A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco has discovered a novel mechanism by which the drug ribavirin kills viruses by generating excess mutations that overwhelm the virus. This unexpected finding may lead to the development of more effective anti-viral treatments for hepatitis C patients.
Researchers found that combining a long-acting AT1-receptor blocker with an ACE inhibitor reduces blood pressure and albumin excretion in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients. The study also showed that combined treatment is more effective than using either drug alone.
A 2000 study found that daughters of mothers exposed to the chemical polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) in contaminated Michigan feed experienced earlier onset of menstruation and pubic hair growth. The study, funded by NIH/NIEHS, linked high PBB exposure to an average age of first menstruation before 12 years.
Clemson researchers, led by Michael Pursley, are developing a wireless communication system that can transmit voice and digital data, making it more reliable and portable than current systems. The new system has the potential to revolutionize military communications and could also be used in disaster relief and fleet-based services.
Researchers have found a new bonding arrangement for carbon molecules, which could shed light on how carbon bonds with atoms to form molecules. The discovery challenges traditional understanding of carbon's basic structure and opens up new ideas about life's most basic element.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new simulation tool that predicts an innovative type of transistor, called the double-gate transistor, could keep Moore's Law in force until 2025. This would give scientists time to develop new technologies to replace traditional silicon-based integrated circuits.
Distributed computing is revolutionizing the way scientists solve complex computational problems, enabling breakthroughs in astronomy and biology. The Stanford-led project Folding@home has taken off, with over 10,000 volunteers contributing their home computers to protein folding research.
Researchers at UCSD School of Medicine have found that the DNA-repair enzyme DNA-PK also plays a key role in innate immunity, protecting against internal and external threats. The discovery could lead to treatments for DNA instability caused by radiation or cancer treatment.