Researchers at Yale University have discovered that curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, can correct the defective chloride channel responsible for cystic fibrosis. In tissue culture and mouse model systems, curcumin restored normal function to the nasal and rectal epithelia of CFTR mice.
A Temple University study found that patients with diseased aortic valves before receiving an LVAD have significantly lower survival to transplant rates. Conversely, those with normal aortic valves have higher survival rates, suggesting the importance of valve repair or upgrade in heart transplant optimization.
The study found that CellCept significantly reduced the risk of malignancy in patients following heart transplantation, with a 27% lower relative risk compared to azathioprine (AZA). The use of CellCept was also associated with a reduced risk of certain rare cancers, particularly skin cancer.
The NIST-developed standards provide guidelines for capturing, storing, and interpreting images of the eye to aid in diagnosing diabetic retinopathy. This approach allows healthcare professionals flexibility in choosing equipment, while ensuring quality image capture.
Luna Innovations plans to manufacture Trimetaspheres, soccerball-shaped molecules with enhanced MRI imaging capabilities. The company's ATP project enabled cost-effective production of nanomaterials with potential uses in consumer and military products.
A Mayo Clinic study found that most children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) carry a particular gene from their mother, triggering an immune response. The research suggests that maternal cells may play a role in the development of JDM, a rare condition that causes inflammation and muscle damage.
Researchers investigate protein regulators of inflammation and hypertension, aiming to find direct cause-and-effect relationship between the two. The study could lead to new targets for treating high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease.
Researchers found that RSV can remain dormant in lung tissue for over 100 days after initial symptoms disappear, suggesting a possible link to recurring wheezing and childhood asthma in infected children.
Researchers at Yale University developed an imaging test that identifies patients with schizophrenia with 97 percent accuracy. The test targets abnormalities in the auditory cortex and has potential as a powerful clinical tool for assessing schizophrenia.
Researchers found that the ultimate speed of magnetic switching is at least 1,000 times slower than previously expected. The experiment's results have significant implications for future hard disk computer drive technologies.
Researchers found fossils of green sulfur bacteria and oxygen-breathing sea reptiles coexisting in Oxford Clay sediment, challenging the standard interpretation of the fossil record. The team's discovery suggests that environmental conditions were dynamic during deposition, possibly due to climatic changes.
A randomized, prospective study found that tacrolimus + mycophenolate mofetil and steroids significantly reduce incidence of treated rejection and improve graft function compared to other regimens. The combination therapy also showed better lipid profiles and reduced risk of certain infections.
Researchers found that everolimus, when combined with cyclosporine and steroids, prevents transplant rejection and lowers risk of infection and complications more effectively than traditional anti-rejection therapy. A two-year study demonstrated the drug's improved safety and efficacy in preventing heart transplant rejection.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have overcome a major obstacle to creating large libraries of drug-like peptides. By modifying naturally occurring amino acids with a methyl group, they can produce up to 10 billion stabilized peptides in a single reaction. This breakthrough enables the rapid testing of potential medicines and has s...
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a fat cell hormone, adiponectin, that can cause weight loss in mice by increasing their metabolic rate. This finding has far-reaching potential to help treat obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
The four new research centers will study the effects of harmful algal blooms, marine pathogens, and ocean potential for drug discovery. The combined expertise of experts in biomedical and oceanographic sciences will accelerate scientific discovery.
Researchers Drs Sun and Arceci find that loss of PASG gene results in reduced genomic methylation and premature aging in mice. The study reveals a potential model for studying aging and epigenetic regulation, with implications for cancer predisposition and therapeutic targeting.
Researchers at HHMI argue that supplementing lectures with active learning strategies leads to better understanding and success in science courses. The study recommends revamping introductory courses, training scientists to teach, and changing the reward system to emphasize good teaching.
A study analyzing published and unpublished trials found that most SSRI antidepressants pose a higher risk than benefits in treating childhood depression. The analysis highlights the need for greater access to unpublished data from the pharmaceutical industry to ensure accurate treatment guidelines.
Researchers used satellites to create an 18-year record of global land surface temperatures, confirming that snow-free land surfaces have warmed. The satellite data provides a more detailed and comprehensive understanding of climate changes and will improve computer modeling.
A study found that tobacco smoke exposure is responsible for more than half the non-lung cancer death rate in African-American males, and up to two-thirds of their overall cancer death rate. The excess cancer burden can be clearly linked to smoking, with significant declines in mortality rates observed when smoking declined.
A multinational team of scientists has found microscopic life colonized in ancient volcanic lava dating back nearly 3.5 billion years. The discovery was made in the Barberton Greenstone Belt, a location that was previously thought to be inhospitable for life.
A research team found mineralized tubes and DNA associated with microbial activity in ancient basaltic glass samples, suggesting that microbes colonized the early oceanic crust. The discovery provides clues to the origin of life on Earth.
The EU's new eastern border raises concerns about the growth of communicable diseases in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Public health systems have struggled to respond to these challenges, and a global response is needed to strengthen health systems and prevent disease spread.
A 1999 outbreak of furunculosis in rural Alaska identified individuals with MRSA who received more antibiotics, highlighting a link between antibiotic use and increased risk of skin infections. The study found that Panton-Valentine leukocidin virulence factor was present in nearly all methicillin-resistant isolates.
A Stanford study reveals a connection between archaea abundance and gum disease severity, affecting about one-third of Americans. The research found that more than one-third of patients with chronic periodontitis harbored archaea in their diseased subgingival spaces but not elsewhere.
The book Challenges for Rural America in the 21st Century examines rural social change, economic transformation, and policy implications. Key findings include unevenly spread gaming benefits, elder care challenges, and the need for rural communities to adapt to a decentralized system.
A new diagnostic test using proteomic signature analysis has been developed to accurately diagnose sleeping sickness. The test showed a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98.6%, offering a promising solution for early detection and treatment.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that nitric oxide attaches to parkin protein, reducing its ability to mark proteins for destruction. This process may contribute to Parkinson's disease progression, providing a potential new target for treatment.
A new investigational anthrax vaccine is being tested in a phase II human study at Saint Louis University. The vaccine aims to provide better protection, an improved safety profile and a simpler dosing schedule.
Cornell University Library will collaborate with Göttingen State and University Library in Germany to develop an online archive of digital mathematics serial publications. The project aims to provide long-term access to e-research literature and serves as a model for similar efforts in other disciplines.
A University of Florida study found that sibling violence is a predictor of dating violence, particularly among those who experienced physical abuse as children. The survey of over 500 participants revealed that siblings who were abused or perpetrated violence towards each other were more likely to engage in abusive behavior in their r...
The US President's FY 2005 budget proposes significant cuts to non-defense Research and Development (R&D) programs, with some agencies facing declines of up to 28%. The largest decreases will occur in the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, and National Institutes of Health.
A new study further reinforces CellCept's cardioprotective profile, demonstrating lower rates of coronary artery disease in patients treated with CellCept compared to azathioprine. This finding could explain the superior survival benefits observed with CellCept.
A major study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that a bioartificial liver significantly reduced mortality among patients with acute liver failure. The treatment showed a 44% reduction in mortality rates compared to standard supportive care, offering new possibilities for treating this life-threatening condition.
Four new research centers will bring together experts in biomedical and oceanographic sciences to study the effects of harmful algal blooms, marine pathogens, and the oceans' potential for drug discovery. The centers will accelerate scientific discovery and develop new sensors for early warning systems.
The Woods Hole COHH will research how oceanic processes affect human pathogens, focusing on temperate coastal ocean distribution and persistence. The center aims to address public health threats from harmful algal blooms and contaminated coastal waters.
A genome-wide screen reveals new functions for old genes associated with chromosome cohesion, a process keeping chromosomes together until cell division. The study identified 17 genes involved in this critical aspect of genetic material manipulation.
Scientists found that Condensin compacts DNA against a weak stretching force, but increasing the force reverses compaction. The researchers observed jumps in distance between DNA ends during compaction and decompaction.
A team of researchers has successfully corrected a genetic defect responsible for cystic fibrosis in mice using turmeric extract. Curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, was able to release the mutant CFTR protein from an inappropriate compartment inside the cell and allow it to function normally.
According to Dr. George Lister, using high-dose epinephrine in children may impair organ function and survival after cardiac arrest. Limiting doses to recommended levels can reduce errors and improve outcomes.
A new study reveals that a slowdown in ocean circulation was directly tied to sudden and dramatic changes in climate. The research found that the Atlantic Ocean's north-south overturning circulation played a crucial role in regulating regional temperatures.
The study found that one in five women seeking treatment desired multiples over having a singleton, while fewer knew about the increased risk of cerebral palsy and infant death for twins. Infertile couples view twins as a 'bonus' to quickly build their families, but this increases risks such as preterm delivery.
Researchers challenge traditional views on volcano eruptions, finding evidence that giant eruptions are significantly less likely than previously thought. They discovered that plutons, which form beneath volcanoes, are built by small molten intrusions over millions of years.
Researchers sequenced genetic material from a new strain of SIV in chimpanzees near Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. The new strain is not related to HIV-1 and confirms that HIV-AIDS did not originate from oral polio vaccines.
Researchers discovered a protein, H2-DM, that helps distinguish between foreign and native proteins in the immune system. This distinction is crucial to prevent autoimmune conditions like diabetes, lupus, and arthritis.
The Cancer Survivors Center will provide care management programs to monitor treatment side effects and offer training programs for teachers and coaches. Pediatric cancer survivors will also receive parent and sibling counseling, as well as special sports/training programs to re-enter their active lives.
The Arecibo telescope has been made more sensitive with the addition of the ALFA instrument, allowing for faster sky surveys and improved detection of pulsars and other rare celestial phenomena. The new device will also enable astronomers to map the neutral hydrogen gas in our galaxy and others.
A simple, inexpensive blood test performed at birth can screen for immune disorders like SCID and increase survival rates. The test, which costs $50, identifies infants with a profound deficiency of lymphocytes and has been shown to be effective in identifying children with other immune disorders.
Scientists have successfully measured the activity of a single granule cell in an intact brain using patch-clamping technique, confirming predictions made over 30 years ago by David Marr. This breakthrough could lead to better understanding and treatment of movement disorders like ataxia and dysmetria.
Researchers predict a 10-degree Celsius shift in Jupiter's average temperature as atmospheric whirlpools vanish, causing jet streams to become unstable. This will spawn new vortices and signal the end of Jupiter's current 70-year climate cycle.
A recent study found that mycophenolate mofetil reduces intimal thickening and improves long-term outcomes for heart transplant patients compared to azathioprine. The study used a site-to-site IVUS analysis of 196 patients, showing significantly less progression of vascular disease in CellCept-treated patients.
Jacobson's solid oxide fuel cell research has the potential to improve how electricity is generated, making it less expensive and more environmentally friendly. His goal is to investigate different materials used as components in fuel cells to make reactions work at lower temperatures.
A new study published in the American Journal of Hypertension demonstrates that 15 minutes of daily RESPeRATE treatment significantly reduces home blood pressure in both medicated and non-medicated patients. The study also shows high patient compliance, with many patients continuing treatment after the trial ended.
A team of geologists has discovered evidence of at least three Cryogenian glaciations, with ages estimated to be around 663 million years ago. The new findings confirm a previously hypothesized 'snowball Earth' scenario and suggest significant climate changes may have led to extinctions.
The 2003 Starting Salary Survey shows a shift in employment patterns among new chemistry Ph.D. graduates, with more taking lower paying academic positions. Median salaries were lower than previous classes, with bachelor's graduates still below the all-time high.
Studies show that the Curves program leads to significant weight loss, increased muscle mass, and improved health markers such as blood pressure and aerobic fitness. Women participating in the program experience a 20-30% improvement in strength and a 15% increase in aerobic capacity.
A comprehensive study of plant physiology has found that fast-growing plants (hares) are more susceptible to pollution, while slower-growing plants (tortoises) are better adapted to control energy consumption. The research provides insights into how plants respond to environmental changes.
Researchers used advanced technology to study Weddell seals' hunting habits and physiological adaptations. They discovered that these extreme athletes can survive for hours by catching and eating prey, providing insights into conservation efforts.
A new electronic relationship between physicians and patients will enable seamless sharing of knowledge, responsibility, and decision-making. The growth of electronic communication options offers opportunities for enhanced doctor-patient relationships, increased patient safety, and improved healthcare outcomes.