December 2003 Archive

Scientists Link Loss Of Key Protein With Symptoms Seen In Common Adult Form Of Muscular Dystrophy

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The root of the most common type of adult-onset muscular dystrophy appears to be a form of genetic stuttering that blocks the action of key proteins in cells, researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Rochester report in this week’s issue of Science.

Filed under Research on Thursday, December 11, 2003.

With Nature’s Help, A Better Vision System For Smart Weapons

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The next generation of smart weapons may "see" targets with a manmade version of that wonder of the natural world, the insect eye.

Filed under Research on Thursday, December 11, 2003.

First experiments on birds of paradise tie metabolism, ecology

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Birds of paradise, those resplendent, elaborately-shaped birds of the South Pacific, hardly seem like a potential source for ironclad biological fact.

Filed under Research, Environment, Sciences on Wednesday, December 10, 2003.

UF researcher: more intensive search patterns may prevent deaths of lost Alzheimer’s patients

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Most Alzheimer’s and dementia patients who are found dead after becoming lost in the community stray no farther than a mile from their home or living facility, yet it may take days or weeks to locate them, according to a new University of Florida study.

Filed under Research, Health, Family, Aging on Wednesday, December 10, 2003.

University of Florida to establish a college of public health

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In an effort to improve the overall health and quality of life for Floridians, the University of Florida will establish a new college of public health, school officials announced today.

Filed under Campus, Announcements on Friday, December 5, 2003.

Sports and academics: TheCenter at UF uncovers new insight

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Research university investment in high-profile sports programs competes with institutional investment in teaching and research quality according to a new report released by TheCenter, a higher education research unit at the University of Florida.

Filed under Research, Education on Wednesday, December 3, 2003.

High Blood Pressure Treatment May Help Prevent Diabetes

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Aggressively lowering high blood pressure with a treatment strategy that includes a calcium antagonist not only decreases the risk of heart attack, stroke or death - in a surprising twist, it also appears to slash the chance high-risk patients will develop diabetes, University of Florida researchers reported Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Filed under Research on Wednesday, December 3, 2003.

UF Researchers Find Some Hodgkin’s Patients Develop Heart Problems Years After Radiation Treatment

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Patients who successfully weather the powerful treatments used to send Hodgkin’s lymphoma soundly into remission are often considered cured of their cancer. But a new study shows that years later they may develop serious heart problems because of the radiation therapy they receive, University of Florida researchers report in this week’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Filed under Research on Tuesday, December 2, 2003.