A team of researchers has identified the entire series of proteins that relay a message of survival from a neuron to a glial cell in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, shedding light on how cells 'know' whether to survive or perish. This discovery may lead to novel treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.
A new study found that rural older women with urinary incontinence can significantly improve their symptoms through behavioral management interventions, which reduced severity by 61%. The interventions involved goal-setting, bladder training, and pelvic muscle exercises with biofeedback.
Researchers James E. Darnell and Ali H. Brivanlou propose a reclassification of all known transcription factors, grouping them by their behavior rather than physical structure. This framework aims to provide a better understanding of how cells 'read' genetic instructions and may lead to new drug therapies for diseases such as cancer an...
Scientists have successfully generated primate stem cells from an unfertilized embryo through parthenogenesis, demonstrating the ability to produce various cell types, including midbrain dopamine neurons. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's, heart disease, and diabetes.
A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that people with Alzheimer's disease struggle to perceive their own motion while driving, leading to increased risk of getting lost. The researchers tested 26 elderly patients with Alzheimer's and found they had difficulty judging their location on the road.
Certain strains of E. coli produce amyloid fibers similar to those found in Alzheimer's disease, forming a meshwork around the bacteria in biofilms. This discovery raises questions about the role of bacterial infections in amyloid diseases, including Alzheimer's, and may lead to new treatment options.
Researchers have found that pheromones play a crucial role in mice's gender recognition. The knockout mice, which lacked a gene for a pheromone receptor, were unable to recognize males and displayed unusual mating behavior. This breakthrough provides new insights into the neural circuitry responsible for sex discrimination in mice.
Scientists observed less cloud cover blocking incoming radiation and trapping outgoing heat in the tropics. This led to more sunlight entering and heat escaping, contradicting current climate models' predictions.
A new study finds that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is clinically unreliable for diagnosing prostate cancer, with low levels not meaningfully related to the disease. Prostate cancer is being over-diagnosed and over-treated due to a misconception about PSA's role in the disease.
Despite modern IUDs' excellent safety record, their use is limited due to misconceptions and restrictive criteria among obstetrician-gynecologists. Education on IUDs' benefits can increase their adoption among women.
Researchers found that cystamine treatment alleviated tremors and prolonged lifespan in mice with neurological disorder mimicking Huntington's. The study suggests a similar treatment strategy may be effective in humans, highlighting the potential for neuroprotective proteins to counteract the disease.
The study found that in older people with MCI, the brain produces more choline acetyltransferase, an enzyme important for memory and cognitive functions. This increase may be the brain's attempt to maintain normal function as neurons die.
A new study reveals a reliable method for identifying proximal colorectal cancers through faecal DNA analysis. The test, which detected mutations in the BAT26 gene, showed zero false positives and high specificity.
Research finds that husbands' psychological well-being declines modestly when their wives' percentage contribution to family income increases, despite stable marital happiness. This decline may be due to married men feeling unwelcome or challenged by greater equity in decision-making and household duties.
Researchers at the CNRS and INRA Centre de Versailles in France have discovered a gene, SPIK, that increases pollen competitive ability by facilitating rapid pollen tube elongation. This discovery sheds light on how plants can improve their reproductive success.
A recent meta-analysis and follow-up study found no immediate life-saving effect of mammography screening, but suggested that it may reduce breast cancer mortality after several years. Researchers argue that the analysis must focus on case-fatality rates rather than overall mortality rates to accurately evaluate the benefits.
Research suggests that air pollution from vehicle emissions may cause new cases of asthma in children who participate in team sports, especially in communities with high ozone levels. This is contrary to conventional wisdom that air pollution worsens existing asthma but does not trigger it.
Researchers have designed an 'Energy Landscape Paving' method that circumvents the problems of the annealing algorithm, enabling fast and automatic solution-finding. This breakthrough could lead to better understanding of proteins' 3D nature and their functions, with potential applications in pharmaceuticals and materials development.
A US study suggests that playing outdoor team sports in areas of high ozone concentration can increase the risk of developing asthma in children. The research found that children who played three or more sports in high-ozone environments were more than three times as likely to develop asthma compared to those who did not participate.
Elderly women with depression are nearly twice as likely to develop heart failure over a 14-year period. Depression also increases the risk of physical illnesses like hypertension and diabetes that contribute to heart disease.
A recent study found that individuals with high self-efficacy tend to have better blood sugar control and adherence to their self-care regimens. The researchers' findings suggest that teaching self-care behaviors can have a greater positive impact when combined with interventions aimed at improving self-efficacy.
The Society for Women's Health Research will release four news reports in February addressing key topics related to heart disease in women. The reports cover sex differences in referrals, mortality rates post-heart attack, the Framingham study, and the connection between heart disease and diabetes.
An international study reveals that up to a third of patients with severe heart attacks may not receive reperfusion therapy, despite its well-known benefits. The study highlights variation in treatment practices and identifies factors contributing to underuse, including patient age, medical history, and geographical location.
Researchers at UCSD found that the Anaphase-Promoting Complex protein complex has two roles in embryonic development, helping set up differences between outer and inner layers of the embryo. This discovery provides a new understanding of how embryos divide into different tissue types.
A recent study using human stem cells has made significant breakthroughs in understanding the origin of Down syndrome, one of the most common causes of developmental disabilities. The research found a faulty genetic circuit that disrupts brain development, leading to a deficit in specific genes critical for neuronal growth.
Researchers at Princeton University have identified a key signaling molecule, AI2, that allows certain bacteria to perform functions only when part of a sufficiently dense population. The molecule contains boron and has significant implications for the development of new antibiotics.
A new office at Emory University aims to strengthen public health infrastructure and capacity to address emerging infectious diseases and those caused by terrorism. The office, led by Dr. Ruth Berkelman, will coordinate with public health officers on a county and statewide level.
Research on Russian banking system evolution reveals that commercial banks provide comprehensive services, but with limitations in long-term lending. State involvement is prevalent, with non-financial companies owning a significant stake in major banks, potentially leading to capital loss.
A new stool test developed by Johns Hopkins Medicine can detect the earliest, curable stages of colon cancer with high accuracy. The test uses a technology called Digital Protein Truncation to identify a key genetic marker of the disease, and has been shown to reliably detect cancers at an early stage, yielding no false positives.
Researchers have learned how bacteriophage T4 uses a needle-like device to infect its host E. coli, potentially leading to new antibiotic tools. The baseplate portion of the virus tail is essential in this process and could help create 'designer viruses' with improved infectivity.
A novel cardiac glycogen storage disease has been identified through research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The study sheds new light on the genetic causes and consequences of this rare condition, offering potential avenues for improved diagnosis and therapy.
A recent study found that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) helps patients with panic disorder manage their symptoms without medication. Six months after stopping antidepressants, about 80% of patients who received CBT were symptom-free and experienced improved anxiety levels.
A new $2.5M NSF grant will enable UNC scientists to conduct interdisciplinary studies and train researchers in comprehensive child development models. The study aims to capture the complexity of children's relationships with families, neighborhoods, cultures, and environments.
Researchers found Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in low-oxygen environments of the airways, adapting to remove oxygen and producing protective sugar coatings. This discovery suggests a new strategy to target specific enzymes critical for bacterial survival, offering hope for improved treatment options.
Research on Fas signaling reveals its involvement in the development of cardiac hypertrophy, a condition characterized by abnormal heart growth. Understanding this mechanism is crucial for developing effective treatments to manage cardiac hypertrophy and associated diseases.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are more susceptible to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections due to hypoxic mucus. Hypoxia disrupts the natural antimicrobial properties of mucus, creating an ideal environment for bacterial growth.
A new prostate cancer vaccine developed at Duke University Medical Center has shown promising results, boosting the patient's immune system to fight cancer. The vaccine, made from the patient's own dendritic cells, causes no adverse side effects and activates T cell responses against tumor cells.
A new study found that Vietnam veterans with greater intellectual resources were significantly less likely to develop PTSD, and had less-severe symptoms if they did. The study suggests that verbal skills may help soldiers process their experience and establish social support networks.
The study reveals how the T4 virus binds to host cells, punctures the cell wall, and injects its genetic blueprint into the cell. The research provides detailed information on the virus structure and mechanisms used by one virus often resemble those of other viruses, including those that infect humans.
Researchers found that adult bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into blood vessels, potentially treating cancer tumors, wounds, and atherosclerosis. The discovery of multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) may lead to new clinical therapies.
A new study of 53 developing countries found that high levels of child hunger are largely driven by internal war, political repression, and violence. The study suggests that creating stable governments and institutions is crucial in eliminating hunger, rather than just providing food.
A new test has detected colon cancer gene mutations in about 60% of early-stage colorectal cancer patients, with no false positive tests in healthy individuals. The test's high accuracy and low risk of false positives make it a promising tool for early detection and prevention.
Researchers are using fractal mathematics to measure past events and forecast future hurricane events with increased accuracy. The technique has been shown to provide a deeper level of understanding of complex systems in nature, enabling better forecasting of hazardous natural phenomena.
A UK study found that a new model of community postnatal care, tailored to individual needs and led by midwives, resulted in a 40% reduction in the risk of probable depression at 4 months after childbirth. Physical health scores did not differ between groups.
Researchers found that maternal serum HCG levels are nearly a fifth higher when carrying a girl than a boy less than three weeks into pregnancy. The study also revealed that these early differences are due to the placenta expressing proteins differently in female pregnancies.
Girls from supportive families were almost three times more likely to have used a condom during sex in the past month and less likely to report emotional abuse from their partners. The study also found that girls from unsupportive families were twice as likely to be afraid to talk to their partners about using a condom.
Researchers used DNA arrays to understand macrophage responses, revealing that specific bacterial components can activate the immune system. This knowledge will help design therapeutics with fewer side effects and improve disease treatment.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a new technique for carrying out genetic analysis directly in mammalian cells, enabling them to switch off or switch on genes in mouse cells. This ability allows researchers to infer gene function, identify potential cancer therapies, and discover new properties in cells.
Children with chronic illnesses like cancer and diabetes may adapt by repressing emotions, but this defense mechanism can also hinder their ability to manage their illness.
A new theory proposes that modern birds' evolution of flight was driven by their parenting skills, which led them to settle in trees for better protection. This contradicts two leading theories on avian flight and is supported by evidence from Archaeopteryx fossils.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion found that blue-collar workers reported less peer pressure and social support to quit smoking compared to white-collar workers. However, both groups reported similar expected social benefits from quitting, such as being rewarded by coworkers for not smoking.
A University of Illinois study suggests that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a promising alternative to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treating severe depression, with better tolerability and fewer side effects. rTMS showed significant improvement in depression scores, with a 55% reduction in the treatment g...
A study found that military personnel assigned to mortuary duty during the Gulf War experienced increased physical symptoms, with those handling bodies showing the most dramatic increases. The researchers suggest that this may be due to an increased awareness of one's own body or concern about dismissed physical symptoms.
A prospective study found that women with Factor V Leiden mutations had low live birth rates compared to those without the mutation. The research suggests that targeted anti-blood clotting treatment may be beneficial for these women, and screening is recommended.
Researchers found that Egfr signaling is essential for intestinal tumor formation in mice, with 90% fewer polyps developing in one group. The study suggests a potential treatment approach using Egfr inhibitors for advanced colorectal cancers.
Reverse computation could help network managers identify trouble spots before congestion occurs, decreasing processing time by a factor of 10 or more. The technique aims to aid in rapid design of future network systems and improve the efficiency of current techniques.
A standard decision-making framework is being developed to formalise regulatory bodies' assessment of safety cases, reducing subjective judgements. Deconstruction, a technique from French philosopher Derrida, will be used to find meanings in texts that authors did not intend, improving the accuracy of decisions.
A recent study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that men with higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were more likely to father boys. Researchers analyzed data from 208 children born to 101 families, where PCB levels were detectable in both fathers and mothers.
A team of UW researchers has determined a more precise solar neutrino production figure, finding that the fusion rate is 17% greater than previously estimated. This new finding means the sun must be producing 17% more energetic neutrinos, with an accuracy of 3-4 percentage points.
Researchers at Genetica and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have developed a cost-effective method for determining the role of specific genes using RNAi. This approach enables stable silencing of gene expression in mammalian cells, allowing for rapid assessment of gene function, previously limited to plants and certain model organisms.