A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation has identified four proteins crucial for Entercoccus faecalis to form biofilms and cause endocarditis. Rats infected with E. faecalis lacking these proteins suffered less severe infections, suggesting potential new treatments.
Researchers found that treating newly diagnosed GCA patients with high-dose intravenous steroids reduced long-term need for prednisone and improved recovery. Patients who received the initial treatment had fewer relapses and were able to significantly reduce their daily dose of prednisone after a year.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center have found that PNC-28, a human protein, can destroy pancreatic tumor cells in animals without harming healthy cells. The study's results are encouraging and suggest PNC-28 may be an effective agent in treating cancers, particularly when delivered directly to the tumor.
A recent study reveals that medical misdiagnoses often result from multiple breakdowns in the diagnostic process, including failure to order tests or follow up on patients. In contrast, patients receiving high-quality hemodialysis care are less likely to experience hospitalizations and deaths.
A major national study found that about 154,000 of 80.7 million children and adolescents nationwide had diabetes in 2001. Non-Hispanic white children had the highest diabetes rate, with type 1 diabetes being the most common form.
Two new blood tests, T-SPOT.TB and QuantiFERON-TB Gold, have improved the detection of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. These tests offer more accurate results, faster turnaround times, and no return visits compared to traditional tuberculin skin tests.
A study of 438 children and adolescents with bipolar spectrum disorders found that those with short episodes of mania were similar to those meeting full diagnostic criteria, suggesting a need for revised diagnostic criteria. The study's results will inform changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV.
The University of Pittsburgh will lead a multidisciplinary consortium to investigate and determine the best methods for treating sepsis, a life-threatening disease affecting 750,000 Americans annually. The $8.4 million NIH grant aims to identify the ideal way to stop sepsis in its tracks and improve survival rates.
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh researchers aim to develop more effective treatments for patients with chronic lung diseases, including cystic fibrosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The $12.8 million NIH grant will support the development of new diagnostic methods and therapies.
A study of 14 adults with histories of sedative abuse found that the new sleep medication ramelteon does not appear to have effects indicating potential for abuse or motor or cognitive impairment. Ramelteon works through a different pathway in the brain and may be less likely to cause such effects.
A 4-year project called CONTENT is investigating the effects of gut infections on growth and development in young children in Latin America. The project aims to develop new diagnostic tools and prevention methods for gut infections, which cause significant deaths and health issues globally.
A study at Emory University Health Sciences Center found that giving progesterone to trauma victims shortly after a brain injury may reduce the risk of death and disability. The researchers also found a 50% reduction in death rate and significant improvement in functional outcome among patients who received progesterone.
A study in rats reports that a specific receptor for a stress-response transmitter may play an important role in stress-induced relapse. The research found that blocking this receptor suppressed alcohol drinking and reinstatement of drinking in animals with a higher preference for alcohol.
A synthetic vitamin E derivative, á-TEA, has been shown to inhibit the spread of aggressive mammary cancer in mice when mixed into their food. The study found a 4.8-fold reduction in tumors that spread to the lungs, suggesting potential use as a dietary supplement for treating human metastatic breast cancer.
Researchers discovered that Antarctic midge larvae continuously produce heat-shock proteins to withstand environmental stresses, whereas adult midges only express these proteins during extreme stress. This unique mechanism offers the larvae protection and allows them to thrive in Antarctica's harsh conditions.
Researchers found that melanocytes use a mechanism called premature senescence to prevent cancer-causing mutations from triggering melanoma. This process involves the endoplasmic reticulum, which senses oncogene activity and triggers a response that stops cell division and prevents tumor growth.
Research studies reveal that women are more likely than men to diet, while men tend to focus on exercise for weight loss. Additionally, a study of children's sugar intake found that school vending machines and fast-food restaurants contribute significantly to high consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.
A study by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers suggests a strong genetic link between neuroticism and major depression. Using twin modeling, they found that neuroticism is a substantial predictor of depression, with a significant proportion of the genetic vulnerability shared between the two traits.
Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience increased healthcare costs in the two years before and after diagnosis compared to those without ADHD. White children have higher expenses than other ethnicities, reflecting a possible cultural factor in treatment acceptance.
Researchers surveyed 212 teenagers from Cincinnati neighborhoods with high lead concentrations and found a significant correlation between elevated childhood blood-lead levels and the risk for multiple, unintentional injuries later in life. The study suggests that early-life exposure to lead can cause lasting health effects impacting f...
A study found that 13% of children and adolescents with autopsy records had fatty liver, while 9.6% of the living population in San Diego County had the disease. The team identified major risk factors, including age, ethnicity, gender, and obesity.
A study found that second-generation antipsychotic medications do not offer significant benefits compared to older first-generation antipsychotic drugs for patients with schizophrenia. The findings contradict the widely held perception that second-generation agents are safer and more effective.
A new study at the Université de Montréal found that caffeine taken before a night shift or studying significantly hurts recovery sleep the next day. Caffeine makes daytime sleep episodes too shallow to override the biological clock, reducing sleep efficiency and duration.
A new study confirms that sea lice from fish farms are a major threat to wild salmon, with up to 95% of juveniles killed by infestation. The research found an increasing number of salmon deaths over the migration season, highlighting the severe impact of large-scale aquaculture.
A team of researchers reviews existing research on LDL cholesterol and heart health, concluding that there is no valid evidence to support ultra-low LDL targets. They suggest focusing on statin therapy for high-risk patients regardless of their cholesterol levels.
Researchers identified brain circuits motivating desire to overeat in obese individuals, linked to the same circuits that cause addicted individuals to crave drugs. The study found significant changes in brain metabolism associated with emotional behaviors and eating habits.
Researchers at Rice University have created a single-pixel camera that captures high-resolution images by taking multiple snapshots of a single point of light. The camera uses compressive sensing and micro mirrors to assemble the image, making it more energy-efficient than traditional digital cameras.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America has updated its Clinical Practice Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. The new guidelines include recommendations for a single dose of antibiotic for high-risk patients and expanded discussion on chronic post-Lyme syndromes.
A new study published in Pediatrics found that preterm birth caused over one-third of infant deaths in the first year of life. The study used a new method to classify causes of infant death and found that premature birth was the leading cause, followed by birth defects.
OHSU researchers show that CD8+ T-cells can literally eat virus-infected cells, providing insight into the human immune system and potential new way to gauge vaccine effectiveness. The discovery may help determine vaccine efficacy by measuring T-cell response to and consumption of a candidate vaccine.
Researchers at University of Texas Medical School identified proteins required for E. faecalis endocarditis, potentially leading to new treatment approaches. In another study, tumors induce immunosuppressive inflammatory monocytes that can blunt the anti-tumor immune response, providing new avenues for cancer therapy development.
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive NMR probe to analyze small samples, unlocking volumes of information from tiny amounts of venom. This breakthrough could aid in finding natural substances for medicines and advance understanding of Alzheimer's disease.
The study reveals that large-scale theatrical events helped ground community identities and imposed elite ideologies on the rest of society. The prominent role of state theater in Maya politics is centered around the images of supreme leaders, who were constantly evaluated by their subjects.
Researchers at Ohio University have created an effective interface between a semiconductor and ferromagnetic metal, nearly eliminating intermixing of the two layers. The new magnetic-semiconductor bilayer operates at room temperature, solving a long-standing problem in spintronics technology.
A new paper explores the theoretical biases that make Christians difficult for anthropologists to study. Joel Robbins argues that anthropology relies on a science of continuity, while Christianity emphasizes decisive breaks and temporal ruptures. This bias has neglected the social importance of Christianity globally.
A severe storm in the Gulf of Alaska generated an ocean swell that broke apart a giant iceberg floating near the coast of Antarctica, more than 8,300 miles away. The research team discovered that the iceberg had moved due to sea swell, and their findings raise the possibility that global warming could affect far-flung parts of the globe.
A survey of over 2500 men found that almost half who paid for sex had a current partner. Unprotected oral sex was twice as common among those who paid locally, highlighting its role in transmission of STIs.
Behavioral therapies produce reliable changes in bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and children, with 82% of children benefiting from treatment. For women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), early diagnosis and treatment can reduce healthcare costs and improve sleep quality.
Researchers found that a defective version of the NPRL2 tumor suppressor gene makes lung cancer cells resistant to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy drug. Gene therapy targeting this gene may restore sensitivity to cisplatin, offering new hope for treating resistant lung cancer.
A new study published in JCSM found that brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI) significantly improves sleep quality and daytime symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults. The study showed a 71% favorable response rate among BBTI participants, compared to 39% in the control group.
A population-based study found that people with hand osteoarthritis had significantly shorter white cell telomere lengths compared to those without the disease. Telomere length was also associated with the severity of osteoarthritis, suggesting a link between biological ageing and degenerative inflammatory bone disease.
Researchers found that a specific serotonin receptor regulates brain emotional responses, potentially contributing to depression risk. The study suggests antidepressants may work by shifting this receptor's availability, modulating amygdala reactivity and improving depressed mood.
Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch discovered that blocking a single enzyme called aldose reductase can stop colon cancer cell growth. In mouse experiments, tumor progression was completely halted when human colon cancer cells were treated with genetic material that prevented the production of this enzyme.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified an antibiotic that specifically targets the FoxM1 gene, which is responsible for cancer cell proliferation. The antibiotic, siomycin A, was found to induce cancer cells to commit suicide in a process called apoptosis, with no effect on normal cells.
Researchers have successfully cloned mice using fully differentiated blood cells, disproving the need for adult stem cells in the process. The study found that these cells were more efficient than stem cells or progenitor cells, paving the way for new approaches to animal cloning.
A team of astronomers discovered that many large galaxies in the early universe had a low stellar birth rate, suggesting a cosmic 'birth control' mechanism that prevented excessive star formation. The study found that these galaxies formed stars when the universe was just 20% of its current age.
A US survey of obstetricians and gynecologists found that one in three doctors believe free drug samples impact their prescribing choices. More than half of respondents felt it was ethical to accept free samples or lucrative consultancy offers from pharmaceutical companies.