|
A.
Low Birthweight Children Most Susceptible to Pollution-Induced
Asthma
Narrator:
This is Science Today. A new study has found children
born prematurely or of low birthweight have the
most severe, smog-induced asthma symptoms later
in life. Kathleen Mortimer, an epidemiologist at
the University of California, Berkeley says there's
been lots of evidence in general that children of
low birthweight have more respiratory problems,
but this was the first study that looked particularly
at air pollution.
Mortimer:
So it may be useful in identifying which groups are
more responsive and whether the regulatory level are
really protecting certain groups of the population.
And it's also important because the rates of low birthweight
are increasing and a lot of pre-term babies are surviving
now that didn't used to survive - which is great,
but you're also increasing the pool of people who
seem to be greater responders to air pollution levels.
Narrator:
Currently, it's recommended that asthmatic children
stay inside on high air pollution days, but Mortimer
notes the air pollution levels they studied were
below the air quality standards.
Mortimer:
And so it may help clinicians have a better idea about
who is at greater risk on those days and whether they
either have the child modify their behavior or their
medication schedule or something maybe more useful.
Narrator:
For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
B.
A Study Reveals Some Emotional Effects of Space Travel
Narrator:
This is Science Today. American astronauts and mission
control personnel, who participated in Mir Space Station
Missions, were found to be less happy with their working
conditions than their Russian counterparts. Nick Kanas,
a psychiatry professor at the University of California,
San Francisco, conducted this NASA-funded, four and
a half-year psychological and emotional study.
Kanas: Because of the plans for
the International Space Station and since the shuttle
MIR missions were seen as phase one of these plans,
NASA became interested in looking at how the crewmembers
interacted and performed in space.
Narrator: One reason American astronauts
were not as happy as the Russians, Kanas says, is
they were almost always outnumbered and never in command.
They then displaced their negative feelings to mission
control personnel.
Kanas:
The displacement phenomenon is one that needs to be
taken seriously. The evidence suggests that if it
does occur - not a surprise because it occurs on Earth
in all of our work environments.
Narrator:
Based on his findings, Kanas will be making recommendations
to NASA to improve the psychosocial environment for
future, international missions. For Science Today, I'm
Larissa Branin.
C.
A Wrinkle Treatment that May Also Relieve Migraines
Narrator:
This is Science Today. In a case of scientific serendipity,
researchers at the University of California, San Francisco
discovered a cosmetic treatment called Botox that's
commonly used to alleviate facial wrinkles - may also
relieve migraines. Dermatologist Richard Glogau based
the study on his observation that patients receiving
Botox injections to the upper face also reported suffering
fewer headaches.
Glogau:
And these are patients that had been taking some
fairly heavy series medication for chronic migraine.
So we started to actively track it when patients came
in and wanted wrinkle treatment we made a note of
whether or not they had migraine or history of what
medicine they were taking and then followed what their
response to the treatments were.
Narrator:
Glogau found Botox - which temporarily paralyzes voluntary
muscle movement - reduced migraines for up to six
months in three out of four of his patients.
Glogau:
Clearly for a significant segment of the population
with headache, there's another avenue, another therapy
available. If nothing else, it'll let them get by
with a lot less medication.
Narrator:
For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
D.
New Findings about Mammograms
Narrator:
This is Science Today. Contrary to current belief,
a new study has found mammography is no more sensitive
at detecting breast cancer in young women with a family
history of the disease, than in women without it.
Epidemiologist Karla Kerlikowske, of the University
of California, San Francisco conducted previous research
on mammography, and found it's more sensitive at detecting
cancer in older women.
Kerlikowske:
Older women have the advantage of they've been
through menopause, their breasts are now more fatty,
it's easier to see their breast tumors and their tumors
grow more slowly. So you have the opportunity to find
them when they're small and slow growing.
Narrator:
To prevent one breast cancer death in younger women,
Kerlikowske says 2500 women would have to be regularly
screened, as opposed to 270 women in the older group.
Kerlikowske:
People
often say that it doesn't make a difference how much
it costs, but if you save one life, that must be beneficial.
But there's a limited number of resources for health
and money used for something that has a low benefit
and a high cost is not very efficient.
Narrator:
For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
E.
A Groundbreaking, Tiny Transistor
Narrator:
This is Science Today. A new type of transistor has
been developed that's so tiny; it's set a world record.
Chenming Hu, a professor of engineering at the University
of California, Berkeley, says he and his colleagues
created a transistor several thousand times smaller
than a human hair and it can hold 400 times more devices
than currently possible.
Hu:
What this means to the industry is that we have shown
a way to continue the semiconductor revolution for
at least another twenty-five years. Recently, there
is the concern and perhaps even a fear that we have
come very close to the end of the road for the semiconductor
technology. But this research has shown that we are
still far away from that limit.
Narrator:
Hu says it'll be at least ten years before this new
transistor benefits the consumer.
Hu:
What we have demonstrated is the principal. The physics
that says such small transistors can be manufactured.
Narrator:
For
Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.
|
