Researchers estimated virus evolution using genetic sequences and found that SIV lineages giving rise to HIV-1 and HIV-2 date back to the 18th century. This finding challenges previous estimates of millions of years of coevolution between SIVs and their primate hosts.
A study by Kellogg School researchers examines how physical characteristics, particularly 'babyfaced' traits, influence perception and achievement among black CEOs. They found that those with more babyface features were perceived as warmer, more competent, and earned higher salaries and led more prestigious companies.
Researchers found that 62% of patients with chronic uSpA had Chlamydia infection, significantly higher than controls. This suggests Chlamydia may play a role in causing this type of arthritis.
A study of nearly 6,900 patients found that simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation resulted in a 89% long-term survival rate compared to 80% for kidney-only transplants and 65% for deceased donor transplants. SPK recipients were also more likely to die during the first year after transplantation.
A retrospective study of 2,854 Italian patients with MS found leukemia occurred in .74% of those treated with mitoxantrone, significantly higher than previously reported rates. The study highlights the need for careful hematological follow-up to check for acute leukemia.
Studies found that employees with epilepsy cost third-party payors nearly three times more on average per year compared to those without the condition. Comorbidities accounted for 80% of insurers' total annual costs for epilepsy patients.
A recent report by the Royal College of Physicians found that up to a quarter of stroke patients do not receive optimal treatment in specialist units. The editorial advocates for increased public awareness and priority for stroke care, citing the importance of rapid recognition and admission to acute units.
Researchers identified 19 volunteers with high dietary self-control and 18 without, showing differences in brain activity. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) modulates the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) to incorporate health considerations into decisions.
A study of ICU patients found that 45% were deficient in vitamin D, with lower levels associated with greater disease severity. Researchers believe that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to disease complications and suggest that raising vitamin D levels may be beneficial for critically ill patients.
Researchers identify cowpea mosaic virus's target protein vimentin, a key step towards using the virus as a drug delivery agent. The discovery may lead to targeted treatment of tumors and potentially prevent infectious diseases.
Researchers constructed a nearly complete globe of Mercury using high-resolution and multispectral images, revealing its composition and origin. The study suggests that Mercury's crust formed in repeated volcanic eruptions, unlike the Moon.
A new study found that adding oral methylprednisolone to interferon beta-1a therapy significantly reduces the relapse rate in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The treatment was associated with a threefold lower relapse rate compared to placebo.
Researchers from University of Nevada, Reno set new constraints on extra Z-boson particle, a carrier of the fifth force of nature. The team achieved high-precision analysis of atomic parity violation in cesium atoms, outperforming previous experiments with increased computational complexity.
A new study suggests that the widely used diabetes medication Januvia may cause pancreatitis and increase the risk of pancreatic cancer in some patients. Researchers found that combining Januvia with the older diabetes drug metformin helped mitigate these effects, suggesting a potential way to safely use GLP-1 class drugs.
A team of researchers has uncovered the first step in the recycling of a crucial molecular tag that ensures correct gene expression. This mechanism, called nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), helps protect against genetic diseases such as thalassaemia and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy.
Researchers identified a previously unknown cellular switch that regulates both allergic and asthmatic responses in the body. This discovery suggests that at least some people with asthma and allergies have genes that prevent this switch from working properly, leading to medication development targets.
After 75 years, the disappearance of Everett Ruess has been solved using forensic and DNA evidence. The remains were identified as a male matching Ruess's age and stature through facial reconstruction and mitochondrial DNA analysis.
A gene test can help predict patients' risk of shock and kidney failure after heart surgery by identifying genetic differences in the COMT enzyme. This knowledge can guide treatment to prevent complications.
A meta-analysis of 53 cancer trials found that erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) increased mortality in all patients with cancer by 17%. The treatment's benefits must be weighed against the increased risks of death and thromboembolic events.
Scientists have developed nanoparticles that release nitric oxide to combat drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections, improving wound healing and reducing bacterial counts. The therapy has shown promise in treating MRSA and other infections, with plans for clinical trials.
A new study on blue tits reveals that eggs fertilized by non-social partners tend to hatch earlier, with nearly 75% of extra-pair offspring produced in the first half of the clutch. This suggests that early hatching may be a key factor in the observed superiority of extra-pair offspring.
A ten-year follow-up study of the CHAMPIONS trial shows that early treatment with AVONEX significantly reduces MS relapse rates and improves patient outcomes. Patients treated immediately after their first episode had a lower chance of experiencing a second attack, with 80% having an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score less t...
Researchers at Harvard University found that only species capable of vocal mimicry, such as parrots, can keep a beat, implying an evolutionary link between the two capacities. These birds' movements were more aligned with musical beats than expected by chance, suggesting they synchronized with the rhythm.
Scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and North Carolina State University have confirmed that collagen protein is preserved in the bone fragments of a 80-million-year-old hadrosaur, supporting earlier results from a Tyrannosaurus rex study. The discovery provides robust evidence for bird-dinosaur evolution.
Researchers found evidence of preserved collagen, fibrous matrix, and microstructures in an 80 million-year-old hadrosaur fossil, similar to previous findings in a Tyrannosaurus Rex sample. The discovery supports the theory that molecules can be preserved over time in fossilized remains.
A new study found that men with moderate kidney disease have a 39% increased risk of developing cancer compared to those with normal kidney function. The risk is highest for lung and urinary tract cancers, but not prostate cancer. Maintaining kidney function may help prevent cancer in the general population.
A Kansas State University researcher has found that the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic virus and the current swine influenza virus are closely related, with the former adapting to pigs and resulting in the latter. The study suggests that pigs may have played a role in maintaining and spreading the virus.
A team of scientists from Canada, Spain and the US identified a key gene that allows plants to defend against environmental stresses like drought, freezing and heat. They discovered a receptor that activates abscisic acid (ABA), a hormone helping plants survive drought.
Researchers detected magnesium in Mercury's atmosphere during a MESSENGER flyby, surprising scientists with its distribution and abundance. The discovery is one clue to understanding the creation of the rocky planet closest to the sun.
A Michigan State University researcher has discovered a key hormone found in fat tissue that promotes tumor growth and cancer progression. Abdominal fat is associated with the greatest risk for cancer, particularly breast, colon, and endometrial cancers.
A French study analyzed mortality rates in three-quarters of the European population, concluding that the virus likely originated outside Europe. The research found high synchronicity among the 14 studied countries, with a peak in October-November 1918.
Researchers have found that white tea extract effectively reduces the generation of new adipocytes and stimulates fat mobilization from mature fat cells. White tea, a less processed version of green tea, contains ingredients such as methylxanthines and epigallocatechin-3-gallate that may be responsible for its anti-adipogenic effects.
A new study found that drugs to combat anemia in cancer patients may actually increase the risk of death and serious blood clots. The use of these agents should not be routine therapy unless proven safe and clinically beneficial.
A new study found that people with arthritis experience significant difficulties with computer use due to pain, restricted movement, and muscle weakness. The study suggests that providing individuals with arthritis with strategies and equipment can reduce work limitations and prevent disabilities.
Researchers found that combining workplace non-attendance, school closure, isolating infected family members, and reducing community contact can significantly reduce the rate of development and overall burden of influenza epidemics. Interventions must be introduced within 2 weeks of the first case to prevent an epidemic developing.
Multiple sclerosis researchers discover that the immune system targets gray matter in addition to myelin, damaging nerve cell bodies and leading to irreversible destruction of axons. The newly identified protein Contactin-2 plays a critical role in this process.
A new study using cosmogenic dating reveals that New Zealand's largest glaciers moved out of step with their northern hemisphere counterparts for the past 7,000 years. The research provides a glacial timeline and shows regional climate variations in both hemispheres.
A new non-invasive diagnostic index, the Pediatric NAFLD Fibrosis Index (PNFI), uses age, waist circumference, and triglycerides to predict liver fibrosis in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This index may help reduce the need for invasive biopsies, improving patient comfort and outcomes.
US researchers have developed a forensics toolkit for the Xbox console that enables investigators to access and analyze hidden data. The XFT utility allows users to mount an image of the FATX file system, explore directory structures, and view files in detail.
Researchers found that adult cystic nephroma and mixed epithelial and stromal tumors are genetically similar and should be considered the same disease entity. This discovery will help doctors accurately diagnose the disease in patients, leading to improved patient care.
New studies by Scripps Institution of Oceanography suggest a magnitude-7 earthquake occurs every 2,000 to 3,000 years in Lake Tahoe's basin. The largest fault in the basin, West Tahoe, appears to have last ruptured between 4,100 and 4,500 years ago, capable of producing nearly 500m of overlying water tsunami waves.
Researchers found that after reassortment with a human influenza virus, an avian flu virus requires relatively few mutations to spread rapidly between mammals by respiratory droplets. This process is similar to the formation of the current swine flu outbreak, suggesting a potential link between avian and human influenza viruses.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston demonstrate that the brain can recognize objects quickly and consistently, even under different lighting conditions, size, and rotation. This finding could lead to advancements in teaching computers to see and improving brain-computer interfaces for individuals with visual impairment.
A new study predicts a significant increase in US cancer cases over the next 20 years, with the elderly and minority populations bearing the brunt. The projected 45% rise in cancer incidence will be driven primarily by a 67% increase in cancer cases among adults aged 65 and older.
Research found that tiny mites living on Madagascar hissing cockroaches decrease the presence of molds, reducing allergic responses. The mites eat saliva and debris, eliminating material that fosters mold growth on the insects' bodies.
The new NHS Evidence service provides a fast and efficient web-based search facility to access a wide range of information on various topics. It also has a commissioning function to ensure knowledge gaps are filled and to provide central purchasing of online journals for staff in the National Health Service (NHS) in England.
A deep Chandra X-ray image has resolved a long-standing mystery about an X-ray glow along the plane of the Galaxy. The image reveals hundreds of point-like X-ray sources causing the glow, implying millions of such sources are responsible.
A new study challenges the idea that individuals with certain genotypes are predestined to negative life outcomes. Infants raised in small social groups were more likely to be aggressive and anxious, particularly those with a low activity MAOA genotype. However, no genotype effects were evident in monkeys reared in larger social cages.
The Venus prototype uses near-infrared light to measure metabolic rate, tissue oxygen, and pH without needle pricks. This technology has numerous applications, including emergency medical care, sports performance, and patient monitoring, and may improve survival rates for trauma victims and astronauts in space.
Researchers are investigating whether mathematical similarities between word associations and quantum theory could lead to new models of how humans process words and meaning. The study aims to gain an understanding of the intriguing connections between cognitive science and quantum theory.
A recent study published in Critical Care Medicine found that older men are at a higher risk of death from community-acquired pneumonia compared to women. The researchers discovered that men's bodies respond differently to infection, leading to a stronger inflammatory and coagulation response, which may break up blood clots more quickly.
Physicists at Ames Laboratory have demonstrated that the superconductivity mechanism in iron-arsenide superconductors is unique compared to all other known classes of superconductors. The team found a power-law variation of London penetration depth, suggesting electron pairing different from any other known superconductor.
Children exposed to domestic violence are almost four times more likely to develop emotional problems, but over half adapt well due to easy-going natures and their mothers' mental health. Easy-going children and mothers with good mental health can cope better with the stresses of exposure.
The Arizona State University EFRC will pursue advanced research on solar energy conversion based on photosynthesis principles. The goal is to design a synthetic system that uses sunlight to convert water into hydrogen fuel and oxygen, providing a renewable source of clean energy.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new genome engineering tool to make model crop plants herbicide-resistant without significant DNA changes. This approach has the potential to provide sustainable solutions for producing food, fuel and fiber while minimizing concerns about genetically modified organisms.
Researchers found that the last atom in a line of single-atom contacts behaves differently than expected, altering the defining properties of ferromagnetic metals. The Kondo effect is observed in these tiny contacts, contradicting conventional wisdom about metal behavior at the nanoscale.
A new study reveals that most young people consider civic activity obligatory, but their judgments vary by factors like gender and involvement levels. Teen boys prioritize politics over community service, while girls emphasize community service as more important.
Parkinson's disease is characterized by selective loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, with elevated cytosolic dopamine and calcium levels contributing to cell death. Genetic and environmental 'hits' are required for PD pathology, suggesting multiple therapeutic targets should be considered
A new study shows that taking cladribine tablets just a few times a year can dramatically reduce the chances of a relapse or deterioration of multiple sclerosis. Patients who took part in the trial suffered very few side effects, making it an effective oral therapy without constant injections.
A study by PNNL researchers found that smoldering fires produce more toxins than wildfires, which can affect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The discovery also suggests that smoke may play a role in transporting biologically useful nitrogen through the environment.