A study by Express Scripts found that antidepressant use increased significantly among children and adolescents between 1998 and 2002. The fastest-growing segment was preschoolers aged 0-5 years, with use doubling in girls and growing by 64% in boys.
A recent study by Cornell University found that NYC firefighters experience high levels of PTSD, depression, and anxiety after the 9/11 attacks. The study also highlights the importance of open communication, teamwork, and employee involvement in decision-making to improve firefighter well-being.
Researchers have successfully used PET imaging to detect dementia in macaque models. The study utilized the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor to identify macrophage activity, which is linked to neurodegeneration.
Researchers have discovered a shared gene regulation mechanism in all major plant groups, controlled by microRNAs, and this system has been conserved for 400 million years. This finding opens up new possibilities for understanding plant development and evolution.
A staggering 42% of documented extinctions are mollusks, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for these species. Nonmarine mollusk diversity is valued for its own sake and as an indicator of ecosystem health.
A study found that 156 inner-city black adolescents who practiced transcendental meditation twice daily for four months lowered their daytime blood pressures, with an average drop of 3.5 millimeters in systolic pressure and 3.4 millimeters in diastolic pressure.
A specific mutation in the KCNMB1 gene is associated with lower blood pressure, according to a study published in JCI. Researchers found that individuals with this mutation had lower diastolic blood pressure compared to those without it. The study suggests that targeting the beta1 subunit may have therapeutic potential for treating hyp...
The National Academies are accepting nominations for the 2004 Communication Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in science communication. The winners will be honored at the Keck FUTURES Conference in November 2004.
A gain-of-function mutation in the KCNMB1 potassium channel subunit is associated with a lower prevalence of diastolic hypertension. The beta1 subunit of the Ca2+-sensitive K+ channel protects against hypertension, as outlined in an accompanying commentary.
A team of scientists has found that water molecules in liquid form clump much more loosely than previously believed, challenging 20 years of research. This discovery reopens the hunt for a better understanding of water's unique properties and potential applications in fields like biology.
A team of archaeologists from Boston University has uncovered the story of life among rural Maya in Belize's Sibun River Valley during the Late Classic Period. The research reveals a community that practiced sustainable agriculture and maintained dense vegetation to support their trade product: cacao.
A new study has found that Bim regulation plays a crucial role in determining hippocampal vulnerability after injurious seizures and in temporal lobe epilepsy. The researchers suggest that understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship may lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating these conditions.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a software program that quickly identifies molecules with sound medicinal properties. The software uses shortcuts in chemistry and math to rapidly analyze vast molecular databases, predicting which compounds have the right chemical features for specific therapies.
A team led by scientists at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory found that water molecules form only two hydrogen bonds instead of the previously believed three or four. This discovery reopens the hunt for the structure of liquid water and could lead to a better understanding of the chemistry of cells.
Corn's genetic origins have been revised after a study found it arose from a serendipitously viable cross between teosinte and gamagrass. Eubanks' research confirms teosinte was an ancestor of corn, with gamagrass contributing key genes.
Activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by microbial products leads to the breakdown of self-tolerance in the immune system. This breakdown induces autoimmune disease, a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.
Researchers from UC San Diego have generated and analyzed the rat genome, paving the way for comparisons with human and mouse genomes. The study reveals that around 40% of the modern mammalian genome derives from a common ancestor, with the rat data showing similarities to human and mouse genomes.
Astronomers successfully measured the size of Sagittarius A*, the mysterious object at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, using the National Science Foundation's Very Long Baseline Array radio telescope. The black hole has a mass nearly four million times that of the Sun and would fit easily inside Earth's orbit.
Protein nanostructures have been created using a novel method that allows for precise control over their shape and size. The technique involves the use of nanoparticles to guide the assembly of protein molecules into specific structures.
A new web site, ChemCollective.org, has been launched to improve chemistry education by providing virtual labs and scenario-based learning activities. Instructors can supplement existing textbooks with these interactive resources to help students approach chemistry like practicing scientists.
Researchers identified a genetic mutation in one gene that increases the risk of autism by approximately doubling it, according to Dr. Joseph Buxbaum's study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Research reveals leptin rewires neural feeding circuits by suppressing appetite-stimulating neurons and enhancing those that decrease hunger. The study suggests a cause-and-effect relationship between neuronal changes and behavioral changes, potentially contributing to obesity.
Researchers at UCLA have made a groundbreaking discovery about the biology of fear, finding that yohimbine accelerates the process of overcoming conditioned fear in mice. By enhancing the effects of natural adrenaline release, yohimbine allows mice to overcome their fear four times faster than those treated with vehicle or propanolol.
Researchers at OHSU discovered a possible connection between infant hormone exposure and obesity risk. The study found that early-life leptin surge affects brain development, particularly in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.
A team of researchers has successfully synthesized polyols from soy oil through air oxidation, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based chemicals. This breakthrough could lead to the development of biocompatible and biodegradable materials for various industries.
The European DataGrid (EDG) project has successfully built a test computing infrastructure capable of providing shared data and computing resources across Europe. GridPP resources contributed to the EDG testbed, developing important 'middleware' for efficient task distribution and security. The EGEE project will take Grid technology fu...
Researchers found that men with a family history of prostate cancer can accurately assess their lifetime risk and are more likely to use supplements to improve their health. The study also reveals that younger brothers of men with prostate cancer are nearly four times more likely to report using complementary or alternative medicine.
Researchers at UIC discovered a gene, Foxm1b, essential for the multiplication of cancer cells. A potential drug was created to block Foxm1b activity, starving tumor cells and preventing their growth.
Researchers at MIT have discovered that the human brain can recognize faces in blurry images when surrounded by contextual clues, such as a body. This finding has significant implications for the development of better machine vision systems and may also shed light on neurological conditions like autism.
Researchers found that leptin changes the wiring of the brain by controlling synapses, regulating feeding behavior. The hormone induces visible changes in synaptic connections and recordable changes in electrical activity of specific brain cells.
Researchers found that norepinephrine is critical for retrieving intermediate-term contextual and spatial memories, but not for forming or long-term consolidating emotional memories. The study used mutant mice lacking norepinephrine and rats treated with beta blockers to test this hypothesis.
This April 2004 journal from the American Academy of Ophthalmology presents numerous studies on eye conditions such as Mohs surgery, glaucoma intervention, cataract surgery outcomes, and more. The research findings cover a range of topics including diabetic macular edema diagnosis, retinal detachment, and keratoconic corneas.
By applying combinatorial techniques, scientists can test thousands of polymeric materials in a single experiment, reducing the time and effort required to develop new materials. This technology has the potential to revolutionize fields such as biomedical and electronic engineering.
Researchers at Harvard University developed world's smallest lasers for faster computers, while nanotechnology shows promise in cleaning up industrial sites and removing environmental pollutants. New biological sensors could lead to improved diagnostics and noninvasive imaging techniques.
Researchers discovered that deleting two related genes linked to inherited Alzheimer's disease causes memory loss, nerve cell death, and brain degeneration in mice. The study suggests that blocking the function of these genes may worsen the disease, providing a new perspective on its cause.
Scientists develop pentablock polymers that form micelles in response to changes in temperature and pH, resembling how biomolecules react. These stable polymers could be used to deliver drugs or gene therapies, and have shown promise in preliminary studies.
Mice with disrupted STAT3 proteins exhibit severe obesity and enlarged livers due to excessive fat deposits. The study also reveals a link between STAT3 and energy balance through its effect on leptin, which could lead to new therapeutics for treating obesity and infertility.
Researchers have successfully produced triacetic acid lactone (TAL) by combining the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway with glucose, offering an alternative to traditional methods using petroleum or chemicals. This breakthrough enables the production of TATB, a more stable and sensitive explosive than TNT.
Researchers propose experiments to test quantum effects in mechanical systems, achieving sensitivity close to the quantum limit. The goal is to understand how quantum and classical physics crossover, a long-standing scientific question.
A recent trial found that day-care services for pregnant women with high blood pressure or ruptured fetal membranes offered no clinical benefits but improved satisfaction and reduced hospital stays. The study suggests that day-care services could be a viable option for other common complications like diabetes and hyperemesis.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that nerve damage in one area can cause a loss of skin nerve endings on the opposite side, suggesting a previously unknown communication between nerve cells. The study used rats and demonstrated precise communication between matching nerves.
University of Arizona mathematicians have developed models to reproduce fingerprint patterns and explain the arrangement of repeated units in plants. The research found that patterns in nature, such as those seen in fingerprints and cacti, are influenced by forces imposed during ridge formation.
Scientists at Georgia Tech are testing compounds that may inhibit the enzyme essential for the HTLV-I virus's reproduction, with potential as treatments for the fatal adult T-cell leukemia. The research aims to develop better inhibitors of the protease enzyme, which could lead to a new pharmaceutical agent in about five years.
A genetic marker has been identified that predicts with 100% accuracy individuals at risk of severe adverse reactions to the anti-epilepsy drug carbamazepine. This discovery highlights the promise of pharmacogenomics in avoiding serious side effects and may lead to advances in clinical trials for new drugs.
The University of Cincinnati researcher explores how the baseball industry's ties to tobacco date back to the 1840s, influencing societal attitudes and advertising strategies. The use of baseball imagery in cigarette ads was a key factor in normalizing smoking among young men.
The editorial critiques tropical medicine's focus on external solutions, emphasizing the importance of local voices and transparent research. It highlights concerns about undemocratic supranational agencies and corporations, as well as the need to put research at the heart of policy development.
A 365-million-year-old fossil discovery in Pennsylvania provides insight into the evolution of limbs from fins. The humerus specimen shares features with both primitive fish fins and true limb bones.
A stable cluster of aluminum atoms, Al13, demonstrates properties similar to those of a halogen, retaining its properties during chemical reactions and in reaction products. The research uses experimental evidence and theoretical calculations to show that the cluster can be considered a 'superhalogen' atom.
Chemists at PNNL have found that maintaining alkalinity and frequent wetting and drying cycles can increase soil's natural ability to soak up carbon dioxide. This approach could help slow global warming by utilizing the soil's potential reservoir of four times more carbon than the atmosphere.
Researchers found that higher doses of imatinib were more effective in achieving complete cytogenetic response (CCR) and complete molecular response, with a CCR rate of 90% compared to 60-75%. The high dosage was also well-tolerated with similar side effects as standard dose imatinib.
The ACS national meeting showcased significant discoveries in nanotechnology, including potential vaccine for diabetes and snake venom that removes blood stains. Researchers also explored the benefits of daily honey consumption on heart disease prevention and the impact of adult bone marrow-derived cells on brain and brawn repair.
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory create single-enzyme nanoparticles (SENs) that remain active for up to 143 days, thanks to their protective caging. The nanostructure preserves the enzyme's shape and allows it to interact with substrates, enabling applications in toxic waste cleanup, biosensing, and medicine.
A study published in The Lancet reveals that southern India has the world's highest rates of suicide among young people, particularly young women. The study found that suicide accounted for between half and three-quarters of deaths among young women, highlighting a need for urgent intervention.
Scientists have designed two-dimensional arrays of cadmium selenide nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots, to change their optical and light-emitting properties. These nanostructures can be used as waveguides or lasers.
A new study found that only 41% of schizophrenia patients take their antipsychotic medication on a regular basis. Non-adherence is linked to higher medical costs and hospitalizations, with African-Americans and Latino patients more likely to be non-adherent than Caucasians. Living independently or being homeless are also associated wit...