A study by Ashley Moffett's team found that specific interactions between maternal cells and fetal trophoblasts play a key role in determining successful pregnancy. The presence of certain maternal immune system genes provides protection against recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction.
Researchers found that participation in cardiac rehab was associated with decreased risk of emergency room visits and hospitalization, as well as lower mortality rates. A new structured home-based cardiac rehab program may help overcome barriers to attendance, particularly for women and the elderly.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center identified a key signaling pathway that promotes osteosarcoma metastasis when blocked in mice. The study found significant decreases in lung metastases by targeting the Notch pathway and Hes1 gene.
A study by Purdue University found that rice hulls can be used as a sustainable substitute for perlite in growing media, reducing the need for plant growth regulators and energy-intensive mining processes. The findings have potential to increase profits for rice growers and reduce costs for greenhouse plant growers.
A new study found higher progression-free survival rates for HPV-positive head and neck cancer patients treated with cetuximab and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Patients showed a 100% one-year progression-free survival rate compared to 31% for those without HPV.
A University of Iowa study reveals that young men vary in their ability to remember sexual cues, with good-looking women being more easily recalled. Men with a history of serious relationships perform better, while those with higher aggression scores do worse.
A vast amber deposit from western India has revealed a new light on the history of the sub-continent, challenging the assumption that India was an isolated island-continent. The discovery indicates that tropical forests are older than previously thought and have close evolutionary relationships with fossils from other continents.
The new fog warning system provides reliable services and saves socio-economic costs, with a forecasted cost-benefit ratio of 9.4, indicating it pays itself back ten times over within ten years. The system has demonstrated minimal service breaks and real-time functionality.
Four young researchers from TUM have developed a sensor technology that can measure mechanical loads on rotor blades, enabling real-time optimization of energy generation. The EXIST research transfer grant will help the team start their own business and expand renewable energy facilities.
Groopman's research identified the link between environmental carcinogens and liver cancer, providing new prospects for prevention in high-risk populations worldwide. His work elucidated the role of aflatoxins in inducing hepatocellular carcinoma, a major cause of mortality in developing countries.
A randomized trial involving 17 black-owned barbershops in Dallas County, Texas found that the enhanced barber-based intervention resulted in greater improvement in hypertension control. The control rate for patrons with hypertension increased from 33.8% to 53.7%, an increase of 19.9%.
The Virginia Tech team is studying the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on piping plover populations, collecting data on survival and migration patterns in oiled and unoiled areas of the Gulf. The research aims to inform restoration efforts and provide valuable insights for litigators seeking settlements for damage lawsuits.
Routine prostate cancer screening significantly reduces the risk of metastatic disease within 10 years after treatment. Men diagnosed post-screening had a lower risk of spreading cancer compared to those treated prior to widespread screening.
A study found that obese children have stiff blood vessels similar to those of older adults with cardiovascular disease. The aortic stiffness is an early indicator of cardiovascular disease in obese children, suggesting accelerated aging.
Stereotactic radiation is a proven alternative to surgery or anti-epileptic drugs for treating trigeminal neuralgia in MS patients. The study shows that radiosurgery using Gamma Knife is highly effective in reducing pain and improving quality of life for those affected.
Women who inherit BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations from their father are at increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, yet this risk is often overlooked. A study found that patients with a paternal family history of cancer were 5 times more likely to be referred for genetic testing than those with a maternal family history.
Researchers from Imperial College London describe a tabletop instrument that produces synchrotron X-rays with energy and quality comparable to some of the largest X-ray facilities in the world. This development could enable more precise investigations at higher resolutions, benefiting scientific and medical advances.
Conservation programs in China's Wenchuan County preserved forest cover after the 2008 earthquake, protecting endangered species like the giant panda. The research found that expansive national conservation efforts reduced natural disaster damage and human impacts.
MIT neuroscientists identify a 'chain reaction' of brain activity that controls the timing of song in birds, with individual neurons firing at precise intervals to produce a stereotypical song. The study's findings support the 'synfire chain' model, where each neuron triggers the next, like falling dominos.
A new surgical procedure using Kryptonite superglue has improved the recovery of heart patients after open-chest surgery, accelerating healing and reducing complications. The adhesive allows for new bone growth, enabling patients to breathe deeply without powerful painkillers.
A study published in Nature Medicine found that bitter compounds can open lung airways better than current asthma treatments. The researchers discovered taste receptors in the lungs that respond to bitter substances, which could lead to new therapies for asthma and other obstructive lung diseases.
Researchers have discovered a protein called PIM-1 that can serve as an early warning system for pulmonary hypertension, allowing for earlier diagnosis and potentially more effective treatment. Gene therapy has also been shown to reverse the condition by blocking the inappropriate activation of this protein.
Researchers suggest vancomycin as the better treatment option for managing hospitalized patients with cellulitis, showing improved outcomes and discharge times compared to B-lactam antibiotics. The study found that intravenous vancomycin treatment was associated with faster recovery and reduced hospital stay duration.
A new study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that succimer does not effectively remove mercury from the body. Despite lower blood concentrations after one week, continued therapy over five months showed only a slight slowing of mercury accumulation.
A University of Illinois study shows that sulforaphane, a powerful cancer-fighting agent in broccoli, can be released by bacteria in the lower gut and absorbed into the body. This discovery raises the possibility of enhancing the activity of these bacteria to increase broccoli's cancer-preventive power.
Researchers introduce new ways to encourage at-risk groups to visit a dermatologist, using age threshold and payment system. The initiatives aim to improve early diagnosis and treatment, reducing deaths and costs associated with skin cancer.
The University of California, Davis is part of a consortium co-hosting the new Southwest Climate Science Center. Researchers say signs of climate change are prevalent in the region, including rising temperatures, earlier snowmelt, and increasing precipitation intensity.
Studies show that adding radiation to hormone therapy for prostate cancer increases survival chances, while aspirin use reduces risk of cancer death. Prostate cancer screening improves quality of life by catching the disease earlier, and radiation before surgery keeps colorectal cancer from returning.
The updated Strategic Research Plan identifies seven high-priority initiatives, including automated technologies for stem cell research and clinical research enterprise enhancements. These initiatives aim to strengthen existing research areas while exploring new ones.
Researchers at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans have discovered that two brain proteins, Gαq and Gαz, act as valves to regulate vasopressin secretion and water retention in salt-sensitive hypertension. This finding may lead to new treatment options for high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and cirrhosis of the liver.
Researchers Jacinta Conrad and Jeff Rimer have papers featured in consecutive issues of Science, exploring new method for bacteria to move and developing potential drug targets for L-cystine-based kidney stones. Their work has implications for industries such as food production and military transport.
Two researchers, Dr. Matthew Poy and Dr. James Poulet, have been awarded $1.5 million starting grants from the European Research Council to improve diabetes treatment and understand brain function.
Researchers enabled by AFOSR's YIP program developed state-of-the-art detection and evasion algorithms to block known and future attacks on Air Force computer networks and wireless systems. The new technology will enhance network security with high accuracy and speed.
Researchers at UC San Diego are developing a national center for biomedical computing, iDASH, to share anonymized data and create novel algorithms. The grant aims to democratize science and bridge the computational divide between institutions.
A variant of last year's pandemic influenza linked to fatal cases carried a mutation that enabled it to infect a different subset of cells lining the airway, impairing the lungs' clearing mechanism. The study suggests that this mutant virus could have made the illness more severe and fatal.
Two companion studies found that 72% of patients were misdiagnosed with pneumonia upon readmission, leading to overuse of antibiotics and increased healthcare costs. The misdiagnoses were more common among African-Americans and those with lung disease or smoking history.
USDA scientists have developed vaccines to protect farm-raised catfish against key diseases, including Streptococcus iniae and S. agalactiae. The modified live vaccine has been shown to create a lifelong immunity in fish, with previous research breakthroughs benefiting the catfish industry.
A new Cornell University study shows that simple changes like moving fruit to a colorful bowl and creating a speedy 'healthy express' checkout line can significantly increase the sale of healthy options. The research also highlights the importance of making healthy foods more convenient, visible, and appealing to kids.
Cyclone Giri made landfall in Burma as a Category Four cyclone, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall. The storm's eye was approximately 20 nautical miles wide, with wind speeds reaching up to 155 mph.
The Rice University think tank aims to recycle carbon dioxide into useful products, partnering with energy companies to make carbon a profitable resource. Strategies include repurposing CO2 as a feedstock for chemicals or sequestering it in oil wells.
Astronomers using space telescopes have discovered a previously unknown brilliant X-ray explosion in the Milky Way galaxy, named MAXI J1409-619. The object, a binary system, was revealed to be emitting massive blasts of X-rays after being detected by an instrument on the International Space Station.
A Swiss study by Empa found that energy-saving lamps have a larger ecological footprint due to electronic circuitry, but recycling reduces environmental effects. The production of incandescent bulbs has a negligible impact on the environment, while usage and power source are major factors.
The National Science Foundation has recognized three projects with Breakthrough Awards: an artificial retina restoring sight to the blind; a system using controlled rocking to help buildings withstand earthquakes; and a low-cost medical microscope for detecting malaria-infected blood cells.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have identified a potential new treatment approach targeting the protein c-Met in patients with metastatic liver cancer. By analyzing data from 1,051 patients and six published manuscripts, they found that c-Met activation is strongly associated with poor prognosis and aggressive features. ...
The researchers aim to understand how animals, including humans, quickly adjust to unexpected events. By studying the sea slug's ability to adjust its eating behavior, they hope to develop mathematical models that can predict how patterns of activity in the nervous system change over time.
Physicists and engineers have installed a radar system on the Falkland Islands to monitor upper atmosphere activity that creates the Southern Lights. The radar station, part of the international Super Dual Auroral Radar Network, will help climatologists understand the link between the upper and lower atmospheres.
A UT professor's study found that economic inequality increases both the rich and poor becoming more conservative, reducing support for government programs. The study analyzed hundreds of thousands of survey responses from 1952 to 2006, revealing a self-perpetuating phenomenon.
Parents of children with cancer reported feeling hurried and less well-informed about clinical trial protocols compared to adult patients. The study found that parents felt they had insufficient time to learn about the trials and asked fewer questions.
A recent study found that total health care expenditures for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) per 10,000 covered lives grew by 32.8% from $1,270,435 in 2000 to $1,686,938 in 2003. The treated prevalence of autism increased by 32.2% during the same period.
Typhoon Megi is forecast to make landfall in southeastern China late at night on October 22 as a Category One typhoon. NASA satellites have been monitoring the storm's rainfall, changing cloud cover, and weakening eye, which weakened due to wind shear.
A new meta-analysis study by Syracuse University Professor Stephanie Ortigue found that falling in love affects intellectual areas of the brain and releases euphoria-inducing chemicals. The study revealed that love can be sparked by different parts of the brain, including those involved in mental representation, metaphors, and body image.
Tropical Storm Richard is expected to intensify in the western Caribbean before making landfall, bringing maximum storm totals of 5-7 inches of rain and potentially flash flooding and mudslides. Residents in eastern Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula are bracing for its impacts as it approaches
Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed new stem-cell and gene-therapy techniques to treat Fanconi anemia, a fatal genetic blood disease. The three-year grant aims to create induced pluripotent stem cells from patient skin or tissue and transform them into genetically repaired hematopoietic stem cells.
Researchers have identified key genes controlling reproductive lifespan in roundworms, which may lead to the development of fertility-preserving treatments for women. The study's findings suggest that quality over quantity is a limiting factor in human reproduction, and that similar genes are shared between humans and worms.
Researchers have discovered a potent toxin in scorpion venom that can prevent neointimal hyperplasia, a leading cause of heart bypass graft failure. The compound, margatoxin, is up to 100 times more effective than other known inhibitors, offering new hope for patients undergoing bypass surgery.
Researchers at UCSF are advancing human embryonic stem cell-based strategies to treat neurological diseases and liver failure. They will investigate novel strategies using embryonic neurons to inhibit hyperactivity in the nervous system and develop therapeutically effective liver cells from human embryonic stem cells.
Research from the University of Washington finds that two elite blogs trigger viral video distribution, with top general interest outlets taking cues from them. Four groups were identified: elite blogs, top general blogs, top political blogs, and tail blogs.
Researchers found that BAFF interacts with c-MYC gene, promoting aggressive leukemias and lymphomas. High levels of BAFF in CLL microenvironment may lead to improved treatment options by blocking its effects or inhibiting signaling pathways.
A new study reveals that 70-year-olds born in 1930 performed better in cognitive tests than their predecessors born in 1901-02. The study attributed the improvement to better pre- and neonatal care, nutrition, education, and access to advanced technology. Despite this, memory problems remained a predictor of dementia risk.
Researchers at UMass Medical School have developed FlexBone, a synthetic bone material with bone-like properties, to replace traditional bone transplants. The material facilitates tissue repair by absorbing proteins from the surrounding tissue, accelerating healing, and delivering growth factors.