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.
A team of researchers from the University of Toronto has developed a method to precisely control the placement and ordering of photonic crystals on surfaces, paving the way for the creation of photonic microchips. This breakthrough could enable faster data transfer rates in optical communications systems.
The U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) has established the Georgian Research and Development Foundation (GRDF), the Republic of Georgia's first independent grant-making science foundation. The GRDF aims to develop the country's scientific-engineering community through merit-driven research support.
Scientists at the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research created a more stable silicon layer than traditional amorphous silicon, allowing for faster production. This breakthrough reduces production costs of flat-panel displays and solar cells, potentially benefiting manufacturers and the semiconductor industry.
Human neural stem cells transplanted into normal mice and reeler mice showed symmetrical migration in the former but failed to migrate in the latter. This suggests that protein reelin plays a critical role in directing stem cell migration, potentially underlying schizophrenia's distorted perception and thinking.
Researchers at The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth have identified a genetic switch that turns on a program to destroy leukemic cells and potentially other tumor cells. This target gene, called UBE1L, mimics the action of retinoic acid, which causes remissions in acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Researchers found that watching classic horror films improved reasoning and intelligence, while anxious moods hindered performance on difficult tasks. The prefrontal cortex region was jointly influenced by mood state and cognitive task, suggesting a regulatory role in integrating emotional signals with cognition.
A study of South Asian Canadians found they presented late to hospital, were more likely to have diabetes, but less likely to be smokers than non-South Asians. Despite these differences, the two groups had similar MI mortality and in-hospital outcomes.
A study has shown that chilling causes changes in the platelets' outer membrane, leading to the formation of lipid rafts. This process is a general first step in platelet activation, which can lead to blood clots and heart attacks.
Researchers have discovered genetic variations associated with high blood pressure, enabling a predictive test for hypertension risk. The test detects GRK4 protein variations linked to sodium elimination errors, significantly increasing lifetime risk.
The study found that physician judgment had a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 26% for the Ottawa rules, and 80% and 59% for the Leiden rule. With structured data collection, physicians' judgment was similar to existing ankle rules in terms of sensitivity and ability to safely reduce radiographic examinations.
Scientists at the University of Illinois developed a lensless X-ray microscope that can image microscopic crystals in three dimensions. This technique offers potential for studying nanocrystalline materials and protein crystals, providing new insights into their growth mechanisms.
A study by the University of Toronto found that patients' knowledge and behavior improve with baccalaureate-educated home care nurses. The research analyzed factors influencing the cost and quality of home care services, revealing a correlation between nurse education and client progress.
The study reveals that street food vendors rely on consumer demands for hygiene, which has limited impact. Despite this, the food remains an important source of nutrition, particularly for the poorest workers.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, predict that lithium borocarbide can be a superconductor at temperatures as low as minus 280 F. They propose using 'field-effect doping' to modify the material, which could lead to better performance than existing superconductors like magnesium diboride.
The European CanCer Organisation's Dr Robin Wilson says current evidence supports breast cancer screening's effectiveness in reducing mortality, but acknowledges drawbacks such as false positives and anxiety for women. Countries with full national screening programmes have seen significant benefits, including improved quality of care.
Research reveals husbands of fibromyalgia sufferers experience more depression and loneliness but have similar physical health scores as those with healthy wives. Despite these findings, the men's overall psychosocial well-being is comparable to that of the control group.
Researchers discovered that hamsters have higher levels of immune cells in their bloodstream during winter months and in response to acute stress. This enhanced immune response helps the animals prepare for potential injury or infection.
A University of Toronto study finds that immigrants receive on average half to two-thirds less in earnings for their educational and work experience than native-born Canadians. To address this issue, a better 'mutual orientation' between immigrants and employers is needed, says Professor Jeffrey Reitz.
The researchers fabricated superconducting nanowires from specially prepared fluorinated carbon nanotubes, which are insulators. This technique allows for the fabrication of even thinner nanowires and sheds new light on superconducting phase transitions.
A recent study found that women undergoing bypass surgery experience less improvement in depression, shortness of breath, and health-related physical limitations compared to men. Women also reported a more negative evaluation of their surgery and recovery process.