A study found that eight weeks of health education classes and vigorous exercise can reduce children's risk of developing heart disease during adulthood. The program resulted in significant reductions in cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, body fat, and increased health knowledge.
The Westwood-Squibb Center for Dermatology Research will examine the impact of managed care on dermatology and advance the specialty through dissemination of information and examination of ethical practices. The center aims to improve skin care and address economic, ethical, and policy issues in dermatology.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have linked specific patterns of cognitive decline to specific brain abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease patients. The study found that certain brain sectors are associated with specific cognitive problems, such as memory loss and visual-spatial skills impairment.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) prototype that functions as a clock source, replacing traditional quartz crystals. The MEMS devices are made from polysilicon and can be built on one chip with integrated circuits, reducing manufacturing costs and increasing reliability.
A new educational program for third and fourth-grade children significantly lowers cholesterol levels and improves cardiovascular health within eight weeks. The classroom-wide approach is more effective than targeted small groups, suggesting a need for policy changes at the elementary school level.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have discovered that a combination of the diabetes drug Troglitazone and Accutane can permanently inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells and induce programmed cell death. The treatment has shown no adverse effects on healthy cells in laboratory studies and animal experiments.
A new approach to experimentation using computer simulation and rapid prototyping could significantly reduce development cost and time in the computer, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. The study found that firms can save millions of dollars by switching between these methods at the optimal point.
The Exposure-to-Risk Monitoring System uses a non-invasive technique to provide immediate results of chemical exposure, tracking exhaled breath to determine amount and type of chemical inhaled. The system also considers individual physiology and can identify multiple chemicals simultaneously.
A Lewin study confirms Diabetes Treatment Centers of America's Diabetes NetCareSM program improves health status by increasing eye exams, foot exams, and cholesterol screenings. The program also reduces medical costs, including hospital admissions and inpatient costs.
Researchers at UCSF found that patients with HIV who undergo aggressive therapy have a robust response to cytomegalovirus, which causes blindness in people with AIDS. This suggests that CD4+ T cells replenished by therapy can mount effective responses against specific pathogens.
A five-year study on salamander populations in southern Appalachian forests reveals that canopy disturbance has a significant impact on their abundance. The results suggest that forest managers may need to adopt more intensive management practices to maintain salamander populations.
A University of Rochester team has developed a technology that provides the most thorough information yet on cells from the brains of deceased Alzheimer's patients, enabling comparison with healthy and sick cells. The study identified five genes whose expression differed significantly between healthy and Alzheimer's brains.
A Johns Hopkins University researcher is creating reliable predictions about how contamination will spread through soil, enabling public officials to charge equitable pollution impact fees. This information can also benefit private builders by deciding whether building on a particular site will be too costly due to pollution impact fees.
A DNA vaccine against rabies has shown complete protection in eight vaccinated monkeys, offering new hope for global eradication of the deadly disease. The vaccine also elicited neutralizing antibodies that could potentially protect humans and animals.