A new study by Rush University Medical Center researchers found that cognitive impairment is associated with reduced survival among both African-Americans and whites. The study, published in Archives of Neurology, showed that participants with mild cognitive impairment had a 50% increased risk of death compared to those without cogniti...
IDO enzyme can hinder flu vaccine efficacy by suppressing T-cell response, researchers say. The team plans to block IDO using inhibitors to build better vaccines.
A 700,000-year-old fossil bone bed in California has been found to be a record of normal life and death, rather than a catastrophic event. The bone bed, which features shark teeth and seal bones, was formed under unusual climatic conditions that kept sediment at bay.
A new study found that many breast cancer patients use antioxidant supplements, including high doses, during treatment. However, the effects on health and survival are poorly understood and the findings are mixed.
A recent study published in Archives of Neurology found that cognitive impairment is associated with reduced survival rates among both white and African American older adults. The research, which followed 1,715 participants over an average of 4.7 years, showed that individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease had s...
Women with MS who breastfeed exclusively for at least two months have a lower risk of relapse within a year after birth. Prolonged lactational amenorrhea is associated with a decreased risk of relapse in women with MS.
Researchers correct inaccuracies surrounding high fructose corn syrup's role in obesity and nutrition. They argue that the sweetener is essentially identical to sugar in terms of metabolism and calories.
A new study by North Carolina State University researchers found significant flaws in XBRL filings submitted voluntarily by top 500 companies. The study warns that if upcoming filings do not improve accuracy, the XBRL program's credibility will be undermined, affecting its effectiveness.
A recent study by Georgia State University researchers found that chimpanzees are cognitively able to understand trade but lack the ability to spontaneously barter without human enforcement. Humans, on the other hand, have a reputation system that fosters confidence in trade, which may be unique among primates.
Researchers develop gene therapy approach to target Factor VIII in hemophilia A mice, reducing disease symptoms. L-Asparaginase degradation mechanism also uncovered, with potential for optimizing treatment.
A set of fossil teeth belonging to an ancient three-toed browsing horse, Anchitherium clarencei, has been discovered in the Panama Canal earthworks. The find supports earlier proposals that the habitat was a mosaic of dense forest and open woodlands, extending the southern range of this horse species.
Researchers identified a protein capable of degrading a key leukemia treatment, L-asparaginase, in some patients. Expression of this protein is more common in high-risk forms of the disease and can lead to reduced treatment effectiveness.
A new review of cancer clinical trials reveals that women make up only 38.8% of patients enrolled, with a lower proportion in treatment-focused studies. Studies funded by government vs. private funds show a higher percentage of female participants.
Most dark gamma-ray bursts are found in normal galaxies that can be detected by large ground-based optical telescopes, contradicting previous theories. The study suggests that dark bursts may represent stars that never drifted far from the dusty clouds that formed them.
Using DNA barcoding and stable isotope analysis, researchers identified the species of birds involved in the Jan. 15 airline crash into the Hudson River as migratory Canada geese. The findings emphasize the need to understand the role of migration in birdstrikes to develop effective management strategies.
Researchers have identified caribou-hunting structures and camps used by early hunters in the Great Lakes region. The discovery sheds light on the Paleo-Indian and Archaic periods, which are poorly known due to lost sites beneath the lakes.
The BioInterfaces program aims to develop new tools to control cells, leading to therapies for muscle, retina, and central nervous system diseases. The program also focuses on controlling bacterial cells that form biofilms on man-made surfaces.
Concussion experts recommend strict monitoring and activity restrictions for children and teens after a concussion. Cognitive rest is crucial, with limits on academic activities and at-home/social activities like texting, video games, and TV watching to facilitate recovery.
A study published in The Lancet found that metabolic changes, including increased fasting glucose levels and decreased insulin sensitivity, occur several years before the onset of type 2 diabetes. By identifying these changes, it may be possible to delay or even prevent diabetes diagnosis.
Scientists at the University of Saskatchewan and Canadian Light Source have identified a chemical fingerprint associated with Barrett's Esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer. The discovery uses infrared microscopy to detect biomarkers in individual cells, offering a new diagnostic tool for detecting the condition.
A study published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that gamers who play for more than seven hours a week experience poorer sleep hygiene and greater sleepiness. The research indicates that excessive gamers sleep significantly less on weekdays and have a positive correlation between game play time and sleepiness.
A recent study published in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that regular daily exercise does not increase total sleep time. The study, which involved 14 subjects who wore actigraphy armbands for approximately 23 days, showed that increased activity was followed by lower total sleep time, and vice versa.
A team of astronomers has directly measured the distance to a galaxy, providing a precise tool for unraveling the mystery of Dark Energy. The technique uses water molecules in disks orbiting central black holes to amplify radio waves, enabling measurements up to 160 million light-years away.
Incidence rates of colorectal cancer are rising among young adults in the US due to increased obesity and unfavorable dietary patterns. Studies found a 1.5% annual increase in incidence rates from 1992-2005, with left-sided tumors being more common.
Research found that men with insomnia who slept six hours or less were at highest risk of mortality, with a mortality rate 19.6% higher than those who slept more than six hours. Insomnia is associated with medical morbidity and mortality rates similar to obstructive sleep apnea.
A study presented at SLEEP 2009 found that sleep extension improved sprinting speed, hitting accuracy, and mood in collegiate tennis players. The researchers believe that similar benefits may be seen in other sports, with reduced daytime sleepiness and improved athletic performance.
A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reveals that genetic mechanisms overlap among anxiety, depression, and insomnia in adolescents. Adolescents with anxiety and depression are more likely to experience insomnia, suggesting a shared underlying factor.
Research from Boston University School of Medicine sheds light on how airways form and provide insights into lung diseases like asthma and COPD. The study reveals that Notch signaling controls the balance between ciliated and secretory cells in developing airways.
Researchers discovered that a nicotine receptor inhibitor, α-CbT, can double survival time in non-small cell lung carcinoma mice. The treatment showed significant antitumor activity by inducing apoptosis and had limited toxic effects on unaffected cells.
A UBC paleontologist has solved the enigma of a massive bonebed in southern California by proposing that it formed over a 700,000 year time-span approximately 15 million years ago. The team found only five shark bite specimens out of over 3,000 bones and teeth analyzed, supporting the deposit-over-time theory.
Researchers at the Smithsonian Institution analyzed feather remains from a US Airways plane that crashed into the Hudson River, finding that the Canada geese involved were from a migratory population. The study's findings provide essential information for developing policies and techniques to reduce future bird strikes.
Physicists at the University of Texas at Austin have developed the thinnest superconducting metal layer made from lead, measuring only two atoms thick. This achievement lays the groundwork for future innovations in superconductor technologies.
A new study finds that low-income conflict-affected countries such as Afghanistan and Somalia receive significantly less aid for reproductive health compared to non-conflict-affected countries. The researchers found that an average of just $509.3m (2.4%) was allocated to reproductive health out of a total of $20.8 billion annually.
Cancer cells have been found to rarely undergo explosive divisions, with resulting daughter cells often surviving only a few days. The extra centrosomes cause an unequal pull on some chromosomes, leading to chromosomal instability and irregular numbers of chromosomes.
Researchers found that certain genetic mutations known to extend the lifespan of C. elegans roundworms induce somatic cells to express genes allowing reproductive germline cells' immortality. This discovery may lead to therapies protective against age-related decline in other tissues.
Researchers have for the first time visualized the three-dimensional structure of a crucial subcomplex of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), a fundamental innovation in multicellular life. The findings support a common architecture between NPCs and coated vesicles, revealing an ancient evolutionary connection.
A new study finds that optimal medical therapy is equally effective as revascularization procedures like bypass surgery or angioplasty in lowering the risk of death and cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes and stable coronary heart disease. Insulin-providing and insulin-sensitizing drugs are also shown to be equally effective.
Researchers found that routine diabetes screenings can lead to significant cost savings for healthcare systems. The study suggests that screening and preventive management can be a cost-effective approach to managing the disease.
Researchers identified a gene involved in inflammatory response that could hold key to treating CML, a lethal cancer. A drug combination targeting this gene showed improved therapeutic effect on CML in mice.
A landmark study found that prompt bypass surgery has the same five-year survival rate as drug therapy alone for patients with type 2 diabetes and stable heart disease. In contrast, bypass surgery lowered the risk of subsequent major cardiac events, particularly in those with severe heart disease.
A new climate-based model predicts Dengue fever epidemics up to 40 weeks in advance with 83% accuracy, providing crucial time for public health authorities to mobilize resources. The model can be expanded to include Latin America and the Caribbean, where disease incidence has increased dramatically over the past 25 years.
Versartis announces preclinical abstracts on its two product candidates VRS-859 and VRS-808, which utilize Amunix's rPEG technology to extend biologics' half-life. The compounds aim to reduce dosing frequency and side effects in type 2 diabetes and prevent nocturnal hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes.
A new FSU study confirms the 'warrior gene' is linked to gang membership and violent behavior in males, while females with the same variant are less likely to engage in such behavior. The study found that males carrying a specific MAOA gene variant were more likely to join gangs and use weapons.
Global health is defined as an area of study that prioritizes improving health globally, particularly in achieving equity among all people worldwide. The definition emphasizes transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions, involving multiple disciplines and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.
Over 30 years, middle-aged women's levels of perceived mental stress have increased significantly, while their blood pressure has decreased. This is according to a Swedish study that followed 1,462 women from the 1960s to the 2000s.
A study found that Chicago neighborhoods with high community vitality, economic potential, and social capital have lower asthma rates. The research suggests that factors such as poverty, overcrowding, and exposure to air pollution contribute to higher asthma rates in less stable communities.
A Phase IIb clinical trial shows that adding a hepatitis C protease inhibitor called telaprevir to standard therapy can significantly improve the chances of being cured, with a 67% cure rate in patients treated for 24 weeks. The treatment also reduces side effects and treatment duration compared to standard therapy alone.
Sharing personal genetic information online raises ethical questions about privacy and consent. Stanford researchers say we need more data on who's giving out information and how it's being used to fully understand its implications.
A study by researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center has found no statistically significant increase in hypospadias rates in New York State during the 1992-2005 period, contradicting earlier concerns about environmental chemicals. Maternal age is a significant risk factor for the birth defect.
A new technique has been developed to evaluate basketball players' performance, using mathematical models that consider multiple factors such as points scored, rebounds, assists, and relative importance. The results show that certain players excel in specific positions, highlighting the need for more nuanced evaluation methods.
Half of myocardial infarction patients report onerous fatigue four months after the event, with depression symptoms also common. Patients' perceptions of their illness play a crucial role in determining prognosis and treatment effectiveness.
Research suggests that fatty acids from food, not body-produced fats, activate ghrelin in the stomach, informing the brain about available calories. This new model turns the current understanding of ghrelin on its head and points to a novel enzyme responsible for activation.
A study found that rosiglitazone, used in combination with standard diabetes treatments, does not increase cardiovascular disease or death risk but doubles the risk of heart failure and fractures, mainly in women. The study included 4447 patients with type 2 diabetes.
The Government of Canada has funded a national influenza research network to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of pandemic influenza vaccines. The network, led by Dr. Scott Halperin, will provide a pan-Canadian coordinating mechanism for conducting applied public health research on the H1N1 flu virus.
Researchers at PNNL have developed a one-step process to convert cellulose into a chemical feedstock for fuels and plastics. This simplified method avoids the multi-step approaches currently used in biofuel production, potentially making it more cost-effective.
A new study suggests that genetic variations in humans are more closely tied to geographical and historical factors than previously thought. The research found that gene variants tend to be distributed throughout the world in patterns reflecting ancient population movements and other aspects of population history.
A Penn State researcher analyzed nearly 1 million Web searches to detect patterns of query reformulation and create models to predict them. The research found that users reformulated their search terms in 22% of queries to more precisely convey the information they were searching for.
Researchers at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute have discovered a protein called Wnt7a that increases satellite stem cells in muscle tissue, leading to accelerated growth and repair. This breakthrough may lead to new therapeutic treatments for muscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy and sarcopenia.
A team of scientists at UC Davis discovered that the plant hormone auxin is responsible for egg production in plants, providing new insights into evolutionary pathways and potential techniques to enhance crop reproduction. The study found that auxin concentrations determine the fate of nuclei within the reproductive structure.
A Harvard study found that medical problems contributed to 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007, with most medically bankrupt individuals having health insurance at the start of their illness. The study also found high out-of-pocket medical costs for insured families and a lack of comprehensive coverage.