SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Digest

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS -February 12, 2002: Digest

VOICE ONE:

This is Sarah Long.

VOICE TWO:

And this is Bob Doughty¹ with Science in the News, a VOA Special English program about recent developments
in science. Today, we tell about new research using genes² to find early signs of cancer. We tell about why red
wine is good for you. And we tell about the health problems in the area of New York City where the World Trade
Center was destroyed.

((THEME))

VOICE ONE:

Scientists have recently reported progress in research using genes to find early signs of cancer. American and
Dutch researchers say they have developed a way to tell if a breast cancer tumor³ will spread to other parts of the
body. The researchers reported their work in the publication⁴ Nature.

Scientists at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and in the United States found special groups of genes in the kinds
of cancerous tumors that spread quickly. They made the discovery by studying genes in seventy-eight breast
cancer tumors in women. Then they studied the women to see if they developed other cancers.

The researchers say that seventy genes in the tumors could show if a woman had a high risk of developing cancer
in another part of her body. The researchers could also tell if the disease⁵ was not likely to return.

VOICE TWO:

The scientists say they have created a system that can tell if the breast cancer will return or not. They say the
system is correct eighty percent of the time. Experts say such a test could change the normal treatment for breast
cancer. Today, women suffering breast cancer have an operation to remove the tumor. Then they have
chemotherapy and radiation to make sure the cancer will not return. However, the drugs used in chemotherapy
can have unwanted effects. Experts say women who know their cancer will not return would not need to have this
treatment.

Other researchers say that this kind of progress is not limited to breast cancer research. American researchers
recently reported a similar system to tell about the possible spread of a kind of brain cancer in children. And other
researchers have found such a system for prostate cancer patients.

VOICE ONE:

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland are reporting a genetic⁶ test that can find early
colon⁷ cancer. They reported this study in the New England Journal⁸ of Medicine. The new test studies a small
amount of a person ’s solid waste for the presence⁹ of changed genes known to cause colon cancer. The
researchers say these changes begin creating growths in the colon twenty to thirty years before the growths
become cancerous.

The researchers tested seventy -four such samples in the study. They found the cancer genes in about sixty percent
of the people with early colon cancer. They found the genes in half of the people with pre -cancerous growths.
They did not find any of the cancer genes in people who were free of the disease.

VOICE TWO:

The researchers say the new test should find a high percentage of people who are developing colon cancer. This


test is much easier to carry out than a colonoscopy test to find colon cancer. In a colonoscopy, a long, thin tube is
placed inside the colon to find any possible growths. This test is costly¹⁰ and is usually done in a hospital.

Researchers say the new test should influence many more people to get tested for colon cancer. They say the test
could save the lives of many of the five-hundred-thousand people around the world who die of colon cancer each
year. Officials from the private company producing the test say they hope it will be ready for use by the year
Two-Thousand-Four.

Experts say these new tests are the result of new cancer research technology. These new methods can identify and
target the molecules¹¹ that cause the disease. They say this will lead to improved cancer treatments in the future.

((MUSIC BRIDGE))

VOICE ONE:

You are listening to the Special English program SCIENCE IN THE NEWS on VOA. This is Sarah Long with
Bob Doughty in Washington.

British scientists may have discovered the reason why red wine appears to protect the heart. They say natural
chemicals found in red wine appear to protect against blocked blood passages. The chemical substances are
called polyphenols. They come from the outer covering of grapes. They are not present in other alcoholic¹³ drinks.

Researchers from the William Harvey Research Institute at the London School of Medicine and Dentistry carried
out the study. The scientists say their discovery explains why many people in southern Europe can eat fatty foods
and still have a low risk of heart disease. People in France, for example, have lower rates of heart disease than
Americans do. Yet the traditional French diet includes butter, cheese and other foods high in cholesterol¹⁴.

VOICE TWO:

This led the British scientists to examine another important part of the French diet -- red wine. Several earlier
studies have suggested that people who drink moderate¹⁵ amounts of alcohol¹² may reduce their risk of heart disease.

The British team experimented with cells from the blood vessels¹⁶ of cows. The scientists studied the effects of
twenty-three kinds of red wine on the cow cells. They found that polyphenols from all of the red wines stopped
production of a protein called endothelin-one. This protein causes blood vessels to become smaller. Scientists
believe endothelin-one is linked to hardening¹⁷ of the blood vessels, which is a cause of heart disease.

VOICE ONE:

The scientists found that the decrease in endothelin-one levels was linked to the amount of polyphenols in the
wines. The British team performed similar experiments with two other kinds of wine, white and rose. These
wines contain little or no polyphenols because the grape skins are removed before the wine is made. White and
rose wines had no effect on endothelin-one levels.

The scientists also studied the effect of non-alcoholic juice made from red grapes. They found that grape juice
slowed the production of endothelin -one, but was much less effective than the red wines.

((MUSIC BRIDGE))

VOICE TWO:

There are growing environmental concerns about the air near the destroyed World Trade Center in New York
City. The two huge buildings were destroyed September eleventh when terrorists¹⁸ crashed two passenger planes
into them. Some people say they are suffering health problems as a result of the attacks.

When the World Trade Center fell, it left about one-million tons of crushed¹⁹ concrete, glass and dust. Some people
fear that cancer-causing substances may have been released²⁰ into the air from the resulting fires and smoke. For
example, asbestos and other harmful substances were used in building the World Trade Center.

VOICE ONE:


The wreckage²¹ of the World Trade Center covers more than six hectares of land. Since September eleventh,
federal²², state and local agencies²³ have been testing the air in and around the wreckage area.

Scientists from universities, medical schools and private companies also are doing tests. They are looking for the
presence of pollutants²⁴ in the air that might present a health risk to the workers removing the wreckage and to the
public. Federal officials say no long-term health risks have been discovered so far.

Yet, doctors say many of the workers have been suffering from severe cough, chest pain, nose bleeds and
breathing problems. Many workers with continuing problems have taken legal action against the city.Doctors say
rescue workers and other people who worked in the area for a long period of time are most at risk for health
problems. They say workers who did not wear protective²⁵ coverings on their faces are at even greater risk.

VOICE TWO:

About forty -thousand people live near the ruins of the World Trade Center. Some of these people worry that open
trucks carrying the wreckage from the area are still spreading pollutants.

Doctors in New York City are organizing a study of the hundreds of pregnant²⁶ women who were near the World
Trade Center on the day of the attack. They will examine the possible health effects of smoke and dust on
pregnant women and their babies.

((THEME))

VOICE ONE:

This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS program was written by Nancy Steinbach, George Grow and Cynthia Kirk. It
was produced by Cynthia Kirk. This is Sarah Long.

VOICE TWO:

And this is Bob Doughty. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice
of America.

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1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

3 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

4 publication   

n.出版，发行；出版；公布，发表

参考例句：

• They don't think this article is suitable for publication.他们认为这篇文章不宜发表。
• The government has delayed publication of the trade figures.政府已将贸易统计数字延后公布。

5 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

6 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

7 colon   

n.冒号，结肠，直肠

参考例句：

• Here,too,the colon must be followed by a dash.这里也是一样，应当在冒号后加破折号。
• The colon is the locus of a large concentration of bacteria.结肠是大浓度的细菌所在地。

8 journal   

n.日志，日记；议事录；日记帐；杂志，定期刊物

参考例句：

• He kept a journal during his visit to Japan.他在访问日本期间坚持记日记。
• He got a job as editor of a trade journal.他找到了一份当商业杂志编辑的工作。

9 presence   

n.出席；到场；存在

参考例句：

• Her presence lent an air of respectability to the occasion.她的到场使那种场合增添了崇高的气氛。
• His presence is indicative of his willingness to help.他的出席表示他愿意帮忙。

10 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

11 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

12 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

13 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

14 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。

15 moderate   

adj.适度的，稳健的，温和的，中等的；v.节制，使...稳定，使...缓和；n.稳健的人

参考例句：

• You should moderate your language when children are present.在孩子面前，你说话应该有节制。
• The wind is moderate today.今天的风很柔和。

16 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 hardening   

v.淬水；（使）变硬( harden的现在分词 )；（使）坚固；（使）硬化；（使）变得坚强

参考例句：

• This can sometimes reveal a hardening or lump that signals a tumor. 这样有时能发现硬物或肿块，这是肿瘤的信号。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 癌症与艾滋病
• By hardening gold, people can then make coins and jewelry with it. 金子被加硬后，人们就可以用它打造硬币和珠宝。 来自英语晨读30分（高一）

18 terrorists   

n.恐怖主义者，恐怖分子( terrorist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The terrorists have halted their bloody campaign of violence. 恐怖分子已经停止了他们凶残的暴力活动。
• They were finally forced to capitulate to the terrorists' demands. 他们最后被迫屈从恐怖分子的要求。

19 crushed   

a.压碎的，倒碎的

参考例句：

• The car was completely crushed under the truck. 小轿车被卡车压得完全变形了。
• The box was crushed when the car ran over it. 汽车辗过箱子时把它给压碎了。

20 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

21 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

22 federal   

adj.联盟的；联邦的；(美国)联邦政府的

参考例句：

• Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
• The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。

23 agencies   

n.代理( agency的名词复数 )；服务机构；（政府的）专门机构；代理（或经销）业务（或关系）

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations. 联合国有许多专门机构。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The project is funded by the World Bank and other multilateral agencies. 这项计划由世界银行和其他多国机构资助。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 pollutants   

污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
• The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

25 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

26 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。