A team of researchers at Northeastern University has discovered a specific molecular change in the brain that causes people to crave higher dosages of drugs over time. The finding could lead to more effective treatments for heroin addicts and cancer patients with chronic pain.
Case Western Reserve University senior Niuniu Ji has been awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to pursue two-year honors studies in economics and management at Oxford University. The scholarship, established by British philanthropist Cecil Rhodes in 1902, recognizes high academic achievement and potential for leadership.
Researchers have identified a potent neurotoxin called kalkitoxin, which appears to block sodium channels in neurons. This finding could lead to new treatments for conditions like pain, epilepsy, and potentially stroke by selectively activating or blocking sodium channels.
A recent study by OHSU researchers found that 96% of physicians and nurses believe increased family expectations for pain management contributed to the observed increase in family reports of pain among dying patients. Additionally, decreased physician prescribing of pain medications (66%) and reduced nurse administration of pain medica...
A new study from UCSF found that postmenopausal women with normal Pap smear results may not need annual screening, as the benefits are small and the risk of false-positive testing is high. Researchers also discovered that hormone replacement therapy did not significantly affect cervical cellular abnormalities.
Research suggests that heavy smoking by parents can lead to reduced visits to the doctor for asthma in their children. The study found a significant decrease in hospital visits when parents reported higher levels of smoking at home, particularly if the mother smoked. Age and family size also influenced visit frequency.
A study by The Wistar Institute suggests that infections can trigger autoimmunity through a normal but rare process involving memory B cells. A transgenic mouse with a self-similar influenza gene led to an autoimmune response, showing that the immune system may not eliminate all self-reactive cells.
Researchers at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory have successfully developed a compound that aids in the extraction of certain underground contaminants, including lead. The new chemical compound targets specific reactive fractions of the soil and can be used in pump-and-treat extraction methods to enhance removal efficiency.
A 15-year study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center found that a social-influences approach to smoking prevention did not reduce smoking rates among youth. Despite rigorous design and implementation, the program failed to make a difference in the long-term smoking behavior of participants.
Researchers found that FRAP regulates a membrane-to-cytoplasm communication network, governing cellular response to outside stimuli. The protein must shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm to function properly.
Researchers have successfully analyzed diffusion MRI images to distinguish between dead and living brain tumor cells in animals and humans. This technique allows for the assessment of therapy effects without relying on measurable changes in tumor size, enabling earlier detection of treatment response.
New Zealand scientists are presenting innovative research on meat storage, with freezing found to be the best way to preserve raw sheep meat. Researchers have also isolated a promising chemical from a native Asian tree for treating AIDS, cancer, and diabetes. Additionally, marine sponges have yielded compounds that may aid in fighting ...
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have developed a system to measure magnetic and electrical fields over large areas of the ionosphere, providing the first continuous monitoring of electric currents between space and the upper atmosphere. The advanced system will enable improved understanding and foreca...
A study found that women with coronary heart disease who experience severe marital stress are at a higher risk of recurrent cardiac events. In contrast, work stress did not predict new coronary events for working women. The authors suggest that specific preventive measures be tailored to the needs of women with CHD.
A Penn State researcher has created a model that explains why flowering plants in Norway bloom earlier after warmer winters. The study incorporates biological factors and provides insight into the ecological responses to climate change.
New data from the Nurses' Health Study suggests hormone replacement therapy reduces heart attack risk by 40% in postmenopausal women. However, taking higher doses of estrogen or combination therapy with progestin may increase stroke risk by 30%.
Researchers at U-M and Norway have found a way to reconcile paleomagnetic data with the classical Pangea A model. The key lies in assumptions about Earth's magnetic field, which revealed long-term non-dipole fields that produce a near-perfect continental fit.
A study found that disabled elderly women receive approximately 15.7 hours of informal home care per week, compared to 21.2 hours for men, and are more likely to rely on children for support. Married disabled women also tend to receive fewer hours of informal care from their spouses.
A Penn State study finds that both water lilies and Amborella are equally close genetically to the first flowering plant, offering new insights into its evolution. The analysis of DNA from three cellular compartments reveals a more diverse ancestry at the base of the angiosperm family tree.
A study published in Ecology found that interplanting eucalyptus with nitrogen-fixing trees, such as albizia, increases carbon sequestration in soil. This practice has the potential to significantly impact global efforts to measure and promote carbon sequestration in tropical tree plantations.
Researchers have identified a new form of programmed cell death called paraptosis, characterized by the formation of vacuoles and mitochondrial swelling. This alternative pathway may offer novel therapeutic targets for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study by Michigan Medicine found that elderly women with disabilities receive significantly fewer hours of informal home care than their male counterparts. Despite being the traditional family caregivers, these women often go unmet due to sociocultural factors.
A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association has found that handheld cellular telephone use is not associated with an increased risk of brain cancer. Researchers conducted a case-control study from 1994 to 1998 and analyzed data on 469 participants with primary brain cancer and 422 matched controls.