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.
A new study by USC/Norris Cancer Center scientists raises questions about the potential use of finasteride to prevent prostate cancer. Finasteride, commonly used to treat benign prostate disease, may not be effective as a chemopreventive agent against prostate cancer in men with high PSA levels.
A study of heat stroke patients during the 1995 Chicago heat wave found that nearly half died within a year and many suffered permanent loss of independent function. Most patients developed multi-system organ dysfunction, including neurologic impairment, which persisted long after discharge.
A Wake Forest University School of Medicine study found that patients with skin problems receive inadequate comprehensive care from primary care doctors, who focus solely on the skin issue. Dermatologists provide superior treatment due to their specialized expertise, and previous studies have shown they are cost-effective as well.
A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has discovered that programmed cell death in the brain continues for weeks after initial trauma. This finding could lead to better treatments for brain injuries and related conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, and neurodegenerative diseases.