A team of CSIRO scientists has developed a rapid screening system to identify inhibitors of toxic multimers formed during Alzheimer's disease progression. Folate is shown to be beneficial in the screening system, and could lead to the discovery of new agents that may prevent or delay the onset of the disease.
Researchers discovered 30 genetic variants associated with cholesterol levels, including 11 new ones, which could lead to more effective therapies. The study also found links between melatonin, sleep patterns, and small increases in glucose levels, increasing the risk of diabetes.
Two studies examine the impact of cord blood, peripheral blood, and bone marrow on transplant success rates in adults with acute leukemia. The research reveals that mismatched cord blood transplants can be a suitable alternative to bone marrow or peripheral blood transplants.
Researchers have discovered biomarkers in blood that could aid diagnosis of severe and debilitating forms of malaria, including placental and cerebral malaria. Elevated levels of C5a and angiopoietin-2 were found to be associated with these forms of the disease, potentially allowing for earlier detection and targeted treatment strategies.
Researchers identified 11 new gene sites associated with cholesterol and triglyceride levels, bringing the total to 30 lipid-associated genes. Common variations in these genes can significantly influence blood lipid levels, potentially identifying individuals at higher risk for heart disease.
Cones starve to death due to structural changes in the retina, disrupting nutrient flow. Researchers propose boosting nutrient levels in cones to preserve daylight vision in patients.
A population cohort study found six novel genetic variants associated with lipid levels, a common indicator of heart or artery disease. The research team analyzed over 20,000 DNA samples from European countries, increasing the power of 'genetic microscopes' to identify lipid-gene links.
A new study reveals that nanotechnology is perceived as less morally acceptable in the United States and certain European countries with stronger religious traditions. The survey found that levels of religiosity are a strong predictor of views on nanotechnology, highlighting a paradox in a country known for its technological advancements.
A genome-wide association study found that a mutation near the MTNR1B gene is associated with increased average blood sugar levels and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The researchers suggest that treating sleep problems could partly tackle diabetes and high blood sugar levels.
A genome-wide association study has identified two new genetic risk factors for variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, including a SNP near the beta receptor for retinoic acid and a region close to STMN2. These findings suggest that genetic susceptibility plays a significant role in prion diseases.
Researchers identified a gene involved in the body's response to the day-night cycle strongly linked to high blood sugar levels and type 2 diabetes. The melatonin receptor is implicated in conditions like jetlag and sleep disorders, suggesting that disrupted sleep patterns are connected to metabolic health.
A previously dismissed leukemia drug, flavopiridol, has shown promising results in treating CLL patients with advanced chromosomal abnormalities. In a two-phase trial involving 116 patients, approximately half responded to treatment.
A genome-wide study has identified 23 regions of the genome associated with nine metabolic traits, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, blood pressure, and inflammation. The study found 14 known genetic variants and nine novel variants, five of which are good candidates for important variants.
VIB researchers found a way cells can detect nutrients via transceptors, similar to hormone signaling. This discovery offers promising possibilities for treating metabolic diseases by targeting newly discovered receptor proteins.
Ariel Anbar's research focuses on how changes in ocean element abundances influenced life, ecosystems, and evolution on Earth. He examines sedimentary rocks to infer past ocean compositions and investigates the role of essential nutrients like iron, sulfur, and copper.
A study found that ultrasound screening with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) significantly reduced stroke incidence among children with sickle cell disease. The technique, combined with regular transfusions for high-risk patients, lowered stroke rates to one-tenth of the pre-TCD era.
The study presents a new combination therapy for previously untreated ITP, an investigational oral treatment for chronic ITP, and a low-dose platelet transfusion strategy. These approaches aim to minimize bleeding episodes in patients with platelet disorders.
Four studies showcase treatment advances in blood cancers, including improved progression-free survival for patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. A new tumor suppressor gene is also discovered in patients with myeloproliferative disorders.
Novel treatments, including fostamatinib disodium, have shown significant clinical activity in treating leukemia and lymphoma. The study found improved response rates and prolonged stable disease in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Researchers studied the quality of care for hospitalized sickle cell disease patients, finding that hospitals treating low volumes have higher mortality rates. The study also identified associations between insurance coverage, patient socioeconomic status, and reduced hospital stays.
Brent Heeringa's research focuses on three specific problems: optimal algorithms for hierarchical data, dynamic models of information organization, and new models for categorical data. His project aims to create systems where desired information is quick and easy to find.
The NRL's P-3 aircraft and Air Force Reserve WC-130J conducted meteorological research on tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific from August to September. The project aims to increase predictability of tropical cyclones and gather data to validate satellite-based techniques for intensity estimation.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has announced a £250 million initiative to create 44 training centers across the UK, generating over 2000 PhD students. These centres will focus on tackling pressing issues like climate change, energy, and high-tech crime.
A comprehensive analysis by CIFOR offers options to address forest destruction and degradation's role in global greenhouse gas emissions. The report suggests integrating REDD with tighter emissions targets for a more ambitious climate strategy.
UC Davis researchers are exploring a new gene therapy approach to cure AIDS by replacing HIV-infected immune cells with HIV-resistant ones. They plan to conduct safety and efficacy trials using a mouse model before moving on to human clinical trials.
Jeannie Albrecht is heading one of 29 academic/industrial research teams working on prototypes to expand the security, manageability, and versatility of networking systems. The team aims to build a user-friendly experiment control and management framework called Gush to support large-scale network management.
The Linheng Li Lab has identified the precise location of the bone marrow stem cell niche, building on previous discoveries. The findings reveal a special zone that includes both osteoblastic and endothelial components, which maintains HSCs in their resting state and promotes expansion in response to stressors.
Scientists have discovered that transporting juvenile salmon downstream can hinder their ability to migrate back to their breeding grounds as adults. The study found that transported juveniles had lower survivorship and were less likely to find their way home, due to being disoriented by the boat journey. This can reduce the genetic fi...
The Stowers Institute's Workman Lab has made a groundbreaking discovery of a novel histone demethylase protein complex, which plays a crucial role in regulating transcription elongation. The research reveals that this protein complex associates with the heterochromatin protein 1a and stimulates its histone demethylation activity.
Frank Morgan has received a three-year NSF grant to research manifolds with density, a generalization of Riemannian manifolds. This work builds on previous summer research and aims to solve isoperimetric problems in probability theory and geometry.
The Obesity Institute at Children's National Medical Center gathered experts to discuss translational, clinical and community research successes in childhood obesity prevention and treatment. Key findings include successful community interventions for inner-city youth, emerging genomic research on high LDLs and type 2 diabetes risk.
A recent study found that patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are three times more likely to experience severe coronary events, including heart attacks. The disease is also linked to increased risks of angina, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis.
Research finds that progressive lung damage in CF patients can begin as early as infancy, even if lung function is normal shortly after diagnosis. Early intervention in the first six months of life may be key to slowing disease progression.
Researchers developed a transgenic mouse model expressing mutant prion protein, resulting in a fatal neurological disorder. The discovery may help unravel the mystery of this progressive disease affecting humans and animals.
The Baumann Lab discovered an important step in the maturation pathway of telomerase, an enzyme that replenishes chromosome ends with every cell division. This finding sheds light on human health and demonstrates that interfering with telomerase maturation can inactivate telomerase.
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is hosting its first international conference on inflammatory breast cancer to bring together clinicians and scientists to share new clinical discoveries and educational workshops. The conference aims to improve diagnosis and management of this rare but deadly disease through joint i...
A team of scientists at the University of Granada has developed a new optical technique that can distinguish between original and bootleg CDs. This method uses light diffraction on the CD surface to identify differences between industrial processes and homemade copies, allowing for the detection of bootleg CDs.
Women exposed to secondhand smoke as adults or children are more likely to face fertility problems and suffer miscarriages, with a 68% increased chance of difficulty getting pregnant. The study analyzed data from over 4,800 non-smoking women and found that four out of five reported exposure to secondhand smoke during their lifetime.
A team of geologists analyzed a cave stalagmite and found that the Eastern Mediterranean became drier between 100 A.D. and 700 A.D., coinciding with the fall of Roman and Byzantine rule in the region. The high-resolution climate record shows sharp drops in precipitation around 100 A.D. and 400 A.D., which may have weakened these empires.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have created ceramics that mimic mother of pearl, outperforming human-synthesized composites by 300 times in terms of toughness. The materials use a combination of alumina and polymer to dissipate strain energy and achieve remarkable strength and resistance to fracture.
A new study reveals that the brain's nerve cells can survive with damaged connections for several months before deteriorating further. The research suggests a time window in which damaged connections between brain cells could recover under the right conditions, potentially halting symptoms and allowing functional recovery.
The AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books promotes science literacy among young readers. The prize recognizes 19 finalists in four categories, including children's picture books, middle grades science books, young adult science books, and hands-on activity books. Winners will receive $1,500 and a plaque.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found a subpopulation of hematopoietic stem cells that reproduce much more slowly than expected. This discovery may lead to improved treatment outcomes for leukemia and other marrow-based diseases through enhanced bone marrow repopulation.
A new study found that a fractional dose of a commonly used meningitis vaccine is as effective as the full dose, allowing for more efficient use of scarce vaccine resources. The research was conducted in Uganda and suggests that using 1/5 doses could be an alternative in mass vaccination campaigns during epidemics.
Researchers found that happiness can spread through social networks like an emotional contagion, benefiting not only friends but also friends' friends and even those three degrees removed. The effect is strongest among close relationships and lasts for up to a year.
A Brandeis University study published in Poetics analyzed 683 prayers written between 1999 and 2005. The researchers found that prayer writers typically frame their prayers broadly to allow multiple outcomes to be interpreted as evidence of being answered. Most writers anthropomorphized God, addressing it as a relative or friend.
A recent meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that antipsychotic drugs do not form homogeneous classes, with individual differences in efficacy, side effects, and cost. This challenges the traditional classification of 'first-generation' and 'second-generation' antipsychotics.
Research suggests Vitamin E's antioxidant properties may reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in skeletal and cardiac muscle. The study found significant reductions in oxidized proteins and two cytokines with Vitamin E treatment compared to placebo, potentially correlating with increased muscle strength.
A UCSF study found that maternal cells enter the fetus during pregnancy, inducing regulatory T cells that enforce a state of tolerance between the fetus and mother. This discovery defines a previously-unrecognized pathway for human tolerance development.
Researchers found that single-celled organisms spontaneously silence large numbers of metabolic reactions to optimize growth, with around 300 active reactions for all four organisms under optimal conditions. This finding provides new insights into the interplay between metabolic network activity and biological function.
Researchers have developed a new method to prioritize disease-associated SNPs by analyzing genes with high differential expression rates. This approach, called fitSNPs, successfully distinguished true disease genes from false positives in genome-wide association studies, and can serve as a powerful tool for prioritizing disease genes.
Gene expression varies among African Americans based on European ancestry proportion. Small population differences found in gene regulation compared to individual variations within the same population.
A new study identifies specific characteristics of immune cells called CD8+ T cells that successfully destroy HIV-infected cells. These cells are able to load granules with proteins necessary for delivering a death-inducing molecule called granzyme B to infected cells.
Researchers created a model that explains how genes are turned on and off by analyzing DNA sequences and transcription factor interactions. The study found that simple rules govern gene expression patterns, accounting for 65% of variation between cells.
A new angled gantry approach to coronary CT angiography significantly reduced breast radiation exposure by half. Researchers found that imaging the heart with an angled gantry acquisition reduced the overlap with the lower breast from 6.5cm to 3.2cm, warranting further machine development.
Researchers have discovered novel prion infectivity in white and brown fat tissues of mice, shedding new light on the pathogenesis of prion diseases. This finding may have significant implications for preventing prion infection in animals and humans, particularly in ruminants suspected of exposure to or infection with prions.
The Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology has received a $1.6-million grant to improve and expand CLASLite, a user-friendly method for mapping tropical forests from desktops. The technology will help rainforest nations monitor their changing carbon budgets and advance deforestation and degradation mapping in Latin America.
Dr. Scott Mintzer has received a $843,000 NIH grant to investigate the cardiovascular side effects of anti-seizure medications in patients with epilepsy and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study aims to improve treatment outcomes while minimizing potential risks.
Researchers have identified a gene that directly affects the production of fetal hemoglobin, which could lead to the development of new therapies for sickle cell disease and thalassemia. By suppressing a specific gene called BCL11A, HbF production improves dramatically, providing a potential new target for treatments.
The International Society of Andrology, European Association of Urology, and other scientific organizations have formulated new recommendations on late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) treatment. These guidelines emphasize the importance of addressing symptoms such as erectile dysfunction and low testosterone levels in aging men.