A recent study by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found that marrow transplantation using an unrelated donor can be as successful as transplants with related donors for treatment of children with acute leukemia, particularly those under age 10. The study showed a 70% leukemia-free survival rate for patients in their first remiss...
A new intracoronary gene therapy has shown promising results in treating stable angina, a condition affecting nearly 7 million people nationwide. The study, led by the University of Vermont, involved 79 patients and demonstrated improved exercise ability compared to placebo groups.
A recent study demonstrated that including elderly patients in clinical trials for cancer treatments can produce useful results. The research found that two chemotherapy agents were effective and well-tolerated in metastatic breast cancer patients aged 60 or older.
Scientists have developed a test to identify breast abnormalities that are more likely to develop into breast cancer. The test analyzes biological signals in cells and can help doctors determine whether certain women should receive prophylactic anti-oestrogen treatment or more frequent screening.
The LIFE study found that losartan prevented more cardiovascular events and deaths than atenolol, even after similar reductions in blood pressure. Additionally, a second study showed losartan's effectiveness in reducing cardiovascular risk for patients with diabetes and left ventricular hypertrophy.
Researchers discovered a gene, atrogin-1, that plays a critical role in muscle atrophy. This protein triggers excessive protein breakdown, leading to muscle loss in various conditions, including space-related muscle wasting.
Researchers study composite materials made from small trees, finding they can be as strong or even stronger than solid wood due to uniform properties and improved durability. The team investigates molecular adhesion and chemistry under simulated conditions to enhance durability.
The study highlights the environmental and human health problems associated with industrial agriculture, such as soil degradation, water pollution, and increased antibiotic resistance. Sustainable agriculture methods offer a viable alternative, including reducing meat consumption to alleviate pressure on natural resources.
A new breast cancer vaccine called AutoVac has been developed to stimulate the patient's own immune system and induce specific killer cells and antibodies against HER-2, a protein overexpressed in many tumors. The phase I/II trial is currently underway with 27 patients with advanced breast cancer.
A study found that hormone replacement therapy use is associated with a higher risk of dense breasts and interval cancers. Women who had used HRT were more likely to have dense breasts and cancers detected between screenings.
Richard Monastersky and Diane Tennant have won the American Geophysical Union's 2002 David Perlman and Walter Sullivan Awards for Excellence in Science Journalism. Monastersky won for his news article on the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous mission, while Tennant won for her seven-part series on a local meteor impact story that spans 35 ...
Researchers at Penn find a cure for atrial fibrillation by targeting triggers in pulmonary veins, eliminating the need for pacemakers and medication. The new procedure has shown effectiveness and low complication rates, offering hope for patients with this serious condition.
A new study found that amiodarone is the most effective anti-arrhythmic drug for treating out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with almost twice as many patients surviving compared to lidocaine. The ALIVE trial provides clear guidelines for emergency responders and hospital staff on the best treatment option.
Scientists discover mercury released into polar environments when sun rises, entering snowpack and potentially affecting food webs. The 'mercury sunrise' phenomenon contributes to increasing mercury levels in Arctic seabirds and marine mammals.
Two Johns Hopkins studies confirm the value of treadmill exercise tests in diagnosing heart disease before symptoms appear. Women with abnormal or inconclusive test results are up to 2.6 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, while men with similar test results are twice as likely to die from heart disease.
Researchers at Virginia Tech will develop plant-expressed antigens and adjuvants to create affordable, effective vaccines. The goal is to produce inexpensive, disease-fighting vaccines through plant-based delivery systems.
Researchers create model that accurately reproduces natural evolution and predicts how bacteria will become resistant to antibiotics. The model shows promise as a possible tool for creating new drugs that can evade bacterial adaptation.
A new study reveals that river traffic emits substantial nitrogen oxide, fine particulate matter, and sulfur oxides pollution, rivaling that of highways. The research, led by James J. Corbett, finds boat and ship emissions contribute significantly to regional air quality, particularly in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Researchers found men had a higher incidence of bacterial pneumonia, with complex cases and higher mortality rates compared to women. The burden of CAP is expected to increase substantially as the elderly population grows, with projected 750,000 cases in 2010 and 1 million by 2020.
A recent large-scale study found a strong association between infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and risk of vaginal cancer. Women with vaginal cancer were more likely to have been exposed to HPV-16, which causes genital warts.
A new blood test, Triage BNP Test, has been shown to accurately diagnose congestive heart failure (CHF) with a high accuracy rate of nearly 90% in a multinational trial. The test detects elevated levels of the hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which signals a failing heart.
Researchers at Cornell University have created a flexible ceramic material with a cubic bicontinuous structure, which conforms to century-old mathematical predictions. The material has properties that are not just the sum of polymers and ceramic, but something new, offering promise for efficient battery electrolytes and fuel cells.
Researchers discovered that COX-2 inhibition can prevent Barrett's esophageal cell proliferation and that p16 mutations may impair melanocyte senescence. Additionally, a common polymorphism in the GH1 gene may be associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer.
A review of eight randomized studies on biomarkers and health behavior change found that providing quantitative information about harm exposure and disease risk increased motivation for healthy behaviors. However, lasting change may require appropriate treatment.
Men treated with ADT experienced increased complications, including impotence (80%), breast swelling, and hot flashes. Despite this, many reported feeling free of cancer after treatment.
The University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing has launched a five-year AIDS prevention project in Malawi, training health workers to become leaders in combating the pandemic. The project aims to educate hospital staff, nurses, and medical officers on HIV transmission and safe-sex practices, as well as mobilizing community peer ...
Researchers at Duke University found significant racial disparities in heart disease symptoms and functional status among African-American patients. They reported higher levels of chest pain and poorer quality of life compared to white patients, despite receiving similar procedures.
A new Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center study found that thickening of the heart can develop as early as adolescence in women, with obesity being the main factor. The study also discovered significant racial disparities in left ventricular hypertrophy prevalence among young African American and Caucasian women.
A study by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Asthma Clinical Research Network found that low to medium doses of inhaled steroids improve lung function in most asthma patients. However, high doses may not provide additional benefits but increase the risk of adverse effects.
A study found that hormone therapy slows atherosclerosis progression in monkeys with healthy blood vessels. Estrogen was most effective when given at an early stage, suggesting it may be less beneficial for women with advanced arterial disease.
A four-year study found that implantable cardioverter defibrillators reduce death rates by 31% in patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The devices detect irregular heartbeats and deliver electrical shocks to restore normal function.
Researchers found that elderly patients are less likely to undergo invasive procedures such as bypass surgery and angioplasty after age 75. Despite a decline in procedure use among older adults, many elderly patients remain willing to consider these treatments when recommended by their physicians.
Recent URI study reveals two oceanic provinces of deeply buried microbial activity, with high activity found along continental margins where methane and sulfate intersect. Microbial respiration rates differ vastly between open-ocean and continental margin environments.
A new study found that moderate to high calcium intake can lower the risk of distal colon cancer by 40-50% in women and men. However, excessive calcium consumption did not provide further benefits. Calcium may be the key component reducing colon cancer risk.
An international team conducted genetic tests of bacteria thriving in Antarctica's Dry Valleys, a frigid desert with no recent rainfall. The research aimed to understand how these microbes survive and shed light on the possibility of life on other planets.
Research finds that exposure to movie stars smoking increases positive attitudes toward smoking among adolescent never-smokers. High exposure is linked to a greater intent to start smoking and lower resistance to peer offers.
A study of 145 heart patients found that 74% used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy, with 60% using supplements or mind-body techniques. Many patients took prescription medications and CAM substances together, posing a risk of bleeding problems, including gastrointestinal bleeding or surgical complications.
A Stanford scientist is conducting a groundbreaking study to determine the long-term effects of hypergravity on humans. Participants will spend nine weeks in a NASA centrifuge rotating at increasingly faster speeds, simulating conditions found during space shuttle takeoff and landing.
The American Physical Society has recognized outstanding researchers in various fields of physics, including nuclear and particle physics, polymers, and plasma physics. Oliver Keith Baker and Deborah S. Jin are among the recipients of prestigious awards for their work on degenerate Fermi gases and other topics.
The Larsen B ice shelf has disintegrated in a record-breaking 35-day period, losing 3,250 square kilometers of shelf area. This collapse is attributed to strong regional climate warming, which has increased Antarctic temperatures by 2.5 degrees Celsius since the late 1940s.
A state-of-the-art portable ultrasound system is being tested on two Indian reservations in South Dakota to monitor pregnant women. The system, MUSTPAC-3, requires little training and allows specialists to diagnose patients remotely, potentially reducing infant mortality rates.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill geologist proposes the existence of a new supercontinent, Columbia, which existed over 1.5 billion years ago. The supercontinent is thought to have formed when most of the world's continents collided into a single land area.
Researchers have created a virtual cell model to study cell motion, driven by a single protein that changes shape in response to pH levels. This model has potential implications for understanding various diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and wound healing.
A team of researchers at UC Davis has developed a method to freeze-dry platelets, which can be stored for at least a year without refrigeration. The innovation uses trehalose, a natural protectant found in certain animals and plants, to preserve the structure of proteins and other large molecules.
A new optical laser sensor will reduce energy consumption by up to 30% and greenhouse gas emissions in the steel industry. The sensor, developed at the University of Toronto, measures thermal and chemical energy losses and adjusts parameters to lower energy consumption.
Hopkins scientists advance understanding of penile erection by showing how blood vessels continuously produce nitric oxide to maintain an erection over time. The discovery offers new insights into the complex physiology of erection and potential applications for treating erectile dysfunction.
The President's Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching recognize exceptional educators who inspire students to explore STEM fields. This year, 600 nominees were selected from across the country, with each state receiving two award winners.
Researchers have discovered a protein, lynx1, that modulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which are involved in nicotine addiction and other neurological disorders. Studying lynx1 has provided insights into its potential role as a therapeutic target for treating nicotine addiction.
A recent study found that glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, proven to prevent death and heart attacks, are being used in only 25% of eligible patients. This suggests a significant room for improvement in treatment protocols.
A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found a significant increase in wildlife vehicle collisions across Canada. The research highlights the growing concern of these accidents, which can result in serious injuries and fatalities.
A Canadian Medical Association Journal study found that reference-based pricing in British Columbia led to a significant reduction in the number of patients prescribed certain ACE inhibitors. The experiment aimed to reduce healthcare costs by tying medication prices to patient need, but its effectiveness remains unclear.
A study at Vanderbilt University found that an adult male with synesthesia consistently matched colors to words and numbers, even when the letters or numbers were presented separately. The researchers also found that his synesthetic colors acted like real colors in certain tests.
A new peptide-based vaccine has been shown to reduce arterial plaque formation by 60-70% in mice with high cholesterol levels, according to a study led by Cedars-Sinai's P.K. Shah and the Swedish team of Gunilla Nordick-Fredricksson. The vaccine targets the major protein component of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Researchers found that excessive ultraviolet radiation can harm plankton, which removes organic carbon from the ocean and contributes to the greenhouse effect. The study's findings have important implications for understanding the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.
A study of 118 people with early Lyme disease found most had a red rash with central redness, not the traditional bull's-eye description. The patients' liver function returned to normal after treatment with antibiotics. Meanwhile, a case report describes pioglitazone causing liver damage in a diabetic patient.
Geologists at Rice University have located the intersection of the Nubian, Somalian and Antarctic plates within a 100-kilometer-wide region known as the Andrew Bain Fracture Zone Complex. The research provides new insights into the relationship between African plates, including the tectonic processes that created the East African Rift.
Geologists reconstructed the Eridanos Delta's course and discovered that climate influenced its development. Numerical models predict river dynamics over hundreds of years, helping to answer questions about climate change impacts on rivers.
Researchers found high levels of prions in skeletal muscle of mice, which may lead to transmission in cattle. The team suggests investigating the distribution of prions in the muscles of animals with prion diseases to improve diagnostic tools and disease understanding.
Korenberg's work enables doctors to predict treatment outcome and adverse reactions using gene-expression profiles, bringing personalized medicine closer. The advance could lead to more effective treatments and minimize hospitalizations due to drug-induced side effects.
Researchers at Dartmouth College found that algae helps to reduce the concentration of methylmercury in Daphnia and fish by dispersing it widely throughout single-celled algae cells. This discovery has significant implications for understanding mercury biomagnification in aquatic ecosystems.