A team of scientists has found a reliable and cost-effective method to extend the shelf life of cooked ham to 39 days by using a protective culture of Lactobacillus sakei. The treatment resulted in a more acceptably taste, texture, and overall quality compared to conventionally preserved ham.
Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center found that family-based treatment, which involves parents, doubled the percentage of teens who abstained from binge eating and purging after six months. The study involved 80 adolescents with bulimia nervosa or partial bulimia nervosa.
A study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found a substantial increase in office-based visit diagnoses for bipolar disorder among youth from 1994 to 2003. This growth was accompanied by rising prescription rates for mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants.
Women with migraine who suffered childhood abuse were more likely to experience depression than those without abuse. The study found a significant association between childhood abuse and depression in women with migraine, suggesting that neurobiological systems may be altered by adverse experiences.
Patients with depression have impaired heart rate variability recovery after acute coronary syndromes, but treatment with antidepressants improves this ability. Sertraline treatment also increased heart rate variability in depressed patients.
A recent study published in Neurology found that smokers are 50% more likely to develop dementia than nonsmokers or past smokers. The study suggests that smoking increases the risk of dementia through mechanisms such as oxidative stress, which can damage cells in blood vessels and lead to hardening of the arteries.
Ancient DNA analysis suggests pigs were brought from the Middle East as part of a farming package, leading to their local domestication and eventual spread across Europe. The study sheds new light on the colonization of Europe by early farmers.
Rutgers researchers found that osteopontin-dependent changes in thymus and spleen lead to organ atrophy in mice stressed under simulated weightlessness. This study demonstrates the critical role of OPN in human diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune responses.
The Lancet series concludes that generating political will is key to overcoming barriers to scaling up mental health services. Advocates must deliver clear messages about required care, while developing secondary care-level community mental health services should be prioritized.
A study of over 1050 North American and European musicians found that they are more than twice as likely to die an early death compared to the general population. Long-term drug or alcohol problems accounted for nearly one in four deaths, with some stars continuing to experience higher death rates even 25 years after achieving fame.
Low-salt foods are as safe as high-salt ones in terms of bacterial spoilage, according to a study. The researchers found that different strains of bacteria showed no significant difference in growth rates regardless of the salt concentration tested.
Researchers conclude that primary care-based psychological interventions, such as interpersonal therapy, are cost-effective for treating depression and managing hazardous alcohol use. Low-cost antipsychotic drugs and family-focused psychosocial interventions also show promise for schizophrenia management.
Scientists have identified the HMGA2 gene, a common variant of which directly influences height. The study found that variations in this gene make some people taller than others, with 25% of white Europeans carrying two 'tall' versions and approximately 1cm difference in height.
A novel intracellular traffic coordinator, SNX27, regulates potassium channel activity in brain cells by pulling them away from their job, reducing excitability. This discovery could lead to new treatments for drug addictions.
A new study reveals that mast cells not only cause allergic reactions but also help reduce skin damage and inflammation from sun exposure or poison oak. The discovery opens up new possibilities for treating allergies and other conditions.
Scientists discover new viruses that target specific types of bacteria, offering an alternative to conventional antibiotic therapy. The approach has potential to combat antibiotic resistance and superbug infections such as MRSA.
The SCAI has announced that its leaders are available for comment on numerous studies, trials, and data releases at the upcoming European Society for Cardiology Congress. These studies focus on interventional cardiology, percutaneous intervention, angioplasty, and stents.
A genome-wide association study has identified a genetic variant associated with human height, revealing the first consistent link between genes and height. The HMGA2 gene variation adds about half centimeter in height for one copy and almost full centimeter for two copies.
Researchers at Princeton University have invented a new process called fracture-induced structuring that enables the self-formation of periodic lines, or gratings, separated by as few as 60 nanometers. This technique uses a thin polymer film and is simpler and faster than traditional methods, making it economically feasible for large-s...
Year-round consumption of fresh leafy greens like lettuce poses challenges due to increased risk of E. coli contamination from field sources. New methods, including harvesting mowers and triple washing, are being used to address this issue.
The ADVANCE trial found that a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 18% and major macrovascular or microvascular events by 9%. The results suggest that this treatment could be considered routinely for patients with type 2 diabetes to prevent complications.
A recent study found that African-American respondents had an increased risk of being short and long sleepers compared to Caucasian respondents. The study also discovered that living in an inner city was associated with increased risk of short sleeping, while non-urban areas were linked to reduced risk of long sleeping.
A study published in the SLEEP journal found that new mothers' dreams often depict their infant in perilous situations, accompanied by complex behaviors like motor activity and speaking. This phenomenon may provide insight into the earliest stages of mother-infant attachment.
Pregnant women exposed to passive smoking experience sleep disturbances, including subjective insufficient sleep, difficulty initiating sleep, short sleep duration, and snoring. The study also found that pregnant women who smoke experienced similar sleep issues, as well as excessive daytime sleepiness and early morning awakening.
A study published in the SLEEP journal found that work time has the largest reciprocal relationship to sleep time, with respondents working longer hours sleeping less. The study analyzed data from over 47,000 participants and found that travel time was also an unexpected factor affecting sleep.
A common molecular pathway called retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor could help predict which lung cancer patients will benefit from chemotherapy drugs. Researchers found that turning off the RB pathway resulted in an altered response to chemotherapy agents and more cancer cell death.
A study published in SLEEP found that adolescents who used their cell phones after bedtime were more likely to experience tiredness the next day. The researchers, led by Jan Van den Bulck, discovered that frequent phone use increased the risk of tiredness, with those using their phones daily being up to 5 times more likely to feel tired.
Researchers found that eating family meals together during adolescence resulted in adults who ate more fruit and vegetables, and drank less soft drinks. The study also showed that frequency of family meals predicted eating habits such as breakfast and dinner frequency, as well as intakes of key nutrients.
A study by Temple University researcher Kathleen Black identifies warning signs of pregnancy-induced hypertension, including increased stress levels, which can indicate worsening conditions. Women experiencing headaches, dizziness, frequent vomiting and malaise should call their physician immediately.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that combining radiation therapy with the drug bavituximab significantly improves the effectiveness of lung cancer treatment. The drug targets tumor blood vessels by selectively binding to exposed phospholipids, signaling white blood cells to attack and destroy them.
COPD is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with smoking being a primary risk factor. The International Burden of Lung Disease (BOLD) Study found that eastern Kentucky had one of the highest rates of COPD in the world.
A study published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that children who get little sleep are more likely to have behavioral and cognitive problems in the classroom. The research identified four developmental sleep duration patterns, with short persistent sleepers showing significant impairments in cognitive performance.
Researchers found that an important melanoma treatment has little effect on cancer cells themselves, but instead boosts immune system cells. The study highlights the need to develop ways to make melanoma cells more vulnerable to the drug or overcome the block within cells that prevents them from responding.