology from the University of Granada are studying this phenomenon. The results of this research have been published by the following scientific journals: Cortex, Experimental Brain Research and Consciousness and Cognition.
Contact: Alicia Callejas Sevilla
callejas@ugr.es
34-958-240-663
Universidad de Granada
Public Release: 26-Dec-2007
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Polarization technique focuses limelight
The ability to explore remote worlds in space has been enhanced through a polarization technique that allows the first ever detection of light reflected by extrasolar (exoplanet) planets. The study has been accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Contact: Professor Svetlana Berdyugina
sveta@astro.phys.ethz.ch
41-076-325-4143
ETH Zurich/Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Public Release: 26-Dec-2007
Public access mandate made law
President Bush has signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2007 (H.R. 2764), which includes a provision directing the National Institutes of Health to provide the public with open online access to findings from its funded research. This is the first time the US government has mandated public access to research funded by a major agency.
Contact: Jennifer McLennan
jennifer@arl.org
202-296-2296 x121
SPARC
Clue to migraine headache cause
Scientists may be a step closer to uncovering the cause of certain types of debilitating migraines.

Single brain cell's power shown
There could be enough computing ability in just one brain cell to allow humans and animals to feel, a study suggests.
Brain Cells, Doing Their Job With Some Neighborly Help
By BENEDICT CAREY
How does the brain process all of the information being taken in by our senses every second of every day?
A Conversation With Harindra Joseph S. Fernando
On the Ground and in the Water, Tracing a Giant Wave’s Path
By CLAUDIA DREIFUS
Dr. Harindra Joseph S. Fernando studies the human activities that make a natural disaster even more deadly.
Public Release: 27-Dec-2007
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
U of M researchers discover fast-acting cyanide antidote
University of Minnesota Center for Drug Design and Minneapolis VA Medical Center researchers have discovered a new fast-acting antidote to cyanide poisoning. The antidote has potential to save lives of those who are exposed to the chemical -- namely firefighters, industrial workers and victims of terrorist attacks.
National Institutes of Health
Contact: Nick Hanson
hans2853@umn.edu
612-624-2449
University of Minnesota
Basics
Birds, Bugs Named as Steroid Users!
By NATALIE ANGIER
Baseball players may not be the only animals looking to gain an advantage by using steroids.
Personal Health
On the Same Wavelength With the Doctor
By JANE E. BRODY
Feel like going to the doctor is a waste of time? With a little preparation, your next doctor’s visit can be a lot more productive.
Public Release: 27-Dec-2007
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Subliminal messages can influence us in surprising ways
Flag waving is a metaphor for stirring up the public towards adopting a more nationalistic, generally hard-line stance. Indeed, "rally 'round the flag" is a venerable expression of this phenomenon. It comes as some surprise, then, that studies conducted by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have shown that exposing people to a subliminal image of the national flag had just the opposite fact -- moderating their political attitudes.
Contact: Jerry Barach
jerryb@savion.huji.ac.il
972-258-82904
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Public Release: 27-Dec-2007
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
Baumann lab identifies elusive telomere RNA subunit in single cell model
The Stowers Institute's Baumann Lab has identified the long-sought telomerase RNA gene in a single-cell research model. Their findings have been posted to the Web site of the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology and will appear in a future print edition.
Contact: Marie Jennings
mfj@stowers-institute.org
816-926-4015
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Public Release: 28-Dec-2007
American Journal of Roentgenology
Allergic reactions to gadolinium-based contrast agents are rare, study finds
Allergic-like reactions to gadolinium-containing contrast injections in adults and pediatric patients (those younger than 19 years of age) are rare, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Health Systems in Ann Arbor. "When these reactions do occur, most of them are mild," said Jonathan R. Dillman, M.D., lead author of the study.
Contact: Necoya Tyson
necoya@arrs.org
703-858-4304
American Roentgen Ray Society
Week of Dec. 22, 2007; Vol. 172, No. 25/26 , p. 392
North by Northwest
The planet's wandering magnetic poles help reveal history of Earth and humans
Sid Perkins
Drug target to stop cancer spread
UK scientists uncover a vital clue to stopping cancers spreading around the body, according to research.
Liver damage 'could be reversed'
Some liver damage caused by heavy drinking or hepatitis could be halted or even reversed, claim researchers.
Public Release: 28-Dec-2007
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Story ideas from the Journal of Biological Chemistry
Most people wouldn't consider anthrax toxin to be beneficial, but this bacterial poison may someday be an effective cancer therapy. Anthrax toxin has actually been shown to be fairly selective in targeting melanoma cells, although the risk of non-cancer toxicity prevents any clinical use.
Contact: Nick Zagorski
nzagorski@asbmb.org
301-634-7366
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology