(University of Leicester) New research led by University of Leicester into why men are more prone to heart disease.

(McMaster University) An international study led by Canadian researchers has found that telmisartan, a medication used to lower blood pressure, reduced the outcome of cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke in people who are unable to tolerate a widely available and effective standard treatment. Dr. Salim Yusuf and Dr. Koon Teo, professors in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University and clinicians at Hamilton Health Sciences, led the study.

(Queen’s University Belfast) People who have suffered a stroke or who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, could benefit from new research at Queen’s University Belfast.

(European College of Neuropsychopharmacology) At the 21st Congress of the ECNP 2008 in Barcelona, Professor Fuchs from the Clinical Neurobiology Laboratory, German Primate Center in Goettingen, presented the latest findings on how brain cells can be adversely affected by stress and depression. He explained how the adult brain is generating new cells and which impact these findings will have on the development of novel antidepressant drugs.

(European College of Neuropsychopharmacology) The highlights of the recently published ECNP consensus statement on bipolar depression were presented by the renowned British researcher Guy M. Goodwin, Oxford. The apparent differences between unipolar and bipolar depression arise in diagnosis and epidemiology, bipolar depression in children as well as adults, the use of rating scales, and finally treatment studies to optimize pharmacotherapy and clinical outcome.

(The Wistar Institute) Researchers at the Wistar Institute have deciphered the structure of the active region of telomerase, an enzyme that plays a major role in the development of nearly all human cancers. The landmark achievement opens the door to the creation of new, broadly effective cancer drugs, as well as anti-aging therapies. The study will be published online in Nature on Aug. 31.

Applied scientists have developed a new technique for fabricating nanowire photonic and electronic integrated circuits that may one day be suitable for high-volume commercial production.

Certain explosives may soon get a little greener and a little more precise. Researchers have added unique green solvents (ionic liquids) to an explosive called TATB (1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene) and improved the crystal quality and chemical purity of the material.

(California Institute of Technology) Scientists at the California Institute of Technology have developed a simple process for mass producing molecular tubes of identical — and precisely programmable — circumferences. The technological feat may allow the use of the molecular tubes in a number of nanotechnology applications.

Quicker microwave meals that use less energy may soon be possible with new ceramic microwave dishes and, according to the material scientists responsible, this same material could help with organic waste remediation.