Researchers have identified a protein called TRPM8 that mediates sensations of coolness and is expressed in nerve cells in the skin, responding to both cool temperatures and cooling chemicals like mint oil. This discovery has great potential for relieving chronic pain patients with approaches using cooling compounds
Two genetic markers, one associated with African American babies and the other with women with chronic hypertension, have been identified as potential predictors of preterm birth. The findings could lead to improved diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of preterm birth, reducing its risks for lifelong health complications.
Elevated cholesterol and liver enzyme levels more common than thought among isoretinoin patients, even those with normal blood test results before therapy. Moderate to severe abnormalities are generally transient and reversible.
A Purdue University researcher has determined the structure of a protein that controls starvation response in E. coli, which can be targeted to combat bacterial infections. The protein is found in numerous harmful bacteria and is an excellent antibiotic target due to its high processivity.
Researchers explore the connection between schizophrenia and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They aim to identify patients at high risk and develop more effective treatment plans.
Researchers found that combined liver-kidney transplants improved patient survival rates compared to separate transplants. Patients who received dialysis for longer than two months before surgery also recovered better after the combined transplant.
A Scripps Research Institute team developed compounds that reactivated the frataxin gene in blood cells from 13 Friedreich's ataxia patients, with one compound producing full reactivation in 100% of cells tested. The findings offer a potential therapeutic avenue for the disease, which affects 1 in 20,000 people in the US.
The free Access Grid Toolkit has been updated with streamlined user interfaces, robust middleware, and low-level services to facilitate rich collaborations. This new version supports wall-sized display technology, visualization of simulations, and enables seamless communication among researchers across different locations.
Researchers found that nicotine withdrawal symptoms begin as early as 30 minutes after quitting, impacting smokers' cravings, mood, and behavior. This discovery challenges the common assumption that withdrawal symptoms occur later in the process.
A large study found that traveling for more than 4 hours increases the risk of venous thrombosis by 2-fold. High-risk groups, including those with factor V Leiden and oral contraceptives, have a significantly increased risk of thrombosis after air travel.
A genetic variant in the SERPINH1 gene has been identified as a potential cause of premature delivery in African-American women. The variant reduces collagen production, making membranes more prone to rupture. This discovery may help physicians identify high-risk patients and prevent serious pregnancy complications.
A new study found that Sydney harbor's seaweeds contain high levels of toxic heavy metals, harming small animals that eat them. Up to three-quarters of juvenile crustaceans are killed when exposed to copper, highlighting the potential consequences for marine food chains.
American and South African scientists discovered how HIV exhausts killer T cells, which attack the virus. By blocking a molecular switch called programmed death-1 (PD-1), they can reinvigorate these T cells.
Researchers have identified a genetic profile indicating chromosomal instability as predictive of clinical outcome in various cancer types. This signature was found to predict poor clinical outcome in 12 populations studied, making it a potential diagnostic tool for identifying aggressive cancers.
Researchers isolated a nerve toxin from an ocean-dwelling snail that may enable scientists to develop medications for a range of nervous system disorders. The new toxin fits like a key into specific lock-like receptors in the brain, opening up potential for designing new medicines.
Researchers found a molecular pathway that turns off immune cells targeting HIV, leading to exhaustion. Blocking this pathway restores function to these cells, suggesting a potential new approach to treating HIV infection.
A survey of adult cancer survivors found that over 12% reported suicidal thoughts or previous attempts many years after treatment. Factors associated with more suicidal symptoms included younger age, radiation treatments, and physical health issues.
A team of researchers developed a new method to specifically recognize anthrax spores using monoclonal antibodies that target a unique sugar component called anthrose. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for rapid and accurate diagnosis, potentially reducing the risk of death from anthrax if treatment is delayed.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory-built STEREO spacecraft will explore coronal mass ejections and their impact on Earth. The twin observatories will capture 3D images and particle measurements of the sun by flying as mirror images of each other.
Researchers found that removing just one important species in a freshwater ecosystem can seriously disrupt its functioning. The study, led by Brad Taylor, showed that the loss of the flannelmouth characin had a significant impact on carbon transport and availability in a river ecosystem.
Researchers found that at least two objects in the Quintuplet Cluster are binary pairs forming pinwheel stars that live fast and die young. These 'Wolf-Rayet colliding-wind binaries' emit enormous amounts of radiation, with each quintuplet outshining the Sun by 10,000 to 100,000 times.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $2 million grant to Yale University for the purchase of a 7-Tesla human magnetic resonance imaging system. This high-end instrumentation will facilitate ultra-high resolution studies in various medical fields, including diabetes and epilepsy.
Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of a new drug, daptomycin, for treating bloodstream and heart infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The FDA has approved the drug for these types of infections, offering an alternative to vancomycin.
Researchers like Barkley aim to understand the basic science of HIV-1 function and develop new therapies. The recent NIH grant supports a new area of AIDS research focusing on the chemical processes between the two pieces of reverse transcriptase protein that mobilize the HIV-1 virus.
Incomplete vaccination of poultry flocks can lead to undetected spread of deadly avian flu strains like H5N1, according to a new study published in Nature journal. The research suggests that nearly all birds must be vaccinated to prevent silent transmission between farms.
Kurt Gibble's paper analyzes the speed of an atom after absorbing a photon of light and shows that photons in narrow laser beams deliver less momentum than those in wide beams. This discovery has implications for atomic clocks, which use microwaves to achieve high accuracy, potentially allowing them to be even more precise.
Researchers discovered that phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) regulates the proliferative capabilities of naturally occurring CD4+CD25+ Tregs but not their suppressive function. This finding provides a potential solution to harnessing the therapeutic potential of Tregs in autoimmune diseases.
The Ballistic Deflection Transistor (BDT) uses a new design to bounce electrons around like billiards, producing far less heat and running faster than traditional transistors. The BDT should enable speeds of terahertz, a thousand times faster than today's desktop transistors.
Researchers found that Botox injections can minimize scarring by temporarily weakening surrounding muscles during the healing phase. The treatment showed significant improvement in wound-healing results, with median scores of 8.9 for botulinum toxin versus 7.1 for saline.
A new study has identified a key protein, LMP4, that regulates Tbx transcription factors in embryonic limb and heart development. This discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms controlling these critical processes.
NIST launches ILThermo, a free online database of physical properties for ionic liquids, including thermodynamic, transport, and structural information. The database includes over 200 ions and 300 ionic liquids with calculated uncertainties, facilitating comparison of measurements.
Researchers studied globular star cluster NGC 6397, capturing high-resolution images of faint stars. They identified two fundamental transitions in star physics related to age, which may refine the Milky Way's age. The findings provide insights into the physics of low mass stars and white dwarfs.
New research reveals that the UCP1 gene was inactivated 20 million years ago in pigs, causing them to lose the ability to use brown fat for body heat. As a result, piglets shudder to maintain their body temperature.
A novel proteomics study has shown that proteins regulating brain-cell activity behave like volume controls, allowing for incremental levels of activity. This 'homeostatic plasticity' enables neurons to adapt to changing environments.
Scientists at NIST have developed a technique to move a single atom between two positions on a crystal surface using an electron beam. The method improved our understanding of the science behind atomic switching and allows for spatial mapping of the probability of an electron exciting the desired atom motion.
Researchers can now observe water production and removal in fuel cells under various conditions, enabling better management of water quantities. The facility enhances the understanding of fuel cell performance, reliability, and durability.
Researchers at UCR discovered a way molecules assemble without external guidance, forming a two-dimensional honeycomb network with big pores. The finding could help develop templates for growing complex structures on surfaces and improve paints and lubricants.
Researchers at Queen's University have devised a novel approach to creating emulsions, which can be used for various industrial applications such as cleaning up oil spills and extracting oil deposits from tar sands. The new 'green chemistry' solution uses a reversible surfactant that can be activated by carbon dioxide or air, allowing ...
A study in mice identifies genetic origins of cardiomyopathy for the first time, revealing a link to the desmoplakin gene and progressive heart disease. The discovery may lead to better understanding and targeted therapies for patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Two-fifths of US adults report experiencing unsafe, wasteful, or poorly coordinated healthcare. This is a significant concern, as three-quarters of adults advocate fundamental changes in the healthcare system.
Chagas' disease kills 50,000 people annually, with 18 million already infected and 100 million at risk. The disease has no initial symptoms, expensive prevention methods, and limited treatment options, prompting The Lancet to call for increased research attention.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital used computer-generated images of enzyme pantothenate kinase to unlock mysteries of antibiotic resistance and rare brain degeneration. The study found that despite differences in enzyme structure, types II and III can perform the same job as type I, leading to antibiotic resistance.
Researchers are using motion capture cameras and MRI scans to create 3D models of elephant locomotion. The study's goal is to understand how elephants coordinate their limbs and determine if they truly run. This knowledge can improve animal welfare, inform human biomechanics, and aid in the design of walking robots.
A Rutgers research team has been awarded a three-year, $599,436 National Science Foundation grant to collaborate with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on improving port competitiveness. The project aims to develop tools for analytical group decision-making and improve security at the nation's ports.
Researchers have found evidence of a binary system in the Quintuplet cluster, where two massive stars are orbiting each other. The discovery of 'pinwheel-shaped' dust spirals around these stars provides further proof of their dual nature and corrects previous estimates of their sizes.
Researchers at NIST determined the three-dimensional shape of class IV adenylyl cyclase, an enzyme found in plague bacteria Yersinia pestis. The unusual configuration may play a role in disrupting cell processes in infected hosts, highlighting the importance of molecular data for developing defenses against plague and other pathogens.
Researchers have solved the mystery of Quintuplet stars by identifying them as young massive binary stars producing large amounts of dust. The study captures the stars just before disintegrating in supernovae explosions, revealing a unique pinwheel nebulae around each star.
Astronomers use Hubble Space Telescope to image two mysterious star types, including tiny, slow-burning stars and ancient, giant white dwarfs. The research pushes limits of observatory's capabilities, gathering data that will help refine theories about low-mass stars and the universe's age.
Artificial muscles can create a full range of colors by adjusting the diffraction grating, overcoming limitations of existing displays. The technology uses white LED lights and could lead to consumer products in under eight years.
A new study by UCLA researchers analyzed clots removed from the brain blood vessels of 25 stroke victims, revealing that they are composed of similar components. The analysis showed that red blood-cell accumulations often accumulated on clots after impaction in the brain artery, contradicting previous assumptions.
A global study found that all forms of tobacco exposure, including second-hand smoke, increase the risk of heart attack. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce this risk, with light smokers benefiting the most.
New research reveals that the immune system's 'thermostat' operates in harmony, with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory compounds working together to regulate inflammation. Interleukin 10 production is triggered by Interferon-γ and an antigen-presenting cell, highlighting a dynamic and coordinated response.
Astronomers have discovered the faintest stars in a globular star cluster using Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. The study reveals insights into the age, origin, and evolution of NGC 6397, which is estimated to be nearly 12 billion years old.
Researchers Constance Steinkuehler and Dmitri Williams found that online video games like 'Asheron's Call' and 'Lineage' foster social interaction and relationships beyond the workplace and home. The games offer virtual third places for informal sociability, bridging social capital and broadening worldviews.
A core needle biopsy sample gives a representative picture of gene expression in the entire tumor, according to a new study. The results show that biopsy samples have identical gene expression levels as surgical samples, but with four specific genes modified by the biopsy procedure.
A new genetic component of heart disease has been identified, with the ILK protein found to play a critical role in regulating cardiac contractility. Loss of ILK in heart cells results in cardiomyopathy and heart failure, highlighting the importance of this molecule in vital physiological processes.
Researchers found that patients with low BMI had a higher risk of death than those with normal BMI, while overweight individuals had better survival rates. The study suggests that alternative methods are needed to characterize individuals with excess body fat accurately.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed a method to bypass spinal cord injuries by regenerating severed nerve fibers and reconnecting them with the spinal cord. The treatment, using an enzyme called chondroitinase, resulted in improved mobility in rats with impaired motor functions.
A recent study published in The Lancet found that all forms of tobacco exposure, including smoking, chewing, and second-hand smoke, increase the risk of heart attack. The study, which included data from over 27,000 people in 52 countries, showed that even low levels of tobacco exposure can double the risk of a heart attack.
An international team of astronomers has identified the dimmest stars in globular star cluster NGC 6397 using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The discovery provides clues to the age of the Universe and the formation time of one of its earliest generations of stars.