A 3,360-acre marine protected area has been established off Belize's southeastern coast to safeguard the region's highest priority area for conservation. The area is home to over 25 reef fish species and is a key spawning ground for the endangered whale shark.
Researchers Peter Sasieni and Jack Cuzick argue that starting mammographic screening at age 47 can save more life-years than current guidelines. They claim that the incidence rate of breast cancer is as great in women aged 48-49 years as it is in those aged 50-54 years, making earlier screening a viable option.
NASA has awarded a total of $28 million in research grants to study the effectiveness of existing materials and develop new, multifunctional spacecraft materials with high radiation shielding capabilities. The grants will help reduce crew health risks from space radiation and improve understanding of radiation health effects.
The DEEP2 Redshift Survey has produced the first detailed maps of galaxy distribution in the early universe, revealing large-scale structures and differences in galaxy clustering. These maps show similar structures to those seen in the local universe but at an earlier stage of development.
Scientists have discovered a tumor-suppressor gene in fruit flies called hippo that controls cell production and death. The researchers found that removing the hippo gene led to tumor formation in every organ of the fruit fly, highlighting its crucial role in regulating cell growth.
A 17-year study published by Dartmouth College researchers confirms that lead in forests in the Northeast moves very slowly through the soil. The study found that lead applied to a mountain forest in Vermont had only moved down into the soil about seven centimeters, and will likely move even slower due to denser soil.
A team led by Dr. Loretta Dunne has discovered a thousand times more cosmic dust than previously detected in the remnant of a supernova explosion in our own Galaxy. This finding solves the riddle of how large quantities of dust were formed in the early universe and provides evidence for supernovae as efficient dust factories.
Research finds African dust particles act as kernels for precipitation in low clouds, but suppress rainfall in high clouds. The study also suggests a link between increased dust levels and drought conditions.
Dr. Peter Ward, a renowned U-M pathologist, has received the American Thoracic Society's highest honor for his pioneering research on inflammation and lung biology. His work has significantly broadened the understanding of lung health and disease, influencing the career development of many clinicians and scientists worldwide.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that patients taking citalopram scored lower on a scale measuring compulsive shopping tendencies compared to those on a placebo. The majority of participants reported significant improvement in their symptoms, including reduced urges and interest in shopping.
Scientists found that galaxies and extremely massive black holes seem to grow together, with rapidly growing black holes fueling faster galaxy growth. This discovery sheds light on an astrophysical mystery and reveals a crucial link between the two cosmic phenomena.
In a laboratory experiment using rotifers and algae in chemostats, rapid evolution allowed prey to adapt and outnumber their predators. This phenomenon, predicted by computer models, demonstrates how evolution can play a crucial role in ecological dynamics and could have implications for understanding diseases like HIV.
A large study of 100,544 ICU admissions found that septic shock mortality decreased from 62.1% in 1993 to 55.9% in 2000, but its frequency increased due to more multi-resistant bacterial strains. The use of vasopressor therapy and mechanical ventilation also increased during this period.
A team of researchers has discovered twenty gassy galaxies with vast discs of hydrogen weighing over a billion suns. The galaxies have few stars, and scientists are unsure why they haven't transformed their gas into stars like other galaxies.
A study by Michael Peterson found that teenagers perceive themselves as heavier than they actually are, leading to poor eating patterns, extreme dieting, and lower self-esteem. Health professionals can address these issues to help young people avoid unhealthy behaviors and reduce the risk of associated illnesses.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a software that can create realistic animations of clouds and other gaseous phenomena. The interactive system allows artists to control the animation in real-time, making it ideal for applications such as movie special effects and video games.
Neurons in the striatum, responsible for emotions and movement, are selectively killed in Huntington's disease due to abnormally high calcium levels caused by mutant huntingtin protein. This discovery opens new areas for treatment of the disease.
Researchers have identified a population of globular star clusters drifting freely through the vast expanse of intergalactic space, revealing insights into the origins of these ancient structures. The discovery is thought to be the result of galaxy collisions or gravitational pulls that tore these star clusters from their parent galaxies.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania identified Pim-2 as a critical enzyme in the survival of cancer cells. The study found that Pim-2 operates independently from the Akt pathway, allowing cancer cells to survive even when starved or deprived of growth factors.
The FDA has approved a safety trial for the second component of a three-part HIV vaccine developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The vaccine aims to overcome viral diversity with a multi-envelope approach, and includes three components: DNA, genetically modified vaccinia virus, and purified HIV envelope protein.
Researchers found that people can pay attention to multiple stimuli simultaneously, challenging the traditional 'spotlight of attention' model. This discovery has implications for understanding attention-deficit conditions like autism and ADHD.
A study by Vanderbilt University researchers found that tracking the motion of larger objects is more difficult than smaller ones. The center-surround receptive field organization in the brain's visual area helps filter out spurious signals, making it harder to distinguish moving objects from their background.
The RADAR project aims to develop a system that can save time for its user while improving decision quality. The system will handle routine tasks autonomously, ask for confirmation on others, and produce suggestions that users can modify.
Researchers predict fewer asteroids with diameters over 200 meters will hit the surface, approximately once every 160,000 years, and many more will explode in the atmosphere, lowering the hazard posed by impact-generated tidal waves or tsunamis.
A study by Dr. Thomas Scharf reveals that 30% of older people in deprived areas experience no form of exclusion, while 40% report multiple exclusions. The research highlights a significant disparity in poverty rates among Somali and Pakistani older people.
The Medicare waiting period affects 1.26 million seriously disabled Americans, with 400,000 having no health insurance. Eliminating the two-year wait could save states $1.8 billion per year and reduce federal Medicaid expenditures by $2.5 billion.
Researchers at UCSB have created an electronic detector for DNA that can identify specific types of genetic material without the need for reagents or lengthy processing times. This breakthrough aims to simplify diagnostic tests for diseases such as strep throat, potentially leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses.
Researchers from Cardiff University and the Royal Observatory Edinburgh found that some supernovae belch out huge quantities of cosmic dust. This discovery suggests that supernovae were responsible for producing the first solid particles in the Universe, shedding light on the origin of our planet.
A Canadian-led study found that about 83% of colon cancer patients benefit from traditional chemotherapy, while nearly 17% do not. Further research is needed to provide alternative treatments for those who don't respond to standard therapy.
The AMANDA II Telescope has produced a preliminary map of the high-energy neutrino sky, providing astronomers with their first glimpse of very high energy neutrinos. The map represents one year of data and shows that the detector works at the same sensitivity as telescopes used to detect gamma rays.
Researchers found that stimulating a small region of the cerebral cortex, known as the rostral agranular insular cortex (RAIC), can diminish pain in patients with chronic pain conditions. Increasing GABA levels in this area produced analgesia up to 10 days, suggesting a novel target for therapy.
Researchers at Emory University discovered a novel mechanism of how anthrax disables the immune response by compromising dendritic cell function. The study found that the lethal factor (LF) disrupts mitogen-activated protein kinase enzymes in dendritic cells, leading to lethargy and preventing the activation of the immune system.
Researchers found that lightning is the primary source of low-altitude ozone in the tropical Atlantic Ocean, defying previous expectations. The discovery was made using satellite data and computer models, which showed a significant increase in ozone levels near areas with intense lightning activity.
The University of California, Riverside is part of PIPRA, a collaborative effort to review public sector patenting practices and develop shared technology packages. This initiative aims to enhance the impact of technology transfer on public benefit, addressing critical global agricultural needs.
Researchers from USDA Forest Service and Tennessee Technological University provide the first descriptions of Indiana bat maternity habitats in the southeastern United States. The study reveals that female bats form colonies under coniferous trees, expanding the known habitat range of the endangered species.
A study of nearly 81,000 women found that regular use of ibuprofen reduced breast cancer risk by 28%, while aspirin use reduced it by 22%. Both NSAIDs showed a significant effect in reducing the incidence of breast cancer, especially among high-risk groups.
Research highlights the link between high animal fat intake and increased breast cancer risk, as well as the benefits of gynecologic surgeries in reducing ovarian cancer risk. Protein overexpression is also linked to esophageal cancer development, suggesting a potential target for prevention.
Research identifies three SNPs in PSA gene promoter that increase serum PSA levels, suggesting genotyping may improve prostate cancer detection sensitivity. The findings suggest a lower cutoff value for PSA testing for men with reduced PSA promoter genotype.
A new treatment model at Saint Louis University Hospital eliminates traditional methods for caring for elderly patients with delirium. By placing patients in a Delirium Room with constant supervision, the hospital has significantly reduced fall rates and mortality rates.
Researchers found that HPV16 is less associated with immune status than other HPV types, suggesting it can skirt the immune system. This discovery raises hypotheses about why cervical cancer rates are only moderately increased in HIV/AIDS-affected women.
Treatment with salicylic acid (SAL) induces activation of the S. aureus stress response gene sigB, downregulating virulence factors and reducing ability to adhere to host cells. This finding represents a new prospect for using aspirin as an adjunct therapy to combat Staphylococcus aureus infections.
A study by Yamamoto and colleagues found that the SLAYGLR sequence of osteopontin facilitates monocyte migration to arthritic joints, leading to inflammation and arthritis suppression. The findings support a critical role for osteopontin in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis.
Researchers at Rutgers University have developed a genetic road map that identifies sources of disease by analyzing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The map, which is the first of its kind, provides detailed information on gene interactions and will enable scientists to conduct large-scale genotyping with greater efficiency.
Salicylic acid has been shown to downregulate two key genes in Staphylococcus aureus, leading to reduced virulence and ability to adhere to host cells. Meanwhile, osteopontin has been found to play a critical role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis by facilitating cell adhesion and immune response modulation.
NC State statisticians Drs. Anastasios Tsiatis, Marie Davidian and Marc Genton have won a $1.125 million NIH MERIT Award for their work on statistical methodology in designing complex HIV clinical trials. Their research aims to develop sophisticated designs that can handle the variability of patients' responses to treatment.
Researchers have identified a gene called Foxa-2 that is switched on only in the fat cells of obese mice. This gene acts as a brake to slow down further fat production and storage. In pre-adipocytes, Foxa-2 activates genes important for insulin sensitivity, providing an ideal combination for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes.
A study of 224 patients with end-stage renal disease found that blood tests measuring troponin T and C-reactive protein can detect silent, small heart attacks and coronary artery disease. The results may help doctors gauge the risk of heart disease in dialysis patients without cardiac symptoms.
Researchers at Emory University Health Sciences Center have identified honokiol, a compound found in magnolia cones, as a potent inhibitor of tumor growth. Honokiol reduces endothelial cell growth and inhibits angiogenesis, potentially leading to new cancer treatments.
The EFT test uses two new biochemical markers, cyclin E and p27, to evaluate endometrial health and predict implantation success. A normal EFT result indicates a healthy endometrium receptive to embryo attachment, improving fertility diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
A recent study found that while opinions on cannabis are more liberal, attitudes towards other drugs like heroin and ecstasy remain strong. Most people support prescribing cannabis for medical purposes, but strict laws still apply to these substances.
Scientists identify several novel pairings with significant therapeutic promise, including a combination that kills drug-resistant yeast while harming human cells. The approach uses high-throughput screens to rapidly identify synergistic combinations that produce desired therapeutic effects.
A new study identified three genetic variants associated with a 30% increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The discovery could lead to more accurate testing and fewer unnecessary biopsies, particularly for black men who are at higher risk of developing prostate cancer.
Duke University researchers found that individual clusters in the visual cortex do not specialize in recognizing specific combinations of stimulus features. Instead, they respond to a broad range of stimulus combinations predicted by spatial and temporal properties of the visual stimulus.
A University of Melbourne postdoctoral student will develop computer software agents for Britain's Ministry of Defence to model real human behaviour. The agents will aim to inject life-like behaviour into computer-generated forces, improving training and analysis.
The AMANDA II Telescope has produced the first neutrino sky map, revealing tantalizing glimpses of high-energy neutrinos and their potential origins. The preliminary map represents one year of data, with future analysis expected to define the structure of the sky and confirm or disprove signals.
The study reveals that compensated poor readers have disrupted neural systems for reading, while persistently poor readers have intact but underactivated circuitry. Early interventions aimed at stimulating word-sound and word-meaning skills may benefit disadvantaged children.
Researchers have discovered that hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) migrate selectively to injured liver tissue through the expression of SDF-1 and CXCR4. This selective homing mechanism may serve as a target for future therapeutic protocols to improve liver regeneration and transplantation outcomes.
Researchers at UCSD School of Medicine and Children's Hospital found rapid brain growth in infants with autism, linked to early diagnosis and improved outcomes. The study identified a window of abnormal brain development, predicting the severity of autism, and suggests earlier interventions could improve treatment.
The video doctor program uses a computer-based multimedia approach to provide personalized advice on reducing smoking and alcohol use. Patients who interacted with the video doctor showed positive responses, but still preferred consultation with real doctors.
Researchers found that 13.5% of patients with heart failure were prescribed metformin or thiazolidinediones in 1998-99, increasing to 24.4% by 2000-01. These medications are recommended against for patients with significant heart failure symptoms due to potential side effects.