A study found that highly dense breasts are associated with a higher risk of second breast cancer in women who have had ductal carcinoma in situ. Women with dense breast tissue also face a greater risk of invasive and ipsilateral breast cancer.
A study of 563 Chicago-area women found that postmenopausal status is associated with a significant decline in pinch strength and marginally significant decline in grip strength. Physical activity may help stave off these declines, possibly due to its influence on metabolic and neurologic mechanisms.
Research by Proctor-Leuenberger-Koch suggests that leg blood vessels constrict more in older men during exercise, indicating a compensatory mechanism for reduced cardiac output. This study aims to understand the impact of aging on blood flow to exercising muscle and target interventions to improve exercise tolerance in older adults.
Researchers found testosterone sped up recovery from strokes in castrated rat studies, showing significant improvement in neurological deficits. Plans are underway to investigate whether testosterone can help people recover from strokes.
A study published in JAMA Network found that heart attack patients who received blood transfusions had a significantly higher death rate compared to those who did not. The study included 24,111 participants and showed that blood transfusion was associated with nearly four times increased risk for 30-day death.
Running and jumping exercises are most effective for strengthening bones in children, as they stimulate new bone growth where it is needed. Unlike swimming or biking, these activities do not affect longitudinal growth, making them a recommended choice.
Researchers examined the effect of treatment delay on patients treated with external-beam radiation for prostate cancer. The study found that a delay within certain limits does not alter ultimate clinical outcome, but using hormone therapy during this time should be avoided in men with favorable risk factors.
A recent VA study found that rural veterans have lower physical and mental health scores compared to urban veterans. The disparity persists even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors, suggesting access to care may be a key factor. The study's findings support the need for expanded healthcare delivery systems in rural areas.
Researchers analyzed claims for over 1.2 million North Carolina Medicaid enrollees between 1998 and 2000, finding a 22.8% annual rise in prescription drug costs due to increased prescribing of six new medications. The study suggests improving cost-effective prescribing practices to control rising expenditures.
The new center will provide tools for SNP selection, discovery, and analysis, enabling researchers to identify genetic markers associated with diseases. The center aims to make this capability accessible to many biomedical researchers, leading to a better understanding of human genetic variation and its association with disease.
The CHICA system combines patient-relevant pediatrics guidelines with family information to enable tailored care. Pediatricians receive customized clinical reminders, improving health outcomes for 55,000 patients in its first year.
Researchers developed a new technique to predict which proteins are prone to misfold and at what point the folding process breaks down. This could help identify causes of amyloid-related diseases and provide insights into more prevalent conditions like cancer and heart disease.
International society agrees on fat stem cell clinical applications for repairing bone defects, promoting blood vessel growth in tissues and treating cardiac diseases. The best use of this technology is expected to be developing therapies using patients' own cells.
A study of over 110,000 heart attack patients found that Hispanic and African American patients experience longer treatment times due to hospital quality. The findings emphasize the need to improve care at lower-performing hospitals to reduce racial disparities in healthcare.
A recent study published in JAMA found that the use of estrogen plus progestin therapy was associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. The risk was higher among older and overweight postmenopausal women, as well as those with a genetic mutation for Factor V Leiden.
Researchers have identified up to 28 proteins in saliva, including biomarkers for diseases like cancer. Saliva testing may become a life-saving alternative to blood tests in developing nations where early diagnosis is critical.
A study found that young women with favorable levels of cardiovascular risk factors have lower age-specific risks for cardiovascular disease and death. Among those at low risk, CHD and CVD cease to occur at epidemic rates.
A study of over 24,000 patients found that blood transfusions during hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome increase mortality rates. Patients who received transfusions were also more likely to suffer a heart attack within 30 days.
Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) significantly reduces radiation dose to healthy breast tissue, limiting side effects and improving treatment outcomes. By administering precise doses of radiation at the tumor site, IMRT can spare patients from skin irritation, breakdown, and scarring of the lungs.
A case-control study of 300 bladder cancer patients and 300 control subjects found higher levels of arylamine-hemoglobin adducts in cancer patients than in control subjects. The findings suggest exposure to arylamines is a causal factor for most cases of bladder cancer in humans, with potential non-smoking-related sources identified.
Research found that breast density and rapid tumor growth significantly affect mammography's ability to detect cancer in women aged 40-49. To address this issue, the study suggests adjusting screening intervals for these high-risk groups.
Researchers analyzed North Carolina Medicaid claims from 1998-2000 and found prescription drug coverage costs rose 22.8% annually, driven mainly by increased prescribing for six high-cost medications. Efforts to improve cost-effective prescribing are suggested to control rising expenditures.
The five-year Copernicus Project aims to increase the number, quality, and diversity of California's science teachers. The project will integrate existing programs, new elements, and national standards to address the critical need for science teachers in the state.
Researchers discover that apoptotic cells induce compensatory proliferation in fruit fly tissue, promoting cell growth through specific signaling cascades. This phenomenon has implications for understanding cancer and hyperplasia, highlighting the importance of regulating apoptosis.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that pyridostigmine improved patients' standing blood pressure and reduced symptoms without elevating blood pressure while lying down. The study showed significant results in reducing the need for other medications, particularly in those over age 70 with common causes like diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found significant racial and ethnic differences in time to fibrinolytic therapy and percutaneous coronary intervention. After adjusting for hospital differences, the disparities remained significant, highlighting the need for systemic changes to ensure high-quality hospitals for all patients.
Scientists discovered how neurons communicate by removing a specific part of the calcium channel molecule, disrupting neurotransmitter release. The study, published in PNAS, sheds light on the fundamental process of neural communication, providing insight into cellular structure and function.
UH researchers aim to create N-PMR at one terabyte per square inch, extending magnetic data storage growth rate for 10 to 15 years. The technology will allow for recording on individual crystallites, overcoming the superparamagnetic limit threatening industry growth.
The UCI Brain Imaging Center will utilize advanced fMRI, PET, and DTI imaging techniques to study abnormal brain networks in schizophrenia. The goal is to identify the underlying biology of the disease and develop more effective treatments.
A team of researchers discovered security flaws in the Internet Chess Club, a widely used online platform with over 30,000 members. They found that users could easily cheat and access sensitive information without proper security measures, emphasizing the need for experts to create secure systems.
The study will screen 5,000 patients in five adult primary care practices using the PatientSite portal. Patients who report pain, depression, or difficulty walking will receive additional information and recommendations, while those in the control group will receive usual care.
A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that most US malaria deaths are preventable, with human error and inadequate medical care contributing to nearly two-thirds of cases. The CDC has expanded resources available to provide critical information on prevention and treatment of malaria.
The four-year project aims to produce new techniques for analyzing spatio-temporal data, making it accessible to researchers, conservation biologists, educators, and citizens. The grant will integrate machine learning and modeling techniques with existing ornithology projects, increasing the power and scope of data tools.
A Cornell University study found that terrorist warnings increased presidential approval ratings and support for Bush's handling of the economy. The study's findings are consistent with social identity theory and terror management theory, suggesting a 'halo effect' where threats increase in-group identification and nationalism.
Koller's research uses algorithms, probabilistic modeling, and Bayesian networks to represent complex information with high uncertainty. Her work has implications in artificial intelligence and genetic data analysis, and she is optimistic about identifying patterns of gene expression across species.
Research reveals that both early- and late-onset blind individuals possess supra-normal auditory abilities in far-space, surpassing those of sighted subjects. This challenges the long-held belief that only early-blind individuals can develop superior spatial hearing skills.
A recent University of Florida study found that professionals with high intellectual and emotional demands, such as doctors and lawyers, are typically well-compensated. In contrast, workers in emotionally demanding yet low-intellectual jobs, like waiters and child-care workers, often receive lower pay despite facing significant stress.
The Stanford cooling tool uses a local subatmospheric pressure environment to cool the body from the inside out, reducing recovery time after anesthesia. By extending endurance in hot environments, the device has significant implications for athletes, military personnel, and factory workers.
Researchers studied 31 healthy men with medication-induced hypogonadism, finding that acute testosterone suppression led to low blood levels of testosterone. Most participants showed no significant differences in symptoms between leuprolide plus placebo and leuprolide plus testosterone groups.
A University of Utah study shows that a now-extinct species of early human came into direct contact with our species about 25,000 years ago and spread parasites to our ancestors. The analysis of lice genes confirmed key developments in human evolution, including the 'out of Africa' theory.
A 20-year study found that high blood pressure is associated with a decline in cognitive function in both younger and older adults. The research emphasizes the importance of reducing blood pressure levels in younger individuals to prevent cognitive decline.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine found that using child-specific data improved quality of care for asthmatic children's hospital stays. The team reduced length and cost growth of hospital stays and readmission rates by 50% through targeted quality improvement efforts.
A recent study by Dr. Gene E. Likens and colleagues documents the neutralizing effects of calcium silicate on acidic streams at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. The research found that adding Wollastonite to the stream resulted in a long-lasting buffering effect, suppressing acidity for over four months.
A study of 32 pregnant women exposed to organic solvents at work found that their children had significantly lower verbal cognitive functioning and greater inattention, highlighting the need for reduced exposure during pregnancy.
A study found that minority boys get the least amount of sleep among 8- to 11-year-old children. On average, they slept for 9.28 hours per night, which is significantly less than other groups. The researchers also discovered that minority boys are almost four times as likely to have a bedtime later than 11 p.m.
A study comparing antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy found that both were effective in treating social phobia, with 54.2% of patients experiencing improvement. However, combining treatment did not yield additional benefits.
A new imaging technology developed by GE Medical Systems precisely tracks lung tumor motion, enabling more accurate radiation therapy. Tumors in the lower lobes and attached to the posterior side of the lungs tend to move more than others.
Researchers found evidence of chytrid fungus persistence in surviving populations of Taudactylus eungellensis, a species that had suffered a massive decline. The study suggests that frog populations can persist with an endemic infection of the fungus, challenging the assumption that infected populations are wiped out.
A study by Penn State found that postnatal home nurse visits significantly reduce hospital readmissions and ED visits for jaundice and dehydration in newborns. The cost savings for insurance payers is estimated to be around $181.82 per child, making this a cost-effective alternative to traditional hospital care.
Researchers created a mouse embryonic stem cell model to study Parkinson's disease, revealing that DJ-1-deficient cells exhibit heightened sensitivity to oxidative stress. The model also linked DJ-1 dysfunction to alpha-synuclein aggregation, a hallmark of Parkinson's neuropathology.
The September 2004 sea-ice loss was especially evident in extreme northern Alaska and eastern Siberia, with the decline averaging about 8 percent over the past decade. Climate change is likely playing a significant role, with some models indicating complete disappearance of summer sea ice by 2070.
Researchers at the University of Utah have identified a novel gene, BYPASS1, that regulates root-to-shoot communication and controls plant architecture. The study reveals that roots produce a growth-inhibiting substance that affects shoot development, providing new insights into plant signaling.
A new Virginia Tech-led initiative will develop research-based changes to the construction industry, focusing on work system designs and technology compatibility with human capabilities. The goal is to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities in the sector.
Researchers found that viewers of crime dramas, such as NYPD Blue, were more likely to view crime as a top issue and influenced their overall opinions about the president. Weekly viewers of these programs were nearly twice as likely to report crime as the most important problem facing the nation.
Head lice analysis suggests that modern humans (Homo sapiens) and archaic humans (Homo erectus) carried distinct types of lice. The study proposes a scenario where the New World louse evolved on an archaic form of humans before transferring to a modern version.
Mayo Clinic has been awarded a major NIH contract to conduct genomic research on smallpox vaccination, utilizing its advanced genomics technology center and biostatisticians. The study aims to identify gene polymorphisms affecting susceptibility to infection and response to vaccination.
Research reveals that human olfactory receptor hOR17-4 is expressed on both human sperm cells and olfactory neurons, suggesting a dual capacity for chemosensory functions. This discovery has implications for understanding fertility defects associated with olfactory receptor-dependent chemotaxis in sperm.
A research team led by Peter B. Jahrling has successfully developed a nonhuman primate model of smallpox infection in monkeys. The study demonstrates that variola virus can produce lethal disease in monkeys, providing valuable insight into the pathogenesis of smallpox.
A clinical trial investigates botanicals like black cohosh and red clover for memory loss in menopause, exploring their potential as alternatives to hormone therapy. The study aims to understand how these therapies may influence brain function and cognitive performance.
Researchers at Mount Sinai present groundbreaking studies on prostate and breast cancer treatments, identifying genetic predictors for adverse side effects and developing tailored radiotherapy regimens. The studies aim to improve clinical trials and patient outcomes for these devastating diseases.