A Cornell University study reveals that child-headed households in Namibia often rely on their youthful social networks for support, highlighting the need for young Africans to be trained as social supports. The study of over 200 children found that 60% turn to other youths for help and advice, with many facing suicidal thoughts.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that longer breastfeeding reduced a child's risk of coeliac disease by 52%. Infants breastfed regularly had lower risk when first introduced to gluten, suggesting reduced exposure or gut health benefits.
Researchers developed a new method to identify linear motifs in protein sequences, which interact with other molecules. The technique uses large-scale studies of protein binding and computer analysis to predict motif patterns.
A study by L.J. Shrum and colleagues found that individuals who watch more TV are more likely to adopt materialistic values, suggesting a 'cultivation effect' of television on American culture. The authors argue that TV influences viewers to incorporate affluent values into their personal structures.
A recent study found that 37% of health service costs in the UK are attributable to food-related diseases, with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes accounting for most of this burden. The estimated annual cost is £6 billion, double that of road traffic accidents and significantly higher than the cost of smoking.
The Get With The Guidelines program has significantly improved treatment adherence for patients with coronary artery disease, with the greatest improvements seen in men over age 75 and women under age 65. Despite these gains, disparities in care remain, prompting ongoing research to address these issues.
A recent study found that low-income pregnant Latinas are at risk of early-pregnancy drinking and related effects, contrary to stereotypes. The study, which analyzed drinking behavior among 100 pregnant women, suggests that cultural values and language barriers may contribute to this risk.
Researchers have discovered that stem cells derived from human heart tissue can develop into cardiospheres that express normal properties of primitive heart tissue. These cardiospheres were then grown in the laboratory and injected into mice with lab-induced heart attacks, where they migrated to damaged tissue and regenerated, improvin...
Archaeologists uncover 1,000-year-old brewery with metal shawl pins suggesting wealthy female brewmasters, challenging historical perceptions of Incan society. The discovery sheds light on a potential antecedent to Incan customs and highlights the growing evidence of women's authority in pre-Incan Andean societies.
A recent study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that higher levels of physical activity significantly improved life expectancy and years lived without cardiovascular disease. The study, led by Dr. Oscar H. Franco, analyzed data from the Framingham Heart Study and found that moderate to high levels of physical activity i...
A new study found that left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) can significantly extend the lives of patients with end-stage heart failure. The device reduced mortality risk by 50% at six and 12 months, extending average life span from 3.1 months to over 10 months.
A study of advanced cancer patients found that 12% met criteria for a major psychiatric disorder, while 28% received treatment and 17% discussed emotional complaints with providers. Notably, over half of those with psychiatric complaints had not accessed mental health services.
A study of high-risk individuals found that condom use was associated with lower rates of herpes simplex virus-2. Pregnant women were four times more likely to experience blood clots than non-pregnant women, with the risk increasing during the postpartum period. Condoms remain a proven method for reducing STD risks in at-risk individuals.
Despite new treatments and research, doctors may be slow to change their practices. Professor Huw Davies emphasizes the need for collaboration between researchers and healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes.
Researchers developed a new PET technique to visualize the immune system's response to tumors and diseases. This non-invasive method enables clinicians to see key cells and their interactions, improving diagnosis and treatment precision.
Marine biogeochemists have shown that microbes degrading organic carbon respond differentially to temperature changes, affecting organic matter breakdown efficiency. This finding suggests that global climate change could influence the efficiency of organic carbon recycling and burial.
Researchers found that only a third of high-risk patients were prescribed aspirin in 2003, despite its cost-effectiveness and recommended use for people with diabetes. The study suggests that physicians prioritize statins over aspirin due to advertising and preference.
A study of premature babies born at 26 weeks gestation found that certain aspects of brain development were compromised compared to full-term infants. The brains of premature babies showed delayed growth and changes after birth, indicating that early stimulation may hinder normal brain maturation.
Researchers found that exercise combined with gene therapy significantly extended the lifespan of mice with ALS, averaging 210 days, compared to 120 days in untreated mice. Early exercise initiation also improved outcomes, suggesting a potential strategy for slowing disease progression.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute discovered that a small number of molecular motors can pull cargo particles over long distances. By working together, the motors can overcome their individual limitations and achieve remarkable feats.
The study found that children who ate out more frequently had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lower levels of good cholesterol, and smaller LDL particle size. They also consumed more starch, sugar, sodium, fat, and cholesterol than their peers who ate at home.
A study by Dhananjay Nayakankuppam and Himanshu Mishra found that buyers underrate items while sellers overrepresent their positive features, leading to different reservation prices. This difference in valuation affects marketing strategies, such as allowing car buyers to test drive cars at home.
Research by Patti Williams and Aimee Drolet found that older adults generally favor emotional appeals, while younger adults prefer more rational messages. This understanding is crucial for marketers seeking to create products and services relevant to the growing older population of consumers.
Research finds that parental discipline, peer relationships, and life events significantly affect teenagers' risk of depression. Having a supportive peer group can protect against depression, while excessive punitive discipline may increase the risk. Genetic background also plays a role in depression development.
Researchers link muscular dystrophy and cancer-associated muscle wasting to dysfunctional dystrophin glycoprotein complex. Cachectic patients with gastrointestinal cancers show dramatic reductions in dystrophin levels, highlighting the shared mechanism of DGC dysfunction as a critical characteristic.
A study found that children aged 4-13 can remember event details well, but lack temporal context, having significant implications for child testimony in legal cases. Researchers discovered that many abilities needed to reconstruct times were present by age 6.
Researchers identified a new genetic variation associated with statin response, finding that 9% of African Americans and 0.2% of Caucasians carry the variation. The study suggests that genetic differences may affect cholesterol lowering and cardiovascular outcomes.
Researchers found that vasostatin, a protein gene incorporated into an adenovirus vector, effectively blocks the formation of new blood vessels and curbs tumour growth in mice with pancreatic cancer. This approach may represent a promising therapeutic option for malignancy with a poor prognosis.
A study found that estrogen levels affect brain memory areas, enabling females to adapt to complex environments and enhance reproductive success. The researchers suggest this adaptation facilitates tasks such as mate selection and finding food and shelter.
A study found that spanking is associated with increased child aggression and anxiety in all countries, regardless of cultural acceptance. The researchers also discovered that the level of physical discipline used by mothers was less strongly linked to child behavior problems when it was perceived as more culturally accepted.
Researchers found a potential link between chromosome 10 and low response to alcohol (LR) in young adults, particularly those with a family history of alcoholism. The KCNMA1 gene was identified as a key player in controlling the intensity of alcohol effects on potassium flow.
A Stanford study found that only 33% of high-risk patients received aspirin therapy in 2003, despite conclusive evidence of its benefits. Meanwhile, physicians are increasingly prioritizing pricey statins over aspirin due to heavy marketing.
Researchers found that sixth-grade students with high antisocial behavior were rejected by peers in the classroom. In contrast, eighth-grade students with similar behavior were accepted by peers outside of school and formed relationships with other antisocial youth. This 'networking' increases risk for already antisocial teens.
A new test developed by a McMaster virologist can identify infected individuals early in an outbreak, limiting the spread of virus in the community. The test will be available for evaluation by hospital-based laboratories and reference laboratories by early December.
A new study explores the role of relationships between people and products, finding that communal relationships lead to faster recognition of broad features, while exchange relationships facilitate more accurate recognition of detailed features. The research highlights the importance of highlighting expected features in a relationship ...
A team led by Carnegie Mellon University scientist C. Giovanni Galán has found evidence of a living memory trace in honeybees, which lasts several minutes after initial exposure to an odor. The discovery supports Hebb's theory of learning and could provide new insights into how short-term memory works.
The researchers have found donor-substituted cyanoethynylethene molecules exhibit one of the strongest nonlinear optical responses, approaching the fundamental quantum limit. These findings are promising for optical computing and all-optical networks, which could lead to more efficient ways to route signals and process information.
Researchers Catherine W. M. Yeung and Dilip Soman found that extending the range of background set attributes shifts preferences towards higher evaluability options. Widening encountered options also increases the selection of cheaper alternatives compared to more expensive options.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a plastic diode that can transmit electrical current at room temperature, paving the way for flexible and low-power computer chips. The diode's design lends itself to easy manufacturing and has achieved strong quantum mechanical effects without manipulating individual molecules.
A new study found that asking consumers to imagine their future experience with a product may decrease purchasing likelihood, especially for those with low imagery abilities. The use of imagery appeals can be detrimental to marketers' bottom lines in certain cases.
A population study of over 3,000 adults found that hostility does not affect long-term heart health in women, unlike men. Men with high hostility scores were twice as likely to experience recurrent heart disease events.
Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center have successfully combined two novel drugs to treat breast cancer, achieving profound tumor cell death in a short period. The combination of UCN-01 and a MEK 1/2 inhibitor shows great potential for treating various types of cancer.
A study of 173 children aged 2-16 years found that fentanyl patches improved subjective pain and quality of life. The patches were well-tolerated with no significant adverse effects compared to adults, making them a suitable option for managing chronic severe pain in pediatric patients.
Researchers at Ohio State University discover cancer wasting is caused by loss of muscle protein dystrophin and damage to the dystrophin glycoprotein complex. This finding may lead to new ways to diagnose and treat the condition.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered a new gene marker, ERG, that signals an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) requiring intensive therapy. High ERG activity is associated with poor relapse and survival rates in AML patients with normal cytogenetics.
Research finds that individuals with a family history of alcoholism exhibit a dysfunctional stress response prior to developing alcohol dependence, while those without a family history experience a decline after developing alcohol dependence. Low-dose alcohol consumption blocks the response to stress in both high- and low-risk groups.
A new report by Boston College researchers reveals that states previously labeled as 'stingy' have higher generosity levels than reported. Massachusetts moves from 49th to 11th in terms of charitable giving when cost of living and tax burden are taken into account, contradicting the Generosity Index.
Researchers found that while adherence to recommended medications increased, physicians were slow to incorporate newer heart drug treatments, with a usage rate of 95% or higher representing successful adoption. The study analyzed data from over 113,000 patients treated at 434 US hospitals between 2002 and 2004.
A study of rhesus macaque monkeys found that individual activity levels are highly variable, regardless of living space, and tend to remain consistent over time. The research suggests that changing one's activity level is difficult due to genetic factors.
Researchers found that macrophages from TB patients have high levels of DC-SIGN, a protein that helps Mycobacterium tuberculosis infect lung cells. Infection with TB causes nearby uninfected cells to also express DC-SIGN, making them more susceptible to infection.
Researchers found two biomarkers, sVCAM-1 and NT-proBNP, significantly predict recurrent ischemic stroke risk in patients. High levels of these markers are associated with a 3.6 times increased risk, indicating potential new therapeutic targets for blood pressure-lowering therapies.
The study found that phosphatase 2A activation modulates key cell survival molecules and induces growth suppression, cell differentiation, and apoptosis in BCR/ABL cell lines. Restoration of PP2A activity in CML-BC patient cells counteracted leukemia development.
Researchers Anick Bosmans and Hans Baumgartner found that consumers rely on specific extraneous emotions when evaluating products. They discovered two types of emotions: achievement (cheerfulness/dejection) and protection (quiescence/agitation), which influence product evaluations differently.
Researchers analyze structural constraints in codeswitched advertising to determine what makes a message linguistically correct. The study highlights the significance of grammatical accuracy and provides insights into the rules that govern mixed language marketing.
A study by Jennifer Edson Escalas and James R. Bettman found that consumers use brands to communicate their social self, with more symbolic brands having a greater impact. Independent consumers tend to reject out-group associations, while interdependent consumers build brand connections that align with their in-groups.
A randomized trial found that exercise counseling prescriptions for walking can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors. The study showed significant increases in maximum oxygen consumption and HDL-C levels in participants who received higher-intensity exercise prescriptions.
Research suggests that disruption of myelination is a key component behind childhood developmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, and schizophrenia. Incomplete inhibitory circuits may lead to impulsive behaviors, while fully functional excitatory circuits worsen psychiatric disorders.
Patients who received left ventricular assistant devices (LVADs) had a significantly longer average survival time of 10.3 months compared to 3.1 months without the device. The study found that 78% of patients died within six months and 90% within a year without LVAD support.
Myosight captures data from dozens of cells at once, delivering unbiased results on how compounds affect typical and atypical heart cells. This technology enables researchers to see whether drugs carry a risk of causing arrhythmias or other adverse effects.
A Stanford study finds that women with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are at higher risk for adverse outcomes during pregnancy, including hypertension, premature delivery, and cesarean sections. The research highlights the need for better understanding of these autoimmune conditions in pregnant women.