A study discovered a link between lower platelet adenylyl cyclase activity and increased risk of alcoholism. Recent alcohol consumption was found to be a confounding variable, and other factors such as major depression and hyperlipidemia were also associated with low AC activity.
Scientists have found fossils of an ancient, feathered animal that lived 220 million years ago, which may be the ancestor of birds. The discovery challenges widely accepted theories about the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds.
A recent analysis of a 1.2 billion-year-old Martian meteorite has shown the presence of water-soluble ions that resemble those found in Earth's oceans. The study suggests that ancient Martian oceans had a chemical composition similar to Earth's, with elements like sodium and chloride present in high concentrations.
University of Wisconsin researchers discover that environmental cues associated with drug use can produce profound molecular changes in brain circuits linked to learning and decision-making. The study suggests that long-term changes may persist in critical areas, particularly in people who self-administered drugs for long periods of time.
This study compares the effects of moderate alcohol consumption (equivalent to three glasses of wine) with that of the benzodiazepine drug Ativan, using PET scans. Researchers found that alcohol induces larger decrements in the basal ganglia and is perceived as more stimulating and reinforcing than Ativan.
Research suggests that salivary acetaldehyde produced by heavy drinking is carcinogenic in humans. ALDH2-deficient Asians have higher rates of digestive tract cancers due to inability to eliminate acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde accumulation increases risk of cancer, especially among heavy drinkers and those with poor oral hygiene.
The discovery of ancient fossils in central Asia shows that birds' ancestors had the earliest known feathers, which predate dinosaurs. This challenges the long-held theory that birds evolved directly from theropod dinosaurs.
A study reveals that nearly 900 potentially hazardous asteroids are hurtling towards Earth, with some passing within a few moon distances every year. The researchers estimate that only 40% of kilometer-or-larger asteroids have been discovered, leaving the remaining 60% potentially difficult to find.
Researchers from Malin Space Science Systems found steep-sided gullies and sinuous channels that suggest liquid water may be present beneath the Martian surface. The team proposes a scenario where water seeps through porous rock layers, builds up pressure, and eventually bursts forth in short-lived torrents.
A University at Buffalo study found that a woman's biology, specifically age at first menstruation and first live birth, are major predictors of resolved fertility in fertile women, not lifestyle habits. Women over 30 at first live birth were three times more likely to take longer than a year to conceive.
A study suggests that combining honey with a protein supplement may boost post-workout recuperation and favor better blood sugar maintenance after exercise. The study found that the group receiving honey maintained optimal blood sugar levels throughout two hours following the workout.
Dialysis patients who took amino acid supplements experienced a significant increase in albumin levels, with an average rise of 0.22 g/dL for hemodialysis patients and 0.01 g/dL for peritoneal dialysis patients. This study suggests that simple nutritional interventions can have a positive impact on the health of dialysis patients.
Hospitals have made significant progress in improving stroke treatment, reducing CT scan interpretation time from an average of 219 minutes to 115 minutes, and increasing tPA treatment administration. Training and organizational improvements have enabled rapid response 'stroke teams' to diagnose and treat patients effectively.