A team of researchers has identified a key protein in microalgae that concentrates CO2 for improved photosynthesis and growth. This breakthrough could lead to increased productivity in biofuel production and improved crop yields in plants such as rice and wheat.
A new study by the American Lung Association found that heartburn medication does not help control asthma symptoms in adults with poorly controlled asthma and no significant heartburn symptoms. Despite using a high dose of esomeprazole, participants showed no improvement in asthma episodes or control.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that proton pump inhibitors do not improve asthma control in patients with persistent acid reflux. Researchers examined 402 adults with asthma over 24 weeks and found no benefits from treatment, saving patients unnecessary costs and potential side effects.
A 20-center study of 402 patients with poorly controlled asthma found that proton pump inhibitors did not improve asthma control, despite previous beliefs about their role. In fact, half the patients showed excess acid in their gastrointestinal tract, but heartburn medications had no effect.
Researchers found that two novel compounds, RD162 and MDV3100, inhibit the androgen receptor function in CRPC cells, leading to declining PSA levels in men. The study's findings also showed that these agents showed activity in CRPC cells in culture and in mice.
The NIH-NASA partnership aims to facilitate biomedical research on the International Space Station, addressing pressing health questions through unique microgravity conditions. Biomedical experiments will focus on bone and muscle deterioration, infectious disease, cancer growth, and more, with the goal of improving human health on Earth.
A new article in Family Relations explores the concept of community capacity building to provide essential support to military families. The framework outlines a collaborative approach to connecting isolated families with support services, enhancing family strengths and preventing stressful experiences from becoming crises.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new way to create dye-sensitized solar cells using ancient diatoms, which can potentially triple the electrical output. The technology uses environmentally benign materials and works well in lower light conditions, offering advances in manufacturing simplicity and efficiency.
A Health Department study found that 57% of adult New Yorkers have elevated cotinine levels, indicating recent exposure to toxic secondhand smoke. This highlights the need for households with smokers to set a 'no smoking' policy at home.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have identified two genes that increase plant tolerance to heat, salt, and drought. The collaboration will help identify additional candidate genes for developing stress-resistant crops.
Researchers have developed two new drugs, RD162 and MDV3100, that prevent male hormones from stimulating growth of prostate cancer cells. These compounds appear to work well even in prostate cells with heightened sensitivity to hormones, which makes them effective against drug-resistant prostate cancer.
Researchers found no correlation between aggressive treatment and improved survival rates for early stage bladder cancer patients. Aggressively treated patients were more likely to undergo major surgery, resulting in higher treatment costs.
A study by Harvard researchers found that Seguro Popular, a Mexican health care program instituted in 2003, has reduced catastrophic health expenditures among poorer households by almost 60%. The program's primary goal is to reduce healthcare costs for the poor, and its success may have implications for other countries.
A retrospective analysis found that multiple lung tumors in patients often arise from a single cancer cell, suggesting multifocal lung cancers should be classified as advanced-stage cancers. The study analyzed 70 tumor samples and concluded that 77% of patients had multiple tumors originating from a single clone.
A new study by Duke University researchers found that rainforest reserves provide an effective buffer against fires in the Brazilian Amazon. Despite the presence of roads and settlements, reserves still experience fewer fires than surrounding areas. The study suggests that even inhabited reserves can be effective tools for reducing fires.
The university will lead a project to analyze and model initiatives to defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. The research aims to understand how IEDs are used as a weapon of strategic influence and develop practical ways to counteract them.
A recent study found that top-performing US hospitals experience a significant reduction in medical errors, resulting in fewer patient safety events and deaths. According to HealthGrades, the top five percent of hospitals in the US reduce medical errors by 43% compared to the poorest-performing hospitals.
Researchers at University of Edinburgh partner with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop low-cost strategies to combat childhood pneumonia. The three-year project aims to predict effective treatment solutions and prioritize investments that save most lives.
Aerobic exercise training was associated with a modest reduction in the risk of death and hospitalization in patients with heart failure. The study found that exercise adherence decreased over time, but there was no significant difference in mortality rates between the exercise training group and the usual care group.
Research published in Genetics reveals genetic priming in females, making them more likely to choose certain males over others, influencing mating outcomes and future reproductive behaviors. The study's findings suggest that genetic compatibility is key to understanding love at first sight.
Scientists found that 26-73% of fishers used tiger salamanders as bait and 26-67% released them into fishing waters. A quarantine program could help prevent the introduction of non-native pathogens into threatened populations.
A systematic review of 106 studies found that acupuncture is not effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flushes during menopause. While one study suggested favorable effects of acupuncture on symptom severity, the overall evidence does not support its use as a treatment option.
A new phase III trial found that golimumab significantly improved active psoriatic arthritis and associated skin and nail psoriasis. The study also showed improved physical function, health-related quality of life, and enthesitis symptoms.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new programming language, WASP, to make it easier for scientists to program wireless sensor networks. The language is designed to simplify tasks and reduce errors, allowing scientists to focus on data analysis rather than programming.
Scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute found that TGF-β helps maintain the health of blood vessels in the retina. The study's results suggest that blocking TGF-β can cause retinal dysfunction and lead to diseases like diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
African American patients are more likely to prioritize risks over benefits when making treatment decisions, which may contribute to disparities in care. The study's findings suggest that physicians should confirm patients' expectations and ensure they have an informed understanding of available treatment options.
Researchers discovered a five-sided ice chain structure, building from pentagon-shaped rings, which challenges the commonly seen hexagonal structures of ice formations. This finding could lead to new materials for seeding clouds and causing rain, improving weather modification techniques.
A large cohort study found that long-term survivors of hereditary retinoblastoma are at a significantly increased risk of death due to subsequent cancers. Hereditary retinoblastoma survivors had a 35-fold higher mortality rate compared to the general population.
A new study published in Circulation: Heart Failure found that a larger waist circumference is associated with an increased risk of heart failure in both men and women. The research examined two Swedish population-based studies and found that excess body weight was linked to higher rates of heart failure, regardless of BMI.
A specific DNA change has been identified as a potential mechanism for developing schizophrenia. The research found that the altered gene increases expression in cells grown in culture, echoing findings in postmortem brain samples from individuals with schizophrenia.
State laws prohibiting underage drinking save 732 lives annually in the US, while 'use and lose' laws could add an additional 165 lives. The study found a direct relationship between beer consumption per capita and youth crash rates, with higher consumption leading to higher youth crashes.
A new study published in Cell Metabolism suggests that a fat-derived inflammatory factor, CXCL5, plays a key role in insulin resistance and obesity-related diseases. The researchers found that CXCL5 is produced by fat tissue and is linked to the development of various conditions, including pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and arthritis.
The NIH Clinical and Translational Science Consortium has grown to 39 members, including the University of Cincinnati, which will receive $22.7 million over five years. The new Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training will focus on pediatric research and increase outreach into local communities.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified a crucial link between insulin and glucagon levels. The study suggests that targeting insulin receptors or proteins in alpha cells could lead to the development of a new treatment for diabetes, particularly for type 1 patients who are at risk of hypoglycemia.
Researchers identify previously unrecognized defense mechanisms that improve treatment of viral skin infections. They found that immune cells in the skin, such as dendritic cells and memory T cells, can trigger a strong response to infections, providing efficient and long-lasting immunity.
A new study finds that weight discrimination contributes to the glass ceiling effect for women, with overweight and obese women underrepresented among top CEOs. In contrast, overweight men were overrepresented in top CEO positions, suggesting a tolerance for larger sizes among men.
MSU researchers are leading an international project to develop systems to measure, monitor, and manage carbon in landscapes worldwide. The goal is to help growers around the world better protect their land, improve productivity, and fight global climate change by providing a tool to assess their carbon and climate impact.
A study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found a classroom-based intervention reduced violent TV viewing among first- through fourth-grade children by 18%. The intervention, called The REViEW Project Curriculum, also decreased students' identification with violent superheroes.
Researchers found that females copulate more frequently with males who share meat with them, compared to those who never share. This suggests that sharing meat with females improves males' mating success and may be a long-term strategy for securing mates.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a gene therapy approach that safely regenerates gum tissue. The method uses a localized application of adenovirus to deliver genes directly to the affected area, reducing the risk of systemic reactions.
A recent study found that HIV-positive patients are entering care with lower initial CD4 cell counts and often require antiretroviral therapy soon after diagnosis. The trend suggests the virus has become more virulent, with a significant increase in patients requiring treatment before reaching the threshold of 350 CD4 cells/mm³.
A new study from the University of Gothenburg suggests that tracking a preterm infant's weekly weight gain can identify those at risk of developing eye disease ROP. The simple method could save money and allow for earlier detection, reducing the need for costly ophthalmological exams.
The University of Cincinnati has been awarded nearly $23 million by the National Institutes of Health to support clinical and translational science research. The funding will be used to enhance research capabilities, increase community engagement, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration.
A new study reveals that climate change will bring about major shifts in worldwide fire patterns, with some regions experiencing large increases in fire activity and others decreasing. The research uses thermal-infrared sensor data to identify hotspots of fire invasion forming in parts of the western US and the Tibetan plateau.
A $6 million grant from DARPA will fund the development of self-healing circuits that can detect and fix flaws in transistors. The technology aims to enable continued Moore's scaling law by making integrated circuits more robust.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that growing duckweed on hog wastewater produces starch for ethanol, outperforming corn by five to six times per acre. The process generates clean water and turns pollutants into a fuel production system.
Researchers have found that a delayed-enhancement MRI method holds promise for predicting treatment outcomes and measuring disease progression in patients with atrial fibrillation. The study revealed that those with extensive scar tissue damage were at greater risk of AF recurrence after treatment.
A clinical trial found that regular exercise significantly improved the quality of life for patients with chronic heart failure, reducing the risk of death and hospitalization. The study also revealed that exercise was well-tolerated and safe, with participants reporting fewer physical and social limitations.
A retrospective analysis of 20,713 patients with early bladder cancer found that more intensive treatment was not associated with improved overall survival. In fact, those who received more intense care were more likely to require major medical interventions later on.
A new study reveals genetic risk factors for autoantibody-negative RA and show that these risks also apply to ACPA-negative RA. The study found a high heritability of RA in both forms, with HLA SE alleles contributing less to the genetic variance of ACPA-negative RA.
Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a new type of LED made from inexpensive organic materials, producing twice as much light as normal LEDs. Their tandem structure achieved a CRI rating of nearly 70, promising further reduction in price and expansion into home and office lighting.
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck experimentally prove the existence of four-body loss resonances closely tied to Efimov trimer states, providing strong evidence for these new universal states. This achievement marks an important step towards simplifying laws for complex interactions in few-body physics.
A new tool, Baby Steps, combines photo and video recording with medical record-keeping to track children's developmental milestones. This system led to a three-fold increase in parents recording medically relevant information.
A new study found that whale sharks from different oceans are genetically similar, indicating migration and interbreeding among far-flung populations. This suggests that conservation efforts must consider the sharks' global habitat usage to effectively protect them.
Patients with moderate to severe heart failure who exercised regularly had a 11% lower risk of hospitalization or death compared to those who didn't exercise. Exercise also reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and complications related to heart failure.
Scientists discovered dynamic microbial communities in deep-sea mud volcanoes and brine pools with harsh conditions, supporting life processes on early Earth, Mars, and moons like Jupiter's Europa. These findings provide new insights into microbial adaptation and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Women outperform men in detecting body odors, particularly those from the opposite sex. The study suggests that human sweat conveys information of particular importance to females, explaining why it is challenging to block women's perception of sweat odors.
A three-year study shows that the reflection of light from the Earth's oceans and continents can be seen on the dark side of the moon, known as earthshine. The brightness varies with the Earth's rotation, highlighting the difference between intense ocean reflections and dimmer land reflections.
Research found that eagle owls utilize vocal displays during dawn and dusk to convey visual signals, with a white throat badge providing better contrast in low light conditions. This challenges the assumption that diurnal species are the primary users of visual signalling.
A new study identified four underage drinking laws that lead to reductions in underage drinking-and-driving fatal crashes: possession, purchase, use and lose, and zero tolerance. These laws save an estimated 864 lives each year. Additionally, three general impaired-driving laws were found effective in reducing fatalities.