A longitudinal study found that high fruit and fruit drink consumption predicted an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. However, vitamin C intake was not associated with the risk. The study suggests further research into food-borne toxins may help understand the etiology and prevention of the disease.
Memantine, a new drug, has been found to slow the mental and physical deterioration of patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease. The study, led by Dr. Barry Reisberg, showed that patients taking memantine experienced significantly less decline in cognition and daily life activities compared to those receiving a placebo.
A new study reveals significant differences in smoking prevalence among men and women of different immigrant statuses and countries of origin. The findings show that US-born individuals have higher smoking rates than foreign-born individuals, with notable variations within Asian/Pacific Islander groups.
Scientists estimate a significant increase in low-energy cosmic ray flux, leading to enhanced heating and ionization in diffuse interstellar gas clouds. This finding implies the production of more complex molecules than previously thought, with potential implications for the origin of life.
Researchers present findings on heart disease in women, including a study linking reduced kidney function to coronary artery disease. They also showcase an innovative new-generation stent that overcomes design limitations and allows for tailored drug delivery.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive imaging method that predicts abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture risk better than traditional methods. The method, which analyzes aneurysm wall stress, was found to be 25 times more accurate in predicting rupture risk than maximum diameter.
Researchers have found the same gene responsible for fragile X syndrome, a developmental disorder in children, also causes Fragile X Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) in male carriers, leading to neurodegenerative symptoms. The study aims to develop therapies for both conditions.
Female coots can accurately count their own eggs in a mixture, rejecting parasitic eggs and altering clutch size. This remarkable feat provides insight into the complex defense mechanisms used by coots to thwart brood parasitism.
A study of 4,615 elderly individuals found that physical health problems had a greater impact on their health behaviors than mental health issues like depression. Regular contact with healthcare providers may encourage better health practices among this population.
The SPORTIF III study demonstrates Exanta's efficacy in preventing stroke and systemic embolic events, with a 41% reduced risk of major bleeding events compared to warfarin. The fixed-dose oral medication offers a convenient alternative to traditional treatment, eliminating the need for coagulation monitoring and dietary restrictions.
The WMAP experiment's results confirm many aspects of inflationary theory while ruling out others. The latest trends in cosmology suggest a new era of precision cosmology, where speculation about the universe is confirmed or rejected by solid experimental data.
A Penn State study found that younger generations rely on the internet for travel information, while older populations turn to radio and TV. Internet awareness is increasing, leading to a substitution effect where TV users shift to using the internet and radio, and telephone use also increases.
A recent study found that high levels of Lp-PLA2 and CRP are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, even in patients with 'normal' LDL cholesterol levels. The study used the PLAC test to measure Lp-PLA2 levels in participants and found significant associations between Lp-PLA2, hs-CRP, and CHD incidence.
Researchers found that mandatory reporting of seizures can lead patients to withhold information from their doctors, harming the doctor-patient relationship. The study also suggests that this may result in more uncontrolled seizures, posing a risk to public safety.
CERN and IBM will collaborate on a massive data grid project to handle the extreme data challenges of the Large Hadron Collider. The project aims to create a one petabyte storage solution and integrate it with Grid computing systems, enabling scientists to access their data from anywhere in the world.
A Penn study reveals that 200,000 Philadelphia households struggle to afford housing due to decreasing incomes and increasing costs. The city's low-income households rely on wages, not welfare, for income, which has decreased by 30% in the last 35 years.
Scientists have discovered fossilized evidence of a dinosaur, Majungatholus, that regularly consumed members of its own species. The discovery expands our understanding of dinosaur relationships and provides insight into the animal kingdom's common practice of cannibalism.
The study, published online in the Lancet, found that atorvastatin significantly reduces the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes in people with high blood pressure. The results are great news for those suffering from high blood pressure, as the drug also lowers cholesterol levels.
A study of 250 children found that botulinum toxin significantly improved symptoms of muscle spasticity, enabling them to perform daily tasks such as feeding and writing for the first time. Long-term use of the drug showed minimal adverse effects and maintained effectiveness over two years or more.
A new study explores brain activity during explicit mental operations of finger representations using objective confirmation of performance. The researchers found that brain areas associated with motor execution and imagery were equally activated, suggesting a functional gradation from more 'executive' to more 'imaginative' areas.
Researchers discovered a corollary discharge inhibition mechanism that enables crickets to hear external sounds during song production, preventing desensitization. This allows males to defend their territory and respond to noisy predators.
A new study found that statins can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with high blood pressure and normal or low cholesterol levels. The treatment resulted in a 36% lower risk of primary events such as death from CHD and non-fatal heart attacks, primarily within the first year of treatment.
Dr. Alan Wilman is developing a new MRI technique that provides highly detailed images of blood vessels, allowing doctors to diagnose conditions like heart attacks and strokes earlier. His goal is to create a safer and cheaper alternative that can help prevent deaths by aiding in early diagnosis.
Researchers have found that heating broccoli to 60°C increases the levels of anti-carcinogenic sulphoraphanes, which may help prevent cancer. To achieve high levels of these beneficial compounds, plant breeders could consider eliminating genes that code for a protein called ESP.
The STELLAR study found CRESTOR 10-40mg reduced LDL-C by 46 to 55 percent, while raising HDL-C by 7.6 to 9.6 percent compared to other statins. The study was part of AstraZeneca's GALAXY Program and included over 19,000 patients from 23 countries.
A randomized trial found that a one-to-one counseling program with personalized phone calls significantly improved patients' understanding of tobacco risks and increased their intention to abstain from smoking. The study showed long-term benefits, even a year after the intervention.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discovered the first noxious cold receptor, ANKTM1, which detects 'noxious' cold temperatures and allows an influx of positively charged ions into axons. This finding may lead to pain-modulating drugs.
Competition among Medicare health plans may not be enough to reduce costs and address fiscal concerns. Beneficiaries may absorb savings, and market instability is a concern in structured market-based strategies.
Researchers found that Asian elephants can move at speeds of up to 15 mph, with some individuals reaching 50% faster than previously recorded speeds. This gait, dubbed "Groucho running", meets the biomechanical definition of running, where the center of mass appears to bounce and the footfall pattern is different from walking.
The St. Jude team successfully developed a custom-made vaccine against the H5N1 flu virus in just four weeks, thanks to a modified technique called reverse genetics. The vaccine was created by mixing genes from H5N1 with those from a common flu virus, making it safe for human use.
The study found that vaccinated elderly patients were 48% less likely to die during the 1998-99 season and 50% less likely to die during the 1999-2000 season. Additionally, vaccinated patients were less likely to develop pneumonia, cardiac disease, and stroke, confirming previous VA research on flu shots' life-saving benefits.