A recent NIH-supported study found that increasing HAART coverage in British Columbia reduced viral load and new HIV diagnoses among individuals with a history of injection drug use. The study's findings support the importance of maximizing HAART coverage within current medical guidelines to curb the spread of HIV.
A study found that only 51% of HIV-exposed infants in African countries received a minimum dose of nevirapine to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission. The study highlights the need for improved service coverage and counseling services to maximize prevention efforts.
Researchers found that HIV vaccines can induce protective antibody responses, but these responses can also lead to false-positive test results. A study of over 2,000 trial participants revealed that 41.7% developed reactive results in routine antibody detection methods.
Two new studies have tested three different methods for accurately measuring breast density. A third technique called dual-energy mammography showed promise in measuring breast density. The researchers hope to use this method to improve the accuracy of breast cancer risk assessments.
Engineers at MIT develop a new technique to analyze zebrafish larvae in seconds, speeding up the process and enabling large-scale studies of human diseases. The technology uses high-resolution imaging to directly observe internal organs and allows for rapid analysis of thousands of vertebrates.
A new study offers a low-cost, in-office tool to identify athletes at high-risk for ACL injuries. The simplified method combines measuring the tibia and knee motions with standard equipment, strongly correlating with expensive laboratory methods.
A recent study found that while some ACL and knee injury prevention programs may show promise, the current research is limited by design flaws. The authors emphasize the need for high-quality clinical trials to confirm the value of these programs.
Five young Portuguese researchers have been awarded starting grants from the European Research Council to study the processes underlying cell division, ageing and adaptation. Their work has implications for understanding cancer, age-related syndromes and infertility.
A new study overturns popular perception that patients undergoing osteochondral allograft transplantation cannot return to sports. The study found that 84% of patients can return to some level of athletic activity and 60% can return to high-level sports.
The study confirms the protective brain hypothesis, suggesting that large-brained mammals live longer and reproduce more times due to enhanced survival. The analysis of 493 species reveals a link between brain size and longevity, with larger brains associated with greater survival rates.
A new study challenges the long-held critical depth hypothesis, which suggests that phytoplankton bloom in temperate oceans due to improving light conditions. Instead, researchers found that winter storms play a key role in creating blooms, and warmer ocean temperatures may actually curtail productivity.
Agricultural Research Service chemist Thomas Wang found that resveratrol, a bioactive compound in grapes and plant foods, can inhibit cancer cell growth but also increase tumor vessel development with prolonged exposure. The study suggests that diet complexity and gene expression are key layers in cancer development.
Chemists from NYU and Russia's St. Petersburg State University have created crystals with a twisting mechanism that reverses when they thicken, creating needles with colorful helical structures.
The Low-Cost Imaging Terminal Seeker (LCITS) technology can swiftly engage and defeat multiaxis attacks by small swarming boats, increasing the number of targets that can be engaged in a short amount of time. LCITS successfully concluded its program, paving the way for its transition to the fleet.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified two compounds emitted by mosquito predators that deter female mosquitoes from laying eggs in pools of water. These natural insect repellents could provide an environmentally friendly alternative to controlling disease-carrying insects.
Mice cages alter brains in mice used in laboratories, affecting outcomes of research, according to a breakthrough study published in PLoS One. The type of cage can change the brain's olfactory bulb and levels of aggression.
The adoption of digital patient records, increased regulation, and provider consolidation highlight the need for better information security in healthcare. Patient concerns about sharing medical information online are common, with a recent survey showing three-quarters of patients worried about health websites breaching their privacy.
Researchers at Florida Institute of Technology have developed a streamlined process for synthesizing the chemical compound CDNI-Glu, reducing production time from 150 hours to 24 hours. The licensed technology will be commercially available through Tocris, enabling neuroscientists to study brain neural networks more efficiently.
Scientists at NIH identify novel Staphylococcus aureus toxin LukGH, which destroys human immune cells and increases MRSA severity. The toxin is secreted into the environment, forming pores in neutrophils that lead to their destruction.
Researchers identify silencing genes in malignant plasma cells that can be targeted by inhibitors of the Polycomb repressor complex. This approach may lead to new strategies for treating multiple myeloma.
Tropical Depression 6E has been downgraded to a remnant low pressure system in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. It's now being stretched by strong vertical wind shear and moving into cooler waters, making strengthening back into a tropical storm unlikely.
Astronomers have discovered the first case of a distant galaxy being magnified by a quasar, allowing them to measure the masses of these host galaxies. This breakthrough provides new insights into galaxy formation and evolution, enabling scientists to better understand the relationship between quasars and their host galaxies.
Seemingly redundant portions of the fruit fly genome contribute to normal development by ensuring genes are turned on and off at the appropriate times. The discovery sheds light on the potential importance of 'junk DNA' in understanding developmental disorders.
The new ARC Center of Excellence in Plant Cell Wall Biology will enhance biotechnologies for crop industries, associated food industries, and renewable transport fuels. The center will be led by the University of Adelaide and involves collaboration with international partners to develop new technologies and processes.
The International AIDS Society (IAS) has announced the winners of four prestigious scientific awards, recognizing innovative HIV and AIDS research. The Women, Girls and HIV Investigator Prize was awarded to Naina Rani for her work on mainstreaming the Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission program in India.
A novel microfluidic HIV test developed by Prof. Alexander Revzin uses antibodies to 'capture' white blood cells called T cells affected by HIV. The test detects the types and levels of inflammatory proteins released by the cells, providing six parameters simultaneously from a small blood sample.
NOAA has selected Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, to lead a new research partnership, CIMEC, to study climate change and coastal ecosystems. The institute will focus on ecosystem-based management of fisheries and continue the longstanding work of JIMO in climate and ocean sciences.
Agnieszka Bialek wins Royal Photographic Society's Selwyn Award for her work on multi-spectral imaging, which reveals details unseen by the eye. Her IRIS technology captures eight replicated images of an object at different wavelengths, enabling characterisation of materials with variations in colour or appearance.
Research finds key gene expression pathways involved in Candidiasis-associated denture stomatitis, with significant up-regulation of TLR2 and CD28 signaling. Saliva analysis reveals six extracellular protein genes linked to stomatitis.
Researchers have developed a new radiation mechanism that can detect explosive powders and potentially destroy environmental pollutants. The technology operates in the Terahertz gap and may help doctors target cancer treatments more directly.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new arsenic nanoparticle that effectively targets and blocks aggressive triple negative breast cancer. The nanoparticles deliver the toxic cargo directly to tumor cells while shielding normal tissue from harm, making it a promising lead for improving chemotherapy drugs.
A study analyzed the probability of surviving nine types of cancer in Spain, comparing rates to European averages. The results show varying survival rates for different cancers, with some types having high recovery rates (e.g., testicular and skin melanoma) while others have lower rates (e.g., lung cancer).
A team of Duke University researchers and African colleagues will be studying strategies to curb the spread of malaria while protecting human and environmental health. The work aims to refine a model called the Malaria Decision Analysis Support Tool (MDAST) to improve malaria control effectiveness worldwide.
A team of researchers led by Rensselaer Professor Suvranu De has won a $2.3 million federal grant to develop a touch-sensitive virtual reality simulator for training and certifying laparoscopic surgeons. The new system will employ haptic technology to realistically replicate the sensation a surgeon would feel during an actual procedure.
The largest study of its kind has released its first results, providing a wealth of information on how genetic mutations affect cancer responses to treatments. The research aims to improve patient care by tailoring treatment to individual tumour characteristics.
A study by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center investigators identified the APOL-1 gene as a key factor in kidney disease among African Americans. The researchers found that variants in this gene are more common in individuals of recent African ancestry and may have evolved as a survival mechanism against parasitic disease in Africa.
Researchers at University of Maryland provide new insight into the initiation phase of bacterial gene transcription, showing a three-step process involving RNA polymerase and DNA bending. The study confirms experimental observations and establishes an active role for RNA polymerase in the process.
Researchers studying the Gulf oil spill's impact on coastal communities aim to understand how social context shapes individual responses to disaster. The study will investigate negative and positive emotions, as well as social and political trust, in individuals coping with the disaster.
Smokers exposed to wood smoke face a higher risk of COPD due to increased lung function reduction and epigenetic changes. Wood smoke exposure synergistically increases the risk when combined with cigarette smoking.
A new report from the American Cancer Society and other health groups identifies gaps in research for 20 suspected carcinogens, including lead, diesel exhaust, and styrene. The report aims to prioritize agents for further study and funding to address existing knowledge gaps.
Researchers have analyzed seven paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci without extracting samples, revealing the composition and thickness of each layer. The study confirms the use of thin glaze layers to achieve soft transitions and blend shadows like smoke.
A new study found that HIV may increase the risk of death in people with high CD4 counts, but only moderately. The risk was highest among injecting drug users and heterosexual individuals, likely due to socioeconomic factors rather than HIV itself.
A new method of tissue banking enables researchers to obtain high-quality RNA samples from lung tumor biopsies, increasing the number and type of tumors available for gene expression studies. This improves personalized medicine prospects for lung cancer patients.
Experiments at CERN and Karlsruhe have clarified the processes affecting osmium-187 abundance, reducing uncertainties in the rhenium-osmium cosmic clock. This allows for a more accurate estimate of our galaxy's age.
A new study finds that many US states are cutting mental health funding due to budget crises, while others have reduced Medicaid payments. However, a few countries are investing in stimulus-funded services to address recession-related mental health disorders, such as the UK's training of psychotherapists and nurses.
Researchers have discovered an active strike-slip fault on the island of Trinidad, highlighting a major seismic hazard. The study also found that the lower crust is significantly weaker than the mantle at the Moho, and K/U ratio in the mantle records a snapshot of early Earth weathering.
NASA's infrared satellite image shows strong thunderstorms in Tropical Storm Conson. The storm is being pushed southwest due to a subtropical ridge over China, forcing it to take a more southern route and eventually make landfall in northern Vietnam.
Researchers found that former child soldiers who returned to communities with low violence levels had better mental health outcomes. The studies suggest that children who experienced trauma such as rape or killing others showed higher levels of hostility over time, highlighting the need for targeted social and mental health services.
A morning urine test is superior for detecting declining kidney performance in patients with diabetic kidney disease. The albumin:creatinine ratio from a first morning urine sample predicts worsening kidney problems more accurately than other methods.
Researchers discovered that cancer drugs can inhibit Leishmania's survival and infection ability by targeting its TOR kinase proteins. The study highlights the potential of repurposing existing cancer treatments to combat this debilitating parasite.
Researchers have developed a functional implantable artificial salivary gland to treat xerostomia in cancer patients. The new treatment uses modified hydrogels to regenerate functional salivary acinar cells, restoring saliva production and improving oral health.
In a high-profile debate, Merrill critiques Smith and Cuesters' realist approach to ontology engineering. The exchange raises fundamental questions about the nature of ontology for e-science.
A new initiative aims to improve children's understanding of nutrition and help them make smarter food choices. Researchers will develop innovative menu labeling systems and test their effectiveness with school districts and foodservice providers.
A new species of small fish, the bearded goby, has been found to eat jellyfish and thrive in an oxygen-depleted zone off the coast of southwest Africa. This unexpected predator-prey relationship puts jellyfish back into the food cycle.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have been awarded a US-Israel Energy Independence Partnership Grant to develop self-sustainable fuel cycles for light water reactors. The project aims to improve nuclear energy efficiency, reduce uranium enrichment needs, and extend available energy resources.
A study by UCLA researchers found that NF1 genetic mutations disrupt working memory in the brain's prefrontal cortex, hindering communication between brain cells. The excess GABA release hampers neural activity, leading to reduced success rates in memory tasks.
A study by William Kerr and William Lincoln found that highly skilled temporary immigrants increase U.S. patent applications without displacing native workers. The research used data from 1995 to 2008 and analyzed the impact of H-1B visa reforms on innovation.
Penn State researchers discovered that retroviruses like HIV take a detour through the cell nucleus before assembling new virus particles. Understanding this process could enable the development of drugs to stop the spread of infection.
Researchers from Northwestern University discovered a common human sperm gene called Boule, which is 600 million years old and shared among animals such as trout, sea anemone and flies. The gene plays a vital role in sperm production and has the potential to be targeted for male contraception and controlling diseases caused by parasites.
The University of Southern California has received a $56.8 million Clinical and Translational Science Award from the NIH to support real-life applications of scientific discoveries in healthcare. The Los Angeles Basin CTSI will partner with community organizations and providers to address health issues in urban environments.