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.