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Nature: Current issue
Scientific American: Current issue
• Putting Madness in its PlaceGrowing evidence points to birthplace as a risk factor for schizophrenia
Nature Research Journals
• Data divorceThe US Department of Health and Social Security's Public Health Service (PHS) ruled in 2005 that ?Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.? Despite this, its Office of Research Integrity (ORI) risks giving the wrong impression that plagiarists have enduring conjugal rights to former collaborators' ideas.
• A large-scale replication study identifies TNIP1, PRDM1, JAZF1, UHRF1BP1 and ...
Robert Graham and colleagues report results of a large-scale replication study for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in individuals of European ancestry. Their findings expand the number of confirmed SLE susceptibility loci and implicate several key immunologic pathways in SLE pathogenesis.
18 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• Genome-wide association study in a Chinese Han population identifies nine new...
Xuejun Zhang and colleagues report results of a genome-wide association study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese Han population. Their work identifies nine new SLE susceptibility loci and reveals overlap in the spectrum of risk alleles shared between Chinese Han and European populations.
18 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• SOX2 is an amplified lineage-survival oncogene in lung and esophageal squamou...
Matthew Meyerson and colleagues report that SOX2, which encodes a transcription factor necessary for normal esophageal development, is an amplified lineage survival oncogene in lung and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.
4 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• MicroRNA-managing the TH-17 inflammatory response
The differentiation of interleukin 17?producing helper T cells is controlled by a complex network of cytokines, signaling pathways and transcription factors. Regulation by microRNA particles can now be added to this list.
• Defective survival of naive CD8+ T lymphocytes in the absence of the ?3 regul...
T cell activation triggers large calcium fluxes. Flavell and colleagues show tonic calcium signaling via Cav1.4-?3 channels are needed for the survival and homeostasis of naive CD8+ T cells.
18 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• Affirmative action at the NIH
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have funded an increasing number of grants from young investigators with merit scores below the payline. This policy is critical for retaining and encouraging our future scientific base.
• Any kind of mother in a storm
During early development, rats show the unlikely behavior of becoming attracted to the very stimulus that they should avoid. A new study shows that this occurs as a result of a complex interplay of glucocorticoid secretion and dopaminergic tone in the amygdala.
• Transitions in infant learning are modulated by dopamine in the amygdala
The instinctual attachment of young animals to their mothers is crucial for survival. Demonstrating the overriding importance of attachment, very young rat pups learn to prefer an odor coupled to electrical shock if the mother is present. This paper shows that low amygdalar dopamine signaling in very young pups is essential for their paradoxical response to odor/shock conditioning.
27 Sep 2009 at 12:00am
• Training induces changes in white-matter architecture
Although previous work has shown that extensive training in the complex visuo-motor skills involved in juggling results in adult gray-matter changes, it is unclear whether such practice can produce similar changes in adult white matter. This paper now uses diffusion tensor imaging to demonstrate structural white-matter changes when adults practice juggling.
11 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• PDF-modulated visual inputs and cryptochrome define diurnal behavior in Droso...
Using endogenous circadian oscillators, Drosophila can anticipate diurnal light on/off transition and behave accordingly. Here, the authors show that the fly evening oscillator circuit can synchronize to light cycle through the visual system and the molecular components of morning oscillator.
11 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• Behavioral choice by presynaptic inhibition of tactile sensory terminals
A feeding leech ignores incoming stimuli that would normally cause an avoidance response. This study found that synaptic transmission from mechanosensory neurons to postsynaptic partners was reduced in feeding leeches. This presynaptic depression by feeding could be mimicked by serotonin and was antagonized by a blocker of an unusual serotonin-gated chloride channel.
4 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• Frontal eye field neurons signal changes in decision criteria
Monkeys were trained to switch rapidly between two category boundaries when classifying the speed of a moving dot pattern. Neurons in the frontal eye field changed their activity when the boundary changed and a subset of these neurons were used to classify the stimuli nearly as accurately as the monkeys' behavioral performance.
25 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• Cabin1 restrains p53 activity on chromatin
The tumor suppressor p53 activates the transcription of a number of genes under conditions of genotoxic stress. Some of these regulated promoters show p53 occupancy even under normal conditions. Now calcineurin-binding protein 1 (Cabin1) is shown to keep p53 inactive in these promoters.
9 Aug 2009 at 12:00am
• Nanotechnology and society: The evolution of risk perceptions
A meta-analysis of surveys about public perceptions of the risks and benefits associated with nanotechnology suggests that further research is needed to help us better understand and, perhaps, inform public attitudes to nanotechnology.
• Bioimaging: Second window for in vivo imaging
Enhanced fluorescence from carbon nanotubes and advances in near-infrared cameras have opened up a new wavelength window for small animal imaging.
• Anticipating the perceived risk of nanotechnologies
A meta-analysis of surveys of public attitudes to nanotechnology reveals that public perceptions are malleable, so new methods for understanding future responses need to be developed.
20 Sep 2009 at 12:00am
• A route to brightly fluorescent carbon nanotubes for near-infrared imaging in...
Single-walled carbon nanotubes can be modified into bright and biocompatible agents for high resolution whole-animal imaging at wavelengths in the 1100?1700 nm region.
11 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
Nature Reviews (Life Sciences) Journals
• Therapy: Swings and roundaboutsChildren with neurofibromatosis type 1 are heterozygous for NF1 and have a substantially increased risk of developing an aggressive myeloproliferative disorder (MPD): juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML). Using mouse models, Jennifer Lauchle, Kevin Shannon and colleagues have identified the stages of this disease that might
15 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• Emotionally stressed
Breast cancer could be exacerbated by social isolation, a study in mice has suggested.Suzanne Conzen and colleagues at the University of Chicago, USA, raised mice that were genetically predisposed to developing breast cancer either in groups or isolated from the time that they were
• First oral therapies for multiple sclerosis anticipated
With five novel oral therapies in late-stage development, there could soon be a wide range of treatment options for relapsing?remitting multiple sclerosis, but better biomarkers are needed to more effectively address the challenge of treating progressive forms of the disease.
• Ageing: The impact of shrinking telomeres
Shortening of telomeres to a critical length triggers a DNA-damage response that contributes to ageing. A new study using a mouse model of accelerated telomere shortening reveals specific transcriptomic and epigenetic changes that provide clues to how telomere shortening is linked to ageing.The Terc
• Analysing immune cell migration
The visualization of the dynamic behaviour of and interactions between immune cells using time-lapse video microscopy has an important role in modern immunology. To draw robust conclusions, quantification of such cell migration is required. However, imaging experiments are associated with various artefacts that can affect
16 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
• T Cells: Crawling into the brain
A study involving real-time imaging of effector T cells provides new insight into how autoreactive T cells interact with cerebral structures and access the central nervous system (CNS) to cause autoimmune disease.Flügel and colleagues induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats with intravenous injection of
• Understanding microRNAs in neurodegeneration
Interest in the functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the nervous system has recently expanded to include their roles in neurodegeneration. Investigations have begun to reveal the influence of miRNAs on both neuronal survival and the accumulation of toxic proteins that are associated with neurodegeneration, and
11 Nov 2009 at 12:00am
• Neuroimmunology: Crawling into the brain
A study involving real-time imaging of effector T cells provides new insight into how autoreactive T cells interact with cerebral structures and access the central nervous system (CNS) to cause autoimmune disease.Flügel and colleagues induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats with intravenous injection of
11 Nov 2009 at 12:00am
• Epigenetics: Stressed for life
Early-life stress (ELS) has long-lasting effects on the brain, and the epigenetic mechanisms underlying them are beginning to be unravelled. Murgatroyd et al. now show that methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2)-mediated regulation of arginine vasopressin (Avp) gene expression in parvocellular hypothalamus
Nature Reviews (Clinical Sciences) Journals
• The CVD paradox: mortality vs prevalenceAll-cause mortality is in decline?indeed, worldwide, life expectancy increased by 9 years between 1979 and 2004 (
• Imaging outcomes in cardiovascular clinical trials
Imaging outcomes in cardiovascular clinical trials
Nature Reviews Cardiology 6, 672 (2009). doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2009.186
• Thrombosis: New-generation combined oral contraceptives linked to raised risk...
Thrombosis: New-generation combined oral contraceptives linked to raised risk of thrombosis
Nature Reviews Cardiology 6, 674 (2009). doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2009.169
Author: Bryony M. Mearns
• Applications of cardiac multidetector CT beyond coronary angiography
Noninvasive imaging of the coronary arteries using multidetector CT (MDCT) represents one of the most promising diagnostic imaging advances in contemporary cardiology. This challenging application has driven a rapid and impressive advancement in CT technology over the past 10 years; leading to increased spatial and
• Socioeconomic status and cardiovascular disease: risks and implications for care
Socioeconomic status (SES) refers to an individual's social position relative to other members of a society. Low SES is associated with large increases in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in men and women. The inverse association between SES and CVD risk in high-income countries is the
22 Sep 2009 at 12:00am
• National policies and strategies for noncommunicable diseases
Good public policies are vital for protecting the health of populations. For the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCD), a single national policy is essential. Such a policy ensures clarity of vision and purpose, sets the platform for joint action to address risk factors
• Medical oncology: T-cell infiltrate predicts long-term survival in CRC
Medical oncology: T-cell infiltrate predicts long-term survival in CRC
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 6, 616 (2009). doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2009.153
Author: Lisa Hutchinson
• Hematology: Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: high risk of stroke and TIA
Hematology: Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: high risk of stroke and TIA
Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology 6, 617 (2009). doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2009.152
Author: Lisa Hutchinson
• Bone: Thiazolidinediones increase fracture risk
Bone: Thiazolidinediones increase fracture risk
Nature Reviews Endocrinology 5, 641 (2009). doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.205
Author: Carol Wilson
• FTO genotype primes obesity risk
FTO genotype primes obesity risk
Nature Reviews Endocrinology 5, 643 (2009). doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.207
Author: Carol Wilson
• Diabetes: Diabetes risk after gestational diabetes mellitus
Women with gestational diabetes mellitus have a substantial risk for progression to a permanent diabetic state, according to researchers in the UK. Could early identification of women at high risk for disease progression lead to improved intervention and preventative measures?
• Genetic risk factors for sporadic ALS
UNC13A
• Primary dystonia: molecules and mechanisms
Primary dystonia is characterized by abnormal, involuntary twisting and turning movements that reflect impaired motor system function. The dystonic brain seems normal, in that it contains no overt lesions or evidence of neurodegeneration, but functional brain imaging has uncovered abnormalities involving the cortex, striatum and
13 Oct 2009 at 12:00am
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