A study published in The Lancet found that community physiotherapy had minimal and short-lived effects on patients with stroke-related mobility problems one year post-stroke. The treatment showed only minor improvements in gait speed at three months, but these benefits were not sustained over time.
Researchers at UMass Amherst found that certain microorganisms can transform organic matter commonly found in marine environments into electrical energy. This breakthrough has implications for developing technologies to decontaminate polluted water and sediment, as well as powering subsurface devices.
Researchers at Nexia Biotechnologies Inc. and US Army have made the world's first spider silk fibers from man-made materials with properties similar to natural spider silk. The production of these fibers was achieved using a proprietary transgenic goat technology, and they demonstrate high toughness, modulus, and water stability.
A new NASA study warns of increased winter flooding in California as global warming alters streamflow patterns. The study projects a drier growing season, with snowmelt-driven watersheds experiencing early streamflow increases and higher flood risks.
Researchers found that supplementing with both folic acid and vitamin B12 can significantly lower homocysteine concentrations. This suggests that a dual-fortification policy could be more effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study's findings have implications for food fortification policies worldwide.
Rutgers researchers Shinbrot and Glasser have made a breakthrough in understanding shear activity, which can affect pharmaceutical tablet production and landslide behavior. The discovery has wide-ranging implications for industries such as food manufacturing and mining.
Researchers found that insect damage affects not just the hole in the leaf, but also surrounding areas with reduced photosynthesis activity. The device revealed an 80-fold increase in furanocoumarin synthesis, a defensive chemical used by plants to boost their defense.
A large DNA-based study revealed that only a small percentage of people with the genetic mutation for hereditary hemochromatosis develop symptoms. Most individuals with the mutation remain asymptomatic and do not experience the disease's life-shortening effects.
Researchers found that surgeons with higher visual-spatial scores performed better in complex procedures and achieved similar competency after practice and feedback. The study aimed to understand the role of perceptual and cognitive abilities in learning surgical procedures.
The proposed regulations would result in a direct loss of $13.5 million annually and another $4.4 million in economic activity, leading to 459 job losses in the processing industry. Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore would be hardest hit, absorbing over 75% of the industry's direct losses.
A meta-analysis of six trials involving 31,400 patients found that anti-clotting drugs reduced death risk by 9% overall, but men showed a significant 19% reduction, while women saw no benefit. The treatment effect was greatest in high-risk patients.
Researchers found that proliferating germline stem cells, which divide continuously, affect aging by influencing a steroid hormone. The discovery suggests that these stem cells are master control cells controlling both reproduction and aging.
Patients treated with nocturnal breathing support for sleep apnoea experience a significant reduction in blood pressure, as well as improved quality of life and reduced excessive daytime sleepiness. The study confirms that therapeutic nCPAP treatment produces a clinically important lowering of blood pressure.
The new Northwest/Alaska Center for Research to Reduce Oral Health Disparities will investigate disparities in oral health, focusing on children from poor families and minority groups. Researchers aim to prevent cavities through xylitol, culturally appropriate approaches to dental fear, and effective care translation.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center are conducting a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of venlafaxine HCI on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study compares three treatment options: Effexor XR, Zoloft, and a placebo. Results may provide new hope for individuals suffering from PTSD after the 9/11 attacks.
Researchers found that genetic imbalances on chromosomes 8 and 18 were better predictors of colorectal cancer prognosis than conventional assessments. The study used a new approach to investigate chromosome imbalances in early-stage cancers, with patients experiencing varying disease-free survival rates based on their tumour balance.
Scientists tested the Iris effect using CERES instrument on TRMM satellite, finding clouds slightly destabilize climate instead of cooling it. The study challenges recent theory proposing clouds cool the Earth and counteract predictions of global warming.
A study has discovered an HIV-like virus in a wild chimpanzee, providing evidence that the virus originated from this species. The virus, SIVcpz, was found in one animal from the Gombe National Park, revealing a different strain than previously known viruses.
A review published in Current Opinion in Lipidology suggests that flavonoid-rich foods like tea and chocolate may be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Moderate consumption of these foods, especially in combination with other fruits and vegetables, could lead to a reduced risk of heart disease.
Sandia experts have developed a vulnerability assessment methodology to evaluate and improve security at over 10,000 US facilities that manufacture, store, or use hazardous chemicals. The methodology assesses the adequacy of efforts to prevent terrorist attacks and blunt their effects at US chemical plants.
Researchers found a strong relationship between climate event El Niño and outbreaks of Bartonellosis, an insect-borne disease highly fatal to humans. The study suggests that warming of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean is closely linked to the worst outbreaks, occurring one to three months after El Niño.
Hebrew University and Ben-Gurion researchers found that stress causes a shift in gene products, resulting in an oversensitive electrical response in neurons. This could lead to improved treatment options for patients taking drugs that affect the nervous system.
A recent study published in Johns Hopkins Medicine found that women with overactive or underactive thyroid have an increased risk of birth defects in their babies, including cardiac problems and cleft lip or palate. The research suggests routine testing for thyroid disease prior to pregnancy may be warranted.