A new NIAMS-funded study will enroll 5,700 men aged 65+ to investigate the relationship between bone mass, structure, lifestyle, and fractures. The research aims to determine if high bone mass increases the risk of prostate cancer.
Scientists have identified a network of cellular receptors in the spinal cord that transmits sensations of chronic pain. Blocking their activity may provide a new strategy for pain management. The discovery suggests that pain can be caused by pathways normally not painful.
A Mayo Clinic study highlights the importance of autopsy in diagnosing Parkinson's disease, suggesting low autopsy rates and nonrandom patterns may skew research findings. The study analyzed 235 deceased patients with parkinsonism diagnoses, revealing important factors influencing autopsy decisions.
Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have cloned the gene responsible for primary hyperoxaluria type II, a rare inherited form of kidney stone disease. The discovery may lead to better understanding and treatment of the disease, which can cause severe kidney failure and early death if left untreated.
Researchers have identified an enzyme, PKCe, that could be a target for treating alcoholism. Mice genetically engineered to lack the enzyme were less likely to drink and showed increased sensitivity to alcohol and benzodiazepines in the brain.
Seven research centers will study tobacco use, prevention, and treatment using a transdisciplinary approach. The centers aim to accelerate development of effective tobacco control interventions and reduce tobacco-related deaths.
The American Chemical Society's Southeast Regional Meeting will be held in Knoxville, featuring a variety of topics including environmental and medicinal chemistry. Over 600 scientific papers will be presented during the event.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is establishing a prestigious new Clinical Nutrition Research Unit with $4.7 million in NIH funding. The unit will focus on enhancing the use of laboratory discoveries in population-based and clinical research, as well as educating health professionals about nutrition.
The five-year grant will fund five major research projects, including studies on animal models, brain imaging techniques, and clinical trials. The goal is to improve tobacco addiction treatment by understanding why current treatments fail and developing new behavioral and drug treatments.
A new nutrition intervention program aims to improve eating habits and increase calcium consumption in healthy children, potentially reducing the risk of osteoporosis and bone-related health issues later in life. The program will test whether behavioral modification and education can lead to long-lasting changes in diet.
The University of Southern California has received a $12.8 million grant to establish a national center studying tobacco use and prevention among teen-agers from Pacific Rim cultures. Researchers will investigate how culture, immigration, and adaptation affect smoking habits and design effective ways to discourage smoking.