Scientists have successfully corrected sickle cell disease in mice using gene therapy by introducing an anti-sickling human beta-hemoglobin gene. The study, supported by the NHLBI, shows promising results with high expression of the gene in up to 99% of circulating red blood cells.
Researchers found that apolipoprotein B and A-I were strongly linked to increased risk of fatal heart attack in both men and women. Higher concentrations of ApoA-I had a protective effect, suggesting apolipoproteins may be valuable for diagnosis and treatment.
The USF report ranks 66 Florida counties based on overall health ratings, with top-scoring counties having better healthcare and lower poverty rates. The report also highlights deficiencies in high-performing counties, such as lack of health screening and primary care measures.
A study from Massachusetts General Hospital found that parents of children with serious health problems are less likely to be employed. The study also highlighted the need for support services to meet the needs of chronically ill families, which often face increased costs and reduced income.
Researchers will track subsurface floats to measure temperature, pressure, and oxygen in a region extending thousands of miles west of Africa. By studying these dynamics, they aim to better understand ocean mixing processes and improve climate models.
The US CRDF is launching a fast track research competition to engage scientists from the former Soviet Union in the fight against terrorism. The Competition aims to minimize the effects of terrorist acts on civilian populations and will offer support to U.S. industry, scientists, and engineers teamed with researchers from FSU.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed tiny, piezoelectric fans that can cool future electronics without producing electromagnetic noise or consuming excessive electricity. The fans use a ceramic material to move blades in alternate directions, reducing temperatures by up to 8 degrees Celsius.
UCSD researchers identified a gene, KChIP2, that regulates critical electrical currents in the human heart and is associated with increased vulnerability to arrhythmias. The study found that a defective version of this gene can lead to malignant heart rhythms and sudden death in patients with heart failure.
Researchers found that collagen in bone contains sacrificial bonds that rupture when stretched and reform when healed, allowing bones to recover quickly. The study suggests these bonds may contribute to the toughness of bone and could have implications for human health and technology.
A new study published in Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that a nutritional supplement called EM Power+ can successfully treat bipolar disorder. The supplement, developed by the Synergy Group of Canada, contains natural dietary minerals and vitamins.
A team of students and researchers from Clemson University test eight houses in coastal South Carolina to determine the most effective hurricane retrofits. The study uses various methods, including cranes and vacuum chambers, to simulate real-life conditions and evaluate the performance of different retrofit measures.
Researchers surveyed 5,000 middle school students and found that those exposed to more movie smoking were 2.5 times more likely to start smoking than those with minimal exposure. The study also showed strong correlations between on-screen actor endorsement of cigarette brands and increased likelihood of smoking.
The Texas A&M University Institute for Countermeasures against Agricultural Bioterrorism aims to develop research tools to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks on agriculture. The institute will utilize cutting-edge technologies such as surveillance networking, satellite imaging, and biotechnology to create a proactive defense system.
New research suggests earthquakes destroyed fortified buildings, changed river courses and made elite rulers vulnerable to attack in ancient civilizations. Scientists at Stanford University are painting a picture of an ancient world where earthquakes played a crucial role in shaping history.
Researchers at UMass are working on sensors that can identify bioterror agents more accurately by connecting small 'keys' to large molecules. The team is using nanoparticles and gold structures to solve the complex problem of detecting larger molecules, which have a difficult time fitting into traditional chemical sensors.
A unique partnership between Imperial College London and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative aims to combat the HIV epidemic. The laboratory will evaluate work from worldwide HIV/AIDS vaccine trials, promoting standardization and facilitating the development of effective vaccines.
A new study from Duke University challenges the common assumption that small lung tumors represent early-stage cancers. Despite their small size, these tumors can still be advanced stages of cancer with a high chance of spreading.
A study of 928 children with Hodgkin's disease found a 45-fold increase in breast cancer risk for girls, particularly those diagnosed with early-stage disease. The increased risk may be linked to treatment protocols and radiation dosages.
Aquaporins regulate water flux in various tissues, including the kidney, eye lens, and brain. Recent computer simulations revealed a 'dance' of water molecules through aquaporin channels, controlled by protein parts that increase permeation rates while blocking proton passage.
Researchers are studying the chemical signatures of lavas from the Rift Valley in Turkana to understand the evolution of mantle plumes and how continents split apart. The study suggests that a mantle plume was present in the area 35 million years ago, contributing to the formation of the African Rift Valley.
A study of 2,600 Americans found that between 1-2% have a compulsive gambling problem, with rates higher among minorities and lower-income individuals. Problem drinkers are 23 times more likely to also have a gambling issue.
Eating at least two apples per week and higher selenium intake may reduce adult asthma incidence. Farm childhood experiences also lower risk of allergic reactions to cat dander and Timothy grass, reducing nasal congestion symptoms.
A study published in The Lancet reveals that clearance of antipersonnel mines can result in severe injuries, with 15% of incidents being fatal. Limb injury is a common occurrence, with 30% resulting in amputation.
Dr. Richard B. Alley suggests that past climate records indicate abrupt changes, particularly near poles and away from them. He proposes a threshold-based approach to climate change, which could lead to more realistic predictions of future climate shifts.
Researchers have created a zeolite material that expands when subjected to increasing pressure, allowing it to trap larger molecules and pollutants. This unusual property has potential applications in controlling chemical or radioactive pollutants by locking them inside the expanded pores.
A new gene therapy method has successfully corrected sickle cell disease in mice by transferring an anti-sickling gene to bone marrow, preventing the formation of deformed red blood cells. The therapy, developed using a viral delivery system, resulted in up to 99% expression of the new gene in circulating red blood cells.
Researchers are studying the molecular pathophysiology of FSHD using genome-wide approaches and developing animal models to understand the disease. The goal is to gain insight into the cellular and molecular processes leading to neuromuscular system dysfunction in FSHD patients.
A genetic test targeting cattle could help control sleeping sickness by detecting the SRA gene, which allows T b rhodesiense to survive in human serum. The test has potential for targeted control of T b rhodesiense in livestock reservoirs, reducing public health burden.