A study of strict raw food vegans found they had lower body mass indices and significantly lower bone mass, but normal markers of bone turnover. They also had higher-than-normal vitamin D levels and low inflammation.
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine found that uric acid levels are unlikely to be a major determinant of coronary heart disease. The research analyzed data from over 9,400 cases of CHD and 155,000 controls, concluding that improving diet, losing weight, and controlling blood pressure may help reduce the risk of CHD.
A computer simulation study found that police officers can eliminate racial bias when trained using the program. After extensive exposure, officers became more accurate in their decisions to fire at suspects of either race due to improved weapon detection. The findings have implications for eliminating racial biases and training police...
A study by Clifford and Harris found that an 'invisible' image can influence the appearance of an image in the other eye, suggesting signals from the invisible image travel to the brain's occipital lobe. This challenges the long-held belief that the occipital lobe is the seat of visual consciousness.
USC researchers found that the BRCA1 gene disrupts interactions between different cell types, leading to ovarian cancer. The gene's indirect action may lead to new treatment options by targeting a biochemical mediator.
Researchers from Imperial College London identified a population of T cells that can suppress the proliferation of allergen-reactive T cells in vitro. This finding suggests a potential new approach to treating cat allergy, which has become more frequent in industrialized countries.
Researchers found variants of genes involved in anti-epileptic drug metabolism to be associated with higher doses. This discovery could lead to personalized treatment plans and improved patient outcomes.
Participation in cancer clinical trials improves survival, with significant benefits for Kaposi Sarcoma patients. Young adults with sarcomas face limited treatment options and low clinical trial participation rates, contributing to poor survival rates.
Researchers developed a functional diffusion map using MRI scans to track water diffusion in the brain, finding that changes predicted tumor response 10 weeks before traditional techniques. This method could spare patients from ineffective treatment and allow doctors to switch to more effective therapies.
Research shows that contemporary irrigation projects have diverted river basins, introducing excess fresh water that disrupts mangrove tree species composition and ethnobiological relationships. Early detection of such changes is essential for preventing further mangrove degradation and protecting vital ecosystems.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have found that electroacupuncture can reduce elevated blood pressure by up to 50 percent in rats. The study suggests that acupuncture may be an effective complement to other medical treatments for patients with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
The March of Dimes estimates that nearly half of hospital charges for preemies are billed to employers, totaling $7.4 billion annually. Premature birth also causes lost productivity, with mothers averaging 29.1 days away from work and employees losing up to $2,766 per delivery.
Researchers at Rutgers University develop nanostructured iridium surfaces to extract hydrogen from ammonia, enabling efficient fuel cell operation. The process could contribute to the solution of hydrogen economy's storage and transport obstacles.
The study found a significant increase in patients becoming up-to-date with screening recommendations and tests, from 38.7% to 56.1%, and the use of posters and brochures about CRC screening increased from 20.5% to 69.3%. Direct discussion of screening was the most common method for educating patients.
Researchers at Indiana University have successfully transformed adult bone marrow stem cells into auditory neurons, offering new hope for treating deaf patients. The breakthrough involves the use of Sonic hedgehog and retinoic acid molecules to stimulate the growth of nerve cells in patients with profound hearing loss.
Researchers found that blind participants were more accurate than sighted individuals in estimating the size of familiar objects. This is because blind individuals rely on manual representations, while sighted individuals may use inaccurate visual-memory representations.
Researchers found that sociocultural and racial factors independently predicted treatment patterns in early-stage prostate cancer. Married men were more likely to receive curative treatment than unmarried men, regardless of ethnicity.
Researchers have developed a marker to measure new blood vessel growth in tumors using positron emission tomography (PET) scanning and a fluorine-labeled glycopeptide. The marker, αvβ3 integrin, can identify tumors that express this marker, assess new vessel formation, and guide anti-angiogenic therapies.
The study found that awareness of the American Disabilities Act is linked to positive changes in public attitude toward the disabled and improved access to public facilities. However, implementation gaps remain, particularly in educating consumers with disabilities about their consumer rights.
A group of researchers argue that industrial chemicals in the environment pose significant health risks to children due to their exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and placental transfer. The lack of developmental neurotoxicity testing for 75% of high-production volume chemicals is a major concern.
A recent survey of home care nurses in the US and New Zealand found that organizational traits such as professional autonomy, collaborative relationships, and access to resources were highly valued. These traits were also associated with positive nurse retention and patient outcomes, suggesting their importance in home care nursing.
A UCLA study found that 47% of sixth graders reported being bullied on at least one day, with verbal harassment being the most common type. The study also showed that witnessing bullying can shield students from feeling humiliated or angry, and that frequent bullying can lead to psychological problems and decreased academic performance.
A recent study found that academic medical centers use emotional appeals and promote unproven services to attract patients, raising concerns about the erosion of public trust. The researchers recommend that centers reexamine their advertising procedures to promote evidence-based services.
Scientists have evaluated the status of all ecosystems on Earth, finding that environmental benefits are rapidly being degraded. The assessment, commissioned by the United Nations, reveals that human societies depend on ecosystem services such as food, clean air, and potable water, which are at risk due to environmental change.
Researchers discovered a new protein, KCP, that enhances signals from bone morphogenetic proteins, vital for kidney development and function. In models of mice with renal injuries, KCP activity slowed the progression of kidney disease, suggesting it could be a potential therapeutic agent.
Researchers found that inflammatory proteins produced by fat tissue are linked to increased risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The study suggests that modifying these proteins through medication could lower heart disease risk.
Symbiotic plant hemoglobins facilitate oxygen transport and energy metabolism in legume root nodules, allowing bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The proteins also maintain low-oxygen concentrations to protect the nitrogenase enzyme complex responsible for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.
A study by Arthur B. Markman and C. Miguel Brendl found that people's representations of self are distinct from their body representations, suggesting a temporary localization of the self in virtual environments like video games. This external representation affects how players perceive and act, potentially leading to a merge of both b...
A new study by Katie Baird finds that Cuba's government-run baseball system exploits its players, who generate little profit for the state. The Cuban League also lacks competitiveness, with teams being less evenly balanced than in the US Major Leagues.
Aplysia sea slugs release an inky secretion that activates feeding pathways in spiny lobsters, stimulating grooming and avoidance behaviors. This novel defense strategy, called phagomimicry, enhances the effectiveness of the slug's escape by distracting the lobster with misleading cues.
Researchers at Boston University have discovered a new gene, STAT6(B), that regulates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and affects TNF-alpha levels. This finding offers new opportunities for treating cancer and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.
A recent survey of African rain forest parks suggests that non-economic factors like community relations and public attitude are crucial to park success. Investing in local economies or ecotourism does not guarantee conservation, according to the study.
Researchers used functional imaging to track plant nutrients in response to simulated attacks, finding that poplar trees divert more carbon to storage and isoprene production. This study has potential applications for improving plants' resistance to environmental challenges and studying their biochemical processes.
A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that physicians with negative attitudes towards injection drug users were less likely to prescribe highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and had a higher rate of complaints. Additionally, researchers discovered that patients who received financial disclosure about physicia...
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have successfully reversed glycogen buildup in heart and skeletal muscle of genetically altered mice using a muscle-targeted gene therapy. This approach shows promise as a potential treatment strategy for Pompe disease patients who fail to respond to enzyme replacement therapy.
Scientists have identified new therapeutic targets to combat filarial nematodes, which cause elephantiasis and other debilitating diseases. The Wolbachia bacterium's heme pathway is a promising target for treatment, as the nematode requires it for developmental hormone synthesis.
The Aldo Leopold Leadership Program has moved to Stanford University and awarded new fellowships to 19 environmental scientists in 2005. The fellows will receive training on communicating environmental science to policymakers, media, business leaders, and the public.
Researchers develop injectable treatment that blocks release of histamine, a key chemical causing allergy symptoms. The treatment, GFD, successfully prevents immune cells from reacting to cat allergen in both passively and actively allergic mice.
Researchers at UCSD have identified a vital step in cellular migration that could lead to new therapeutic interventions for autoimmune diseases. The study found that alpha4 integrins recruit enzymes to block Rac activity only at the rear of a crawling cell, maintaining directional movement.
The Hopkins team is conducting a Phase I study to test the safety of injecting donor adult stem cells into patients who have recently suffered a heart attack. The study aims to determine if the stem cells can repair damage to the heart muscle and restore its function.
Research suggests that the quality of time spent by employed mothers with their infants is crucial for early development, rather than the amount of time spent. Mothers who prioritize spending time with their babies, regardless of employment status, are more likely to provide sensitive and high-quality parenting.
Middle school students report frequent peer harassment, with witnessing others' harassment shielding them from emotional distress. The study highlights the importance of targeting violence intervention efforts to all students and addressing all forms of bullying.
A new evaluation tool, DOCS, reliably predicts recovery from coma by tracking neurobehavioral functioning changes. This allows for improved medical and rehabilitation management.
A systematic review found that Hepatitis C significantly impacts quality of life, affecting physical and social function, general health and vitality. Researchers established a minimally clinically important difference in vitality scale to monitor patient outcomes.
Researchers are investigating early changes in the heart's function that may lead to congestive heart failure. Studying 15-18-year-olds on video games and measuring blood pressure, they hope to identify factors triggering diastolic dysfunction.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have developed a technique to produce large numbers of genetically modified NK cells that can effectively target and eliminate leukemia cells. The new technology has the potential to be used as a treatment for leukemia patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified two proteins that help replace calcium-allowing channels with ones that keep calcium out, potentially protecting nerve cells from Lou Gehrig's disease. The discovery may lead to new ways to harness the channel-changing ability in other brain cells.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have developed an animal-free culture medium that can maintain human embryonic stem cells in a continuous undifferentiated state. The study's findings provide a new way to generate human stem cell lines without contamination by animal cells or products.
Research suggests that intrinsic goal setting and autonomy support improve conceptual learning in adolescents. Teachers can promote this by highlighting the relevance of learning to intrinsic goals and using an empathy-based approach.
A new study found that the ENPP1 gene variant is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The variant, which affects insulin action, was more common in people with type 2 diabetes and those at high risk for the disease, regardless of ethnicity.
Scientists have discovered that higher energies cause Bose quasiparticles to decay, leading to spectrum termination in certain materials. The research, conducted using neutron scattering measurements, confirms predictions made by Russian Nobel Prize-winning physicist L.D. Landau.
Children below 10 years old suppress racial prejudice when held accountable for their actions, but older children may increase their bias. Researchers suggest changing the normative climate in social environments can induce significant attitude change.
Researchers at Stanford University created a simple and inexpensive sensor to determine protein conformation changes using gold nanoparticles. The new test turned out to be useful in detecting conformational changes in proteins, which could help identify disease-related proteins like antibodies.
Research suggests statins can cause asymptomatic elevation of aminotransferases, especially at higher doses, but rare reports of significant liver injury exist; monitoring liver values is recommended for patients on statins, particularly those with known liver conditions.
Researchers investigate intergenerational transmission of positive parenting and find it can foster healthy child development. The study, which followed over 1,000 individuals born in the early 1970s, suggests that parents' own childhood experiences influence their parenting style.
A new study finds that severe depressive symptoms in mothers are related to fussy infants, parenting stress, and family dysfunction. The study's authors hope it will prompt pediatricians to ask more questions about parental and family well-being during regular check-ups.
A study used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to visualize coronary arteries and identify vulnerable plaques in cardiac patients. The technology revealed that heart attack and acute coronary syndrome patients had more lipid and thinner fibrous caps than stable angina patients.
A study led by Lancaster University found that a novel digital photograph browser improved photo retrieval when used individually, while collaboration hindered recall of shared memories. The tool, TW3, restricted cataloguing to 'Who', 'What', 'Where' and 'When' categories.
The study found that communicable diseases are responsible for over 50% of child deaths, with pneumonia and diarrhea being major causes. Undernutrition is also a significant factor, accounting for 53% of all deaths in children under 5 years old.
A Stanford study reveals that a single genetic mutation, Eda, is responsible for the evolutionary adaptation of freshwater fish losing their body armor, allowing them to thrive in lighter environments. This discovery provides insights into how animals adapt to new conditions and challenges previous assumptions about evolution.