A study by Duke University researchers found that the longer a person used the popular diet drug combination fen/phen, the greater the likelihood they had a heart valve abnormality. Mild or greater aortic regurgitation was detected in 8.8% of patients who used the drug for three months or more, compared to 3.6% of a control group.
A national pilot study is testing whether soy supplementation can reduce prostate cancer risk in African-American men. The $494,588 study, led by Electra D. Paskett, Ph.D., will evaluate the effect of soy on markers for prostate cancer risk and assess its impact on cardiovascular health and quality of life.
Healthcare professionals who received the flu vaccine lost significantly fewer days of work due to illness compared to those who did not receive the vaccine. The vaccine also reduced the rate of influenza type A and B infections among vaccinated individuals.
Professor Robert Bower, a pioneer in semiconductor technology, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his groundbreaking work on the self-aligned gate MOSFET and ion implantation. His invention revolutionized integrated circuit design, enabling faster and more efficient electronic devices.
A study involving 1,500 pairs of Swedish and British twins found that aggressive behavior can be inherited, while social environment plays a crucial role in non-aggressive antisocial behavior. The research revealed different etiologies for aggressive and non-aggressive behaviors in boys and girls.
A new study found that how children perceive their parents' divorce can significantly affect their mental health. Children who harbor negative biases about the divorce experience higher levels of depression and anxiety. Conversely, positive biases or illusions can buffer these effects, but excessive positivity may be detrimental.
A team of researchers led by Christine MacKenzie aims to create efficient intelligent tools for performing tasks in both virtual and real environments. The goal is to achieve direct vision and manipulation in a virtual hand lab, enabling humans to use their fingers as pointers.
Researchers found that dietary choline deficiency changes brain structure in developing rats, reducing cell division and increasing premature cell death. The study suggests a similar effect on human babies, highlighting the importance of prenatal nutrition for long-term cognitive health.
Researchers found that maternal soothing was not effective in reducing infants' cortisol response or behavioral reaction to stress, but may influence the child's developing model of the world. Maternal behavior in general is crucial in affecting cortisol and behavioral stress responses.
A study suggests that maternal stress and stress hormones may influence fetal brain development. Research found associations between maternal factors, such as medical and psychological stress, and fetal brain function.