'Mad cow' mechanism may be integral to storing memory
...in its prion-like state," says Lindquist. "It also indicates that prions aren't just oddballs of nature but might participate in fundamental processes." The finding contradicts the notion that converting to a prion state is a bad thing, says Kandel. "We show instead that the normal state of CPEB may be the...Test method provides biocompatibility 'barometer'
...rotein in the cell membrane, the presence of which indicates cells are dying. This is a complementary test for more serious responses to materials because dying cells are often not capable of producing cytokines. The NIST tests were conducted on cultured mouse cells, which produce similar responses as whole ti...Scientists discover how anthrax creates its deadly spores
... uses to construct its spore." Data from the study indicates that proteins produced during the large,fifth wave of gene expression also become part of the spore itself.These include enzymes the spore needs for rapid germination, virulencefactors and proteins that help the bacterial cell survive in a new hosten...JCI table of contents, December 15 2003
...of specific types of WBCs to the lungs. The report indicates that MCP-1/CCL2mediated recruitment of WBCs to the lungs is a critical and previously unrecognized early host defense mechanism in invasive aspergillosis. TITLE: Chemokine-mediated recruitment of NK cells is a critical host defense mechanism in...Hope available for patients with anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome
...chers at the Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Ariz., indicates that a new drug, CC5013, may have unprecedented activity in patients who were not successfully treated with conventional therapy. "The ineffective production of red blood cells as a result of premature cell death represents the hal...Abandoned penguin colonies may help refine Antarctic climate studies
...roughly 2000 to 1000 years ago. The analysis also indicates that the large Adelie penguin colonies that now exist on Ross Island in McMurdo Sound likely were established only 500 to 600 years ago. Emslie also noted that a "natural experiment" seems to be underway in Antarctica today that confirms the idea tha...Scientists develop a novel strategy to help prevent transplant rejection
...nhance transplant survival." Further investigation indicates the mice did eventually reject the hearts because the T suppressor cells induced in these experiments only prevented one method of rejection. "Rejection can occur by two mechanisms," explains Professor Dallman. "Either directly, where immune cells re...Researchers call for trials of menstrual cycle monitors used for natural family planning
...rns indicate fertility, so an absence of 'ferning' indicates a non-fertile day. But, the three systems using this method registered false negatives of 51.8%, 58% and 73.4% respectively for the women who tried one of these methods. This meant that even the most accurate was wrong at least half the time that it ...Bird 'breathalyzer' helps assess migratory diet
...wo or three weeks; and the signature in its plasma indicates what it ate two or three days ago," Podlesak said. "If the signature is different between its feathers and its breath, that says that the bird ate something different or changed its diet and is using a different resource to fatten up on migration."...Brain's 'master molecule' produces same behavior in mice from three different psychostimulant drugs
...transmitters and DARPP-32. "The research certainly indicates new targets for the development of antipsychotic drugs." The study also answers a long-standing debate in psychiatry as to which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for schizophrenia, says Greengard, because researchers have known that drugs li...Circadian clock genes may provide targets for new cancer drugs
... in the context of other recent studies, this work indicates that circadian clock genes and their products potentially represent novel targets for the control of cancer growth." In these studies, some 30 female mice kept on an alternating 12-hour light and 12-hour dark schedule were injected with tumor cells;...A sweet tooth may be a 'marker' for the genetic risk for developing alcoholism
...liking for sweets and alcohol intake. New research indicates that a liking for sweets precedes alcoholism. A li...ve a paternal history of alcoholism. "This finding indicates that sweet liking precedes alcoholism," said David Overstreet, associate professor of psychiatry wit...Study predicts loss of monarch winter refuges
...r overwintering grounds in Mexico. But a new study indicates that someday, southward migrating monarchs may find themselves with no place to go. The monarchs' Mexican refuges will likely experience wetter weather within the next 50 years, and the combination of increased moisture and already cool conditions is...Red sea urchins found to live up to 200 years
...iables, and once they near adult size our research indicates they do not have growth spurts. With this species, it's pretty simple. The bigger they are, the older they are." The research was done with red sea urchins, Ebert said, but may be at least partly relevant to other sea urchin species. The study sugg...JCI Table of Contents, November 3, 2003
...plex mechanisms and pathways, their current report indicates that SCF plays a significant role in maintaining and reestablishing the health of the liver. TITLE : Stem cell factor restores hepatocyte proliferation in IL-6 knockout mice following 70% hepatectomy AUTHOR CONTACT : Lisa Colletti University of M...Scientists unraveling lice genome to halt blood-sucking pest
... Pittendrigh said current knowledge of the insects indicates that body lice and head lice are genetically similar. The grain-of-rice sized adult body louse is six-legged and usually yellow to white in color. They are found most often on people who don't practice good hygiene. The lice hide and lay eggs on peop...Ultra-low oxygen could have triggered die-offs, spurred bird breathing system
...ps collected from the time of the two extinctions, indicates the events were drawn-out affairs and did not happen suddenly, as they would have with an asteroid impact. In addition, he said it is known which types of creatures, and which breathing systems, best survived the extinction events. The same breathin...UCLA study identifies stem cell in artery wall
...ot adipogenic, or fat, cells. Demer suggests this indicates that the CVC cells may not have the entire range of conventional stem cells. However, this may be especially useful in cases where one would not want the stem cell turning into a fat cell -- such as in trying to regenerate cartilage. The next step i...College is first to be Kyoto Protocol compliant
... affordable. The example of Lewis & Clark College indicates that colleges and universities are the perfect laboratory in which to examine the larger implications of emissions reduction efforts." The college will receive a certificate honoring the protocol compliance effort in November from College Climate Res...JAK2 enzyme helps protect brain cells, wreaks havoc on blood vessels
...o treat high blood pressure and anecdotal evidence indicates that people who take these drugs are less susceptible to Alzheimer's and other dementias. "What we are working on is trying to understand these pathways that lead to neuro-protection," says Dr. Marrero. "And how does angiotensin II block that actio...