Researchers analyzed data from 79,994 women to evaluate associations of statins, lipid-lowering drugs, and serum cholesterol levels with breast cancer. No link was found between these factors and breast cancer risk.
A new focus for asthmatics aims to control the condition, rather than letting it control them. Asthma treatment should be individualized and tailored to achieve target symptom control, with regular visits to doctors for reassessment and medication adjustment.
A recent study contradicts earlier research suggesting that the neural development protein Oct-6 could be a marker for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Contrary to previous results, researchers found no difference in Oct-6 protein or mRNA expression between patients with these disorders and healthy individuals.
A Stanford study reveals that a single copy of the low-activity COMT protein may be a major risk factor for the development of schizophrenia or related psychotic disorders in children with a chromosome 22 deletion. This genetic variation can lead to an increased drop in verbal IQ, expressive language skills, and prefrontal cortex volume.
A study finds that youth with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and a specific COMT gene variant exhibit significant cognitive decline and psychosis, with excessive dopamine levels contributing to these effects. The study implicates the COMT gene in schizophrenia development, highlighting its potential role in information processing distur...
Rice-producing nations emphasize the need for collaboration to develop new rice varieties through science and technology. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture facilitates access to plant genetic resources, but many members have not ratified it.
A review of 894 cases of completed suicides among young people worldwide found that mood disorders were the most frequently diagnosed, but only accounted for 42% of cases. Comprehensive suicide prevention strategies should target all mental disorders, not just depression.
Researchers discover a novel proton-sensing G-protein coupled receptor that operates normally in acidic conditions, indicating potential new therapeutic avenues for arthritis, heart attacks, and strokes. The receptor's optimal function is at pH6.4, suggesting its role in synovial inflammation and cell proliferation.
A new near-infrared laser device can measure brain oxygen levels with high accuracy and non-invasively, providing real-time information to protect the brain from reduced oxygen levels. This technology has the potential to improve outcomes for patients undergoing cardiac surgeries.
Researchers at Salk Institute discover that inhibitory neurons in visual cortex 'talk' with excitatory neurons to keep balance of chemical signals, excluding surrounding neurons. This fine-scale network organization enables the brain to focus attention on specific stimuli rather than all visual inputs.
The Amazing Light Symposium honored innovative physicists under 40 with over $100,000 in awards. The symposium also launched a new educational partnership centered on optical and laser science and engineering.
RIT and Cal State will train thousands of math and science teachers through a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant. Students completing technical studies at RIT will receive financial support to pursue teaching credentials.
Researchers used tiny worms to study the genetic factors affecting anesthetic response, identifying 10 genes that modify its effects. This breakthrough aims to design more specific and effective anesthetics with minimal adverse effects.
The Health Care Standards Landscape (HCSL) is a comprehensive source of information on health care standards, providing real and sample data to demonstrate its capabilities. Organizations such as the Agency for Health Research and Quality are collaborating with NIST on this project.
A recent study has discovered that plant wounds trigger the release of chemical signal molecules that attract bacteria, causing a cancer-like disease called crown gall. The discovery may lead to novel controls for gall tumors and potentially a cure for this economically significant disease.
The University of Manchester has received a £1.9m grant to develop e-science software as part of the Open Middleware Infrastructure Institute-UK (OMII-UK) initiative. The project will focus on the myGrid platform, which supports biomedical research and has been widely adopted since 2001.
Researchers developed nanorobot fabrication to build extremely small sensors, improving detection capabilities for aircraft carriers and mini-UAVs. The new technology is also being considered for breast cancer detection, enabling non-contact examinations.
Researchers at Medical College of Georgia have found that inhaling nitric oxide gas can help normalize a sickle cell patient's hemoglobin by restoring its natural charge and shape. This may prevent unhealthy clustering of hemoglobin S molecules and improve oxygen delivery to the body.
The five-site network will identify genetic and environmental determinants of premature birth, utilizing advanced genomic technologies and statistical methods. The study's goal is to gain a deeper understanding of preterm births, a leading cause of infant mortality.
Scientists at Queen's University have discovered a new antifreeze protein in fleas that can inhibit ice growth by six Celsius degrees, potentially allowing for longer storage of transplant organs. This could lead to an extended preservation period and improve the viability of transplants.
A new study reveals that tree diversity in tropical forests plays a crucial role in determining their ability to store carbon and provide other essential ecosystem services. The researchers simulated different extinction scenarios and found that the types of trees remaining had a significant impact on carbon storage capacity.
A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found that white-tailed deer in the chronic wasting disease (CWD) zone use very small home ranges, typically half a square mile in size. This suggests that deer may not be spreading CWD through long-distance travel, contradicting previous assumptions.
A study published in Nature analyzed 11,624 genes and found that around 9% have evolved too rapidly to be explained by chance. The researchers suggest that positive Darwinian natural selection is responsible for the increased rate of evolution, particularly in genes involved in immune function and sensory perception.
Researchers found that certain carbon nanoparticles activate human platelets and stimulate blood clotting, leading to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The study also revealed that some nanoparticles mimic molecular bridges involved in platelet interactions.
Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center discovered a new agent, Bay 43-9006, that targets the Mcl-1 protein to inhibit leukemia cell survival. The study found that Bay 43-9006 reduces Mcl-1 levels through an unusual mechanism, inhibiting protein synthesis.
Rutgers chemists invent variant of room temperature ionic liquids to overcome viscosity barrier, enabling safer and more efficient industrial processes. The new chemicals could be used in industries such as chemical manufacturing, electroplating, and radioactive waste handling.
Researchers found that cocaine alters the normal biochemical processes in the brain, allowing genes to be turned on and off. Chronic cocaine use causes long-lasting changes in the brain's circuitry, whereas short-term use affects genes differently.
A recent NIST paper explains that actual fuel tank capacity can vary from the rated capacity rating due to design characteristics, manufacturing process, and physics. Drivers are cautioned against using the 'half full' reading on the fuel gauge to determine exact fuel tank capacity.
New research by Vanderbilt University psychologist Jessica Giles finds that noun labels, such as 'murderer' or 'sex offender', can lead to negative and fixed views of people described with these terms. The study also suggests that the use of labels like this has a lasting impact on children's perceptions.
A research group led by Manoranjan Misra has developed a novel method to split water molecules and generate hydrogen using solar light. The method involves titanium dioxide nanotube arrays, which can efficiently produce hydrogen energy in a more efficient manner than current market standards.
Researchers found a special type of nucleosome bearing protein Htz1 that allows genes to be read by cellular machinery in a regulated manner, enabling gene expression. This discovery has implications for understanding how gene activation and repression is altered in cancer cells and developing targeted treatments.
Reify's Visible Discovery technology demonstrates high-throughput in vivo and in vitro phenotypic screens for cardiovascular structure and function, as well as subcellular particle movement. The platform provides fast, unbiased results with minimal end-user intervention.
Researchers at JILA use laser pulses to take snapshots of atom collisions, revealing how atoms briefly lose form and energy when colliding. The results provide new insights into atomic dynamics and the laws of physics.
Researchers found a possible genetic link between cystic fibrosis gene mutations and young-onset pancreatic cancer. The study showed that individuals carrying the CFTR gene mutation are at increased risk for pancreatitis, which may also increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
A study of Norwegian medical students found that nearly 70% self-prescribed medication in their first year after graduation, a trend that continued into their fourth and ninth years. The most commonly self-prescribed medications were antibiotics, contraceptives, and analgesics.
A recent study published in Science demonstrates a new and sensitive assay for infecting prion diseases, including CJD and scrapie. The research shows that persistent replication of the infectious agent provides protection against more virulent strains, without requiring misfolded prions.
A new study reveals that selective logging in the Amazon Basin causes widespread destruction, losing an area roughly twice the size of Connecticut annually. This practice, which removes one or two trees and leaves the rest intact, contributes to climate change by releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than previously assumed.
Researchers identified a human milk component that blocks HIV interaction with dendritic cells and inhibits viral transfer to CD4+ T-lymphocytes. This discovery has significant implications for developing agents to block HIV transmission.
Researchers pinpoint CD36 as the first candidate for detecting fatty acids in the oral cavity, influencing digestive physiology and potentially increasing obesity risk. The study also reveals an alteration in the fat perception system may impact HIV transmission through human milk.
Computer simulations reveal that heat conduction is surprisingly high between liquid interfaces, challenging conventional wisdom on thermal conductivity. This finding has significant implications for fields like cancer treatment and computer chip manufacturing.
A study by the University of Iowa found that 37% of high schools have defibrillators, but surprisingly, cardiac arrests are relatively uncommon in these schools, with a rate of about 2 percent per year. In contrast, senior centers had higher rates of cardiac arrests, with only 10% having defibrillators.
A new study found that drug-eluting stents like CYPHER are cheaper than open-heart surgery, saving patients and the healthcare system $6,487 on average over a year. The research also shows improved patient outcomes with stent treatment.
The HERA study found that Herceptin reduces the risk of cancer coming back by 52% and death by 33% in early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. The results provide new hope for women with this aggressive form of breast cancer, offering improved survival rates.
Dr. Henry Gabelnick, a renowned expert in reproductive health and microbicide development, has been awarded the lifetime achievement award by International Conference on AIDS India. The award recognizes his significant contributions to the field, including the development of Ushercell, a microbicide consisting of cellulose sulfate.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that P-glycoprotein plays a critical role in transporting amyloid-beta (Abeta) from the brain to the blood via the blood-brain barrier. The research suggests that altering P-glycoprotein function due to chronic drug treatment could increase Abeta deposition and risk of de...
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory identified a messenger RNA molecule that switches from non-protein coding status to protein coding status in response to cellular stress. This 'cut and run' mechanism likely controls the expression of many genes, providing a rapid response to viral infection or other stresses.
Rice University scientists have constructed the world's smallest car, a single molecule 'nanocar' with four buckyball wheels. The nanocar can roll on its axles in a direction perpendicular to its movement, marking a significant achievement in bottom-up molecular manufacturing.
Researchers found menin promotes acute leukemia by working with mutated MLL proteins, leading to the formation of cancer cells. Removing menin stops cell proliferation and allows cells to mature into healthy blood cells.
Researchers warn that the breakdown of major ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica could significantly speed up sea level rise, potentially doubling current projections. The study suggests that these mechanisms should be carefully considered in future climate models to ensure accurate sea level rise predictions.
The International Council for Science urges its members to reaffirm commitment to the 'Universality of Science' due to growing restrictions on scientific freedoms. The principle emphasizes freedom of movement, association, expression, and access to data and research materials.
A combination of factors makes future landslides inevitable in La Conchita, including active faulting, rapid tectonic uplift, and weak rocks. Experts propose a beach park solution and installation of sensors to detect slope movement to mitigate the risk of landslides.
Researchers have developed a prototype device using trained Microplitis croceipes wasps to detect target odors, including explosives and toxic fungi. The device, called Wasp Hound, can be used for various applications, such as detecting plant diseases, chemical odors associated with human diseases, and hidden bodies.
A new report from ICSU recommends establishing an international scientific data forum to promote coordinated data collection and distribution. The report identifies key challenges, including inadequate legal frameworks, preservation, and archiving of data, which exacerbate inequities between scientists in rich and poor nations.
Researchers found that children with bipolar disorder exhibit over-reactive amygdala responses to negative stimuli, leading to under-reactive cognitive behavior. This study highlights the need for targeted treatments and interventions for pediatric bipolar disorder.
Research reveals that many poor children in low-income countries are missing out on effective child survival strategies, including vitamin A supplements, safe water, and immunizations. Countries with higher coverage rates have less inequity than those with lower coverage rates.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a way to make quantum dots produce broad-spectrum white light, similar to sunlight. The discovery uses 'magic-sized' nanocrystals that emit light without chemical treatment, offering a potential sustainable alternative to traditional lighting.
Researchers at The Wistar Institute have identified a novel multi-protein complex called the Integrator that plays a central role in processing small nuclear RNAs. This complex, which consists of at least 12 subunits, appears to bind to both CTD and specific genes coding for snRNAs.
Proteome Systems has received a $20 million grant from the US government to develop therapeutic compounds for treating radiation damage. The company's 'catalytic scavenger compounds' show potential in preventing radiation-induced tissue damage and are expected to protect victims of radiation exposure, including first responders.
Researchers found that early vaccination with pneumococcus and T-cell vaccine can rebuild immunity in cancer patients after chemotherapy, with protection developing within a month. This study paves the way for personalized therapy using engineered T-cells to boost the immune system against tumors.
FSU researcher Ben Wang is pushing the boundaries of buckypaper, a material made from carbon nanotubes that's twice as hard as a diamond. The potential applications are vast, including developing stronger aerospace structures, more-effective body armor and next-generation computer displays.