A community-based education campaign significantly increased skin cancer screening rates in men over 50, with a two-fold increase in self-screening and four-fold increase in physician-screening. Men who recognized personal risk factors or had previously removed skin lesions were more likely to undergo screening.
A large trial suggests that male circumcision reduces HIV infection risk by 60%. If all men were circumcised, 2 million new infections and 300,000 deaths could be avoided. Long-term benefits would include saving 1.6-5.8 million lives after 20 years.
A recent study found that apathy is a core feature of Parkinson's disease and may occur in up to 51% of patients. Apathy with no depression was also present in 29% of those with Parkinson's disease, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
A large-scale study found that two-thirds of patients stopped using Uprima due to ineffectiveness, with 70% of family doctors agreeing. The study analyzed data from 11,185 patients and showed that the most common adverse reactions were headache and nausea.
Recent study finds that screening levels of C-reactive protein and other compounds do not improve prediction of coronary heart disease risk. Major traditional risk factors, such as age, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, remain the most accurate predictors of CHD.
Researchers found infectious misfolded prion protein in heart muscle, decreasing the heart's ability to pump blood. High levels of scrapie infectivity were also identified in the blood of mice used in the study.
The US Department of Energy has released a research roadmap for developing cellulosic ethanol, a renewable and carbon-neutral fuel source. The plan aims to overcome challenges in producing low-cost, high-efficiency cellulosic ethanol from biomass.
A personalized program of occupational and physical therapy, combined with home modifications, has been shown to improve daily living tasks and increase survival rates among the elderly. The six-month intervention helped participants build confidence, use effective coping strategies, and make their homes safer.
A recent study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that people are more likely to help those within their own group, rather than outsiders. The research suggests that feelings of empathy play a crucial role in determining our willingness to assist others.
A Penn State study found no evidence of youth targeting in alcohol magazine ads, despite criticism and proposals for stricter limits. The study analyzed 28 magazines and found significant effects from advertisement price, audience size, and adult demographics.
A study led by Associate Professor Barbara Fazekas de St. Groth found that healthy individuals have up to twice the number of disease-fighting regulatory T cells compared to IBD patients. This discovery has significant implications for diagnosing and preventing autoimmune diseases.
Eleven researchers received grants to accelerate the discovery and development of new agents for treating metastatic colon cancer. The study aims to identify mechanisms in colon cancer that make tumor cells resistant to apoptosis, as well as develop combination drug therapies to reverse the apoptotic defect.
Researchers using ESA's XMM-Newton satellite data have found an object in the heart of a 2,000-year-old supernova remnant that exhibits complex and intriguing properties. The object, called 1E161348-5055, has a cycle that repeats every 6.7 hours, which is tens of thousands of times longer than expected for a young neutron star.
A new study published in European Journal of Nutrition found that soy germ isoflavones supplementation decreased bone loss in postmenopausal women. The study used SoyLife&Reg; EXTRA and showed a dose-dependent effect on reducing bone loss in non-obese women.
Soft Matter will separate from its host journal in January 2007, becoming an independent publication with a focus on interdisciplinary research. The move is expected to have far-reaching effects for the soft matter community.
A recent meta-analysis found that COPD patients taking beta-agonist inhalers are at a higher risk of respiratory deaths compared to those using anticholinergics. The study suggests that anticholinergics should be the bronchodilator of choice in COPD treatment.
A recent UCLA study discovered thousands of genes behave differently in male and female organs, shedding light on the gender gap in disease risk and drug response. The findings may explain why males and females diverge in terms of disease severity and response to treatment.
Researchers at Penn School of Medicine successfully manipulate cells to regenerate damaged heart tissue using cyclin A2. The findings hold promise for future therapy and treatment of heart disease, potentially leading to less surgery and medicine.
A study by the University of Alberta found that older farmers who stop taking prescribed pain medications are at higher risk of injury. The research identified several reasons for this, including distraction caused by pain, withdrawal symptoms, and incontinence-related discomfort.
Dr. Maria Sjogren's study tracks 90 active-duty servicemembers with hepatitis C, exploring disease progression and treatment effects on quality of life. Participants reported improved well-being after treatment, attributing it to the therapeutic process itself.
Researchers found that prosopagnosia, or face blindness, can be inherited and affects the ability to recognize familiar faces. Those with the disorder use various strategies to cope, including recognizing people by voice or clothing, and often go unnoticed by physicians other than neurologists.
Independent experts argue that UK's National Health Service (NHS) can be saved through clear planning and implementation by those without personal conflict of interest. The current system is plagued by mismanagement, staff demotivation, and high costs, with privatization unlikely to improve outcomes.
A $1.5M study at UH's Office for Drug and Social Policy Research investigates drug abuse, depression, PTSD and HIV/AIDS among 300 Katrina evacuees, mostly African American and Hispanic. The research aims to develop rapid public health responses for large-scale disasters affecting socially disenfranchised populations.
A simple blood test can indicate the presence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by measuring caspase 3-generated cytokeratin-18 fragments. This test has shown high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating NASH from non-NASH in patients with suspected NAFLD.
Researchers found evidence that the Sierra Nevada range has stood tall for at least 40 million years, contradicting a recent uplift scenario. The study used chemical analysis of ancient raindrops to determine the mountain's elevation, which was similar in ancient and modern times.
A recent study reveals that prion disease infectivity can cause heart damage in mice, with similarities to human amyloid heart disease. The findings have significant implications for the development of new diagnostic tests and treatments for prion diseases.
A recent study by Mount Sinai School of Medicine identifies a faulty enzyme, IDE, that breaks down beta-amyloid peptides. Boosting IDE activity may reverse beta-amyloid peptide accumulation and provide a new angle for preventing AD dementia.
A study found that a combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin achieved better results than standard therapy in patients with recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation. The treatment was more effective, especially when patients showed an early decline in viral load.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota discover a protein's unexpected role in chopping up damaged DNA molecules, leading to cell death. The finding sheds new light on the process of apoptosis and its potential applications in cancer treatment.
Scientists call for a new initiative to address the growing proportion of threatened and extinct amphibian species, with 32% at risk. The alliance aims to combat diseases, habitat loss, invasive species, and other causes through research, training, and conservation efforts.
A recent study published in the Journal of Proteome Research found that improving a rat's diet did not normalize their metabolic profile, even when subjected to stressful conditions. The researchers discovered that certain dietary interventions could improve health markers, but the effect was limited.
Scientists have discovered that solitons have intricate internal structures, which can affect their ability to carry a charge through organic materials. This discovery may lead to the development of molecular electronics and artificial muscles powered by solitons.
Researchers developed a new X-ray diffraction imaging technique to study crystal defects in strained silicon films. The technique reveals that defects created at the interface between layers propagate through the film, affecting its performance. This discovery could improve the manufacturing process for high-performance transistors.
Researchers discovered statins inhibit HCV replication without killing host cells. Fluvastatin showed strongest effect in combination with interferon, leading to effective HCV RNA replication inhibition.
The Wildlife Conservation Society has launched the 'Tigers Forever' initiative, aiming to increase tiger populations in key areas by 50% over a decade. The program involves working with local governments and partners to track tigers and boost anti-poaching activities.
A recent genetic study discovered a link between beta-actin mutations and developmental brain disorders, including dystonia. The findings suggest that these mutations may play a wider role in a range of congenital diseases.
Recent research found that climate change is strongly linked to increased frequency and severity of large forest fires in the western United States. The study analyzed wildfire data from 1970 to 2003, finding a significant correlation between warmer temperatures and earlier snowmelt, leading to drier conditions and longer fire seasons.
A recent study found that regular paracetamol use could lower the risk of ovarian cancer by up to 30% in women. The analysis of eight major studies covering over 746,000 women revealed a strong correlation between paracetamol use and reduced ovarian cancer risk.
A study found that recently released prisoners in England and Wales are at a significantly higher risk of suicide, particularly women, who are 36 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population. The authors suggest that inadequate mental health care and support after release from prison may contribute to this risk.
A study by Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and Leuven University Hospital found that coordinated primary and hospital care can significantly reduce readmissions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The integrated approach includes home care services, which resulted in a 50% lower rate of readmissions compared to...
A University of Michigan study reveals that established eBay sellers can earn up to 8% more revenue than new sellers due to their positive reputation. The feedback system on the site effectively rewards reputable sellers and deters buyers from trusting those with low reputations.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch have developed a potential test to estimate how many people are infected with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), which can take up to 40 years to manifest. The test could also help prevent transmission through blood transfusions and organ transplants by detecting prions in th...
Physicists at NIST have developed a novel electromagnetic trap for ions that could be mass produced to build large-scale quantum computers. The new trap, described in Physical Review Letters, uses a 'chip-like' geometry to confine ions and has shown promise in trapping multiple ions without generating excessive heat.
A study by Emory University researchers found a connection between developmental exposure to the pesticide dieldrin and an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The study suggests that early life exposures may contribute to neurodegeneration later in life.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation in Florida beach mice that affects their coat color, revealing a possible explanation for the evolution of similar color patterns in extinct mammoths. The study also sheds light on the complex genetic process underlying coat pattern generation in mammals.
A Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist has created a computer program called GS1 that can play winning hands of Texas Hold'Em without knowing much about the game. The program relies on game theory to analyze poker rules and outperformed two leading 'pokerbots' in tests.
Composer Dmitri Tymoczko has developed a geometric model to understand musical structure, representing every conceivable chord as a point in space. This approach helps connect familiar harmonies with dissonant cluster-type harmonies, revealing the melodic relationship between chords.
A study found that 34.9% of people over 65 with anxiety or depression used complementary or alternative medicine, compared to 26.5% without mental symptoms. However, fewer than 20% used CAM to treat their condition, a surprising finding.
A new study published in Science finds that rising temperatures are exacerbating the number of large and costly wildfires in the western United States. The research, led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, analyzed a database of recent large western wildfires since 1970 and compared it with climate and land-surface data from the re...
Researchers will conduct experiments on college students with normal vision to determine optimal training patterns for visual analysis and how it can improve performance for people with certain deficits and disorders. The findings could provide insight into vision deficits such as dyslexia.
Researchers found that cystic fibrosis patients develop unique diabetes due to differences in insulin-producing cell function, rather than pancreas destruction. This discovery may help improve understanding of other forms of diabetes and work towards a cure.
A Johns Hopkins University researcher found that corals can switch from using aragonite to calcite minerals in building their skeletons based on the magnesium-to-calcium ratio of seawater. This change poses questions about coral reefs' future survival amid global warming and ocean acidification.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a technique to coat implants with zinc or titanium oxide nanosurfaces, significantly reducing bacterial growth and promoting bone growth. The new method has the potential to lead to safer, longer-lasting implants for millions of Americans undergoing joint replacements.
A team of researchers created a broadband light amplifier on a silicon chip, enabling amplification over a broad range of wavelengths. The device uses four-wave mixing and has potential applications in repeaters, routers, and signal regeneration for fiber-optic communications.
Lloyd P. Aiello, MD, PhD, and Ashim K. Mitra, PhD, have been selected to receive the 2007 ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmics Translational Research Award for their outstanding achievements in ophthalmology research.
Researchers are testing a new drug combination that targets male-specific hormone levels to slow the progression of male breast cancer. The treatment, which involves anastrozole and goserelin, aims to lower overall estrogen levels in men, limiting breast tumor growth.
Prevention strategies for Noma include information campaigns, eradication of poverty, and improved living conditions. The disease is often linked to malnutrition, poor sanitation, and unsafe drinking water.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered protein machinery essential for maintaining chromosome integrity in cells. Removing sirtuin proteins causes yeast cells to become hypersensitive to chemical agents and spontaneously break chromosomes.
Researchers have developed an enzyme inhibitor that targets betaine-homocysteine-S-methyltransferase (BHMT), slowing cancer growth by reducing methionine production. The BHMT inhibitors show promise as a potential treatment for cancer, with the possibility of enhancing efficacy when combined with other drugs.
Research empowers children to improve their local community, boosting academic and social development. Children played a leading role in designing the process, collecting data, drawing conclusions, and suggesting changes.